Japanese

こんにちは "Konnichiwa" from the Japanese class!

Summer in Japan lasts from June to August (probably until mid-September) and this year people in Japan experienced extreme hottest summer in recorded history. We have been learning about summer festivals and traditions in Japan. Week 9, we have done a Calligraphy experience in Grades 3 to 6 for writing 花火（hanabi）Fireworks.  Fireworks shows are a Japanese summer tradition and you can see the most spectacular show in many places in Japan. 

People in Japan learn 書道 (Sho dou), Calligraphy from childhood in order to write beautiful characters. We did two lessons so far last year but it was the first time this year and the very first Calligraphy lesson for Grade 3.  Japanese calligraphy is the way of writing with brush and Sumi ink. Sho means writing and Dou means the way of doing something.

The brush—a traditional writing instrument—is very hard to use until one gets used to it. But by training many times, anyone can learn to express characters in his or her own unique way. As a high art, calligraphy works can be seen not only at exhibitions, but also in a variety of places, including signs, posters and apparel designs. Calligraphy performances, in which a work is completed before an audience while moving actively such as in a dance, are also getting popular.

Foundation to Grade 2, students made some Fathers' Day cards last week. They are getting very good at origami and love making a card for their loved ones.

That's all from the Japanese class!

Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.

またね（matane）"See you"

Bawden Sensei

kbawden@sjyarrajunction. catholic.edu.au