Japanese 

Dear Parents and Carers,

It is with mixed emotions that I write this message. This week marks the end of my teaching journey at Monty, and while I am excited about the new challenge ahead, I am deeply saddened to leave this beautiful school community.

Starting in 2025, I will be working at the Monash Japanese Language Education Centre (MJLEC), supporting Japanese language teachers in Victoria. This opportunity is a significant step in my teaching career, but leaving Monty, a school that holds such a special place in my heart, is not an easy decision.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the parents and carers who have continuously supported our Japanese language program. Your encouragement has been invaluable. To my amazing students, thank you for making teaching such a joy. I hope you enjoyed learning as much as I enjoyed teaching you.

I feel assured knowing that our Japanese program will thrive under the care of Ayako Sensei, who is experienced and knowledgeable. I am confident she will continue to build on the program's success.

A special thank you goes to our parent helpers - Naho-san, Tomoe-san, and Ryoko-san - for your tireless efforts during our special events. Your support has been instrumental, and we couldn’t have done it without you. Monty is incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful community.

As the year wraps up, I wish you all a safe and relaxing holiday and all the best for 2025!

Year 5/6 Japanese: Exploring Art and Culture

Earlier this year, a student survey revealed that nearly 70% of our Year 5/6 students wanted to learn about Japanese art. With Yayoi Kusama’s works coming to the NGV, we embraced the theme of ‘Japanese Art – Modern and Traditional’ this term.

Students explored Kusama’s fascinating life in Japanese, using sentences they learned to create personal timelines. They also studied Kusama’s artwork, revisiting key vocabulary from previous lessons to deepen their understanding.

One of the term's highlights was a Japanese traditional art incursion. Renowned artist Junko Azukawa visited our school and taught students how to paint bamboo using traditional ink and brush techniques. This hands-on experience was eye-opening and truly memorable for all involved.

 Thank you again for being part of such a supportive and inspiring school community.

How to Make Sushi Rice

We celebrated the Year 6 graduation with some rolled sushi in our Japanese class. Everyone enjoyed the activity and mastered the art of rolling sushi beautifully! Many students asked how to prepare sushi rice, so here’s a simple guide:

1. Use the right rice: Sushi rice should be made with short- or medium-grain rice. It’s important to note that Jasmine or Basmati rice won’t work for this recipe.

2. Cook the rice properly: Use the absorption method to cook the rice.

3. Add sushi seasoning: Pour Japanese sushi seasoning (available at supermarkets) over the cooked rice and gently mix. If you don’t have sushi seasoning, you can make your own.

4. Mix with care: Use a flat wooden spoon to mix the rice, using a cutting or slicing motion. This prevents squishing the rice and keeps the grains fluffy and separate.

For a detailed tutorial on making your own sushi seasoning, check out this video: SBS The Cook Up with Adam Liaw – Sushi Rice Recipe.

https://www.sbs.com.au/food/the-cook-up-with-adam-liaw/recipe/sushi-rice/hygvtbih6

Enjoy making sushi rice at home and rolling your own delicious sushi!

Warmest regards

Junko Nichols