Nagano exchange program

On Wednesday 26th July a group of 15 students and 2 staff arrived at Sunbury College from our sister school at Nagano High School in Osaka. Over the course of their 10-day stay in Australia, students participated in a variety of in-class activities, excursions and experiences with their host families. This exchange program celebrated our 25th anniversary between our two schools. It was such a special experience for both Sunbury College students and the visiting Japanese students.  

The first part of our sister school relationship is Nagano High School visits Sunbury College every 1 to 2 years, with Nagano students staying with families in our school community. This is a great experience for our students and staff. 

The second part of the relationship is Sunbury College students and staff visit Nagano High School in Japan every second year. This is a great opportunity for Sunbury College students to develop a greater awareness of Japanese culture and to build upon and develop Japanese language skills. Sunbury College is planning on taking a tour to Japan and visiting Nagano High School in November and December next year and will again take this tour to Japan in 2026.

A third way we strengthen our sister school relationship is to have regular digital contact between our two schools. An example of how this has occurred over the last three years when we haven’t been able to travel oversee to Japan due to international border closures and COVID, is through digital penpals between Nagano High School and Sunbury College.  

Student reflection 

This week classes enjoyed the company of a few Nagano High School students. In 8E's case we had 9 students spend a Japanese class with us where we split the Sunbury College students up into pairs and had a chance to ask each individual Japanese student questions such as, Are you enjoying your trip to Melbourne so far? What are your favourite and least favourite subjects? Do you have any pets? How old are you? What’s your name and when's your birthday? I really had a good time. I loved getting to know everyone and seeing our differences and how many things we had in common. Overall, it was a massive privilege to have them come over for a couple of weeks and meet them, they are such nice people, and I hope maybe to see them again one day.

By Kaylee-Shae Smith