A Note from the New Kindergarten Manager

If you’ve ever taken a moment to admire the Suwa Kindergarten flag, you might have noticed its bold two-tone color scheme—a vibrant orange background with a deep green logo. It’s not just a random design choice. Oh no, my friends, there’s a tale behind it. And as any good storyteller (or slightly eccentric kindergarten manager) will tell you, colors always have a hidden story.

A Tale of Two Colors

Orange and green—what a dynamic duo! If this were a fairy tale, orange would be the daring hero, charging into adventure with boundless energy. Green, on the other hand, would be the wise old sage, whispering words of encouragement and keeping things grounded. The combination? A perfect balance between fearless exploration and a safe place to return to.

Ever heard of Jack and the Beanstalk? That magical green vine growing towards the sky? That’s our kids, reaching for their dreams. And the orange? That’s the boldness of Jack, climbing up, facing the unknown, and saying, “Bring it on!”—hopefully minus the part where a giant chases him. (We don’t encourage that in our curriculum.)

Or how about Cinderella? You know, that humble little pumpkin turning into a magnificent carriage? That’s the magic we see every day at Suwa Kindergarten—kids transforming before our very eyes, gaining confidence, and growing into their potential. (And unlike Cinderella’s ride, our magic doesn’t disappear at midnight.)

Why These Colors?

When the founder of Suwa Kindergarten envisioned this school, safety was the top priority. The orange was chosen to represent energy, warmth, and visibility, ensuring that our little adventurers are always seen and cared for. The green? A symbol of growth, peace, and the nurturing environment we strive to create. Together, these colors remind us that childhood should be a mix of excitement and security—a place where kids can run wild with imagination but always find their way back to safety.

So next time you see our flag waving in the breeze, remember—it’s more than just a combination of colors. It’s a promise. A promise that at Suwa Kindergarten, every child gets the chance to grow, explore, and thrive in a place that values both adventure and security.

諏訪幼稚園の園旗をじっくり見たことがありますか？鮮やかなオレンジの背景に、深い緑のロゴ。ただのおしゃれなデザインではないんです。実は、この色の組み合わせには、ちゃんとした理由があるんです。
そして、ちょっとしたおとぎ話を織り交ぜると、さらに面白くなるんですよ。

二つの色の物語

オレンジと緑——この組み合わせ、実は絶妙なんです。もし童話の世界だったら、オレンジは冒険好きのヒーロー、元気いっぱいでどこまでも走っていくタイプ。一方の緑は、落ち着きのある賢者、そっと背中を押してくれる存在。そして二つが合わさることで、**「勇気を持って挑戦すること」と「安心して成長できること」**のバランスが生まれるんです。

たとえば**『ジャックと豆の木』**。空へと伸びる豆の木（緑）は、子どもたちの可能性そのもの。そして、それに登っていくジャック（オレンジ）は、新しいことに挑戦する勇気を象徴しているようです。ただし、諏訪幼稚園では「豆の木に登るのは禁止」です（笑）。

または**『シンデレラ』**。魔法で変身したかぼちゃの馬車（オレンジ）と、そのツル（緑）。これもまた、夢と現実がうまく調和している姿ですよね。諏訪幼稚園では、子どもたちの毎日が魔法のように輝くように、先生たちが温かく見守っています。（ただし、魔法は12時を過ぎても解けません、ご安心を。）

なぜこの色を選んだのか？

創業者の園長先生は、「子どもたちが安心してのびのびと成長できる幼稚園を作りたい」という想いを持っていました。そこで、安全を最優先にしながらも、成長と挑戦を促す色として、オレンジと緑を採用したとのことです。

🔸 オレンジ … エネルギー、温かさ、元気の象徴！子どもたちが自由に走り回れる環境を表しています。
🟢 緑 … 成長、安心、自然の象徴。心穏やかにのびのびと育ってほしいという願いが込められています。

この二色が組み合わさることで、「挑戦する勇気」と「帰る場所の安心感」を同時に提供する幼稚園になる。そんな想いが込められているのです。

園旗が伝える約束

だからこそ、諏訪幼稚園の園旗は、ただのデザインではなく、**「子どもたちが安心して成長しながら、新しい世界へ一歩踏み出せる場所」**という約束なんです。
これからも、この色のように、元気で安心できる幼稚園をつくっていきます！

理事長のつぶやき

「オレンジと緑って、よく見るとにんじんと葉っぱみたいで栄養満点！子どもたちも毎日ぐんぐん育っています。ただ、豆の木を登るジャックみたいに、園庭で突然登り始める子が出ないよう、先生たちは毎日しっかり見守っています（笑）。」

Spring is still a little far away. Before the snow melts, the wind softens, and the cherry blossoms begin to bud, a quiet change came to Suwa Kindergarten. One day, we received a solemn notice from our lunch provider:

“We will be discontinuing our service from April.”

And so, we embarked on a small adventure—the Quest for a New Lunch Provider. It felt like searching for lost bread in the depths of a forest. The entire staff gathered for discussions, conducted tasting sessions, analyzed nutritional values, and debated the best possible solution…

At last, we found it—the one. The perfect lunch center. A sigh of relief spread across the room. Even our stomachs, it seemed, sighed in contentment.

Food is Culture, and Every Meal is a Story

Eating is not just about nutrition. It is a ritual, a cultural tradition, and a tiny story woven into our daily lives. For children, lunchtime is the highlight of their day—a grand stage where the great drama of “likes and dislikes” unfolds.

This reminds me of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Girl Who Trod on the Loaf. Inger, a proud young girl, places her foot on a loaf of bread to avoid stepping in the mud. The moment she does, the ground splits open, swallowing her into the underworld—a tale of punishment for taking food for granted.

Indeed, when food is treated carelessly, no good comes of it. I hope our children learn to appreciate even a single piece of bread. Of course, no one at Suwa Kindergarten will be dragged into the underworld for leaving their vegetables untouched, but the importance of cherishing our meals is a lesson worth teaching.

Eating is Learning

Suwa Kindergarten is not just a place that provides lunch. As a model school for food and agricultural education, we view every meal as a learning experience.

Take, for example, our vegetable garden. The children dig the soil, plant seeds, water them, and patiently watch them grow. And then, the long-awaited moment of harvest arrives.

“Look, the tomatoes turned red!”
“Cucumbers are so prickly!”

Through these small discoveries, they begin to understand: eating is living.

And then, there’s that special moment—when a child who once shouted, “I hate carrots!” takes a bite and says, “This is the carrot I grew myself.”

A small, yet undeniable miracle.