On April 27, 2008, Tadika Seri Soka (TSS) held its 13th entrance ceremony. About 500 parents, children, guests, TSS directors, teachers and staff attended the function.

The ceremony started with showing of video clips, introducing the Soka kindergartens throughout the world and its education direction. This was followed by reading of Soka Schools founder Daisaku Ikeda’s congratulatory message, which said that at TSS, the children are in the garden of friendship, where they would play, learn and grow together. He hoped that they would be cordial, active and joyful learners, creating happy memories everyday. Mr Ikeda also presented the 223 new pupils with cartoon-designed pencils as well as cakes.

Principal Lee Kah Poh in his welcoming speech pointed out that since its establishment in 1995, more than 1,936 children have graduated from the kindergarten. Children from the first batch have already entered universities.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of TSS, Choo Kong Fei thanked the parents and staff for their support and contributions for the past 13 years.

On this happy occasion, the children also went on stage to sing songs and perform dances for their parents.

After the event, Tadika Seri Soka invited Assoc. Prof. Dr Mariani Md Nor from the Faculty of Education, University of Malaya to give a lecture on how to pave a happy transition for children to move from home to kindergarten and then to the primary school. Dr Mariani encouraged parents not only to focus on children’s intellect and skills level, but also their knowledge, language, physical ability and social communication skills so that they are prepared to attend primary school comfortably. Parents’ role, according to her, is to let children “play” happily. About 100 parents attended the lecture.