Japanese | Update

Term 3 in Japanese!

From Foundation to Grade 6, this term has started with a celebration of kisetsu (seasons). While we have been shivering away in Fuyu (Winter), Japan has been sweating away in Natsu (Summer)!

Just like we have to flip our language brains around to change an English sentence into a Japanese sentence, we also have to flip the seasons around when we compare Australia to Japan. The students have had some incredible discussions about how our planet moves around the sun, and what it means if you’re in the Southern Hemisphere, like Australia, or the Northern Hemisphere, like Japan. Which kisetsu would you rather be in?

Everyone has added to, or refreshed, their vocabulary around seasons – Natsu, Aki, Fuyu, Haru – and the colours commonly associated with each one – midori, kiiro, orenji, aka, shiro, ao, pinku (tokidoki murasaki, chairo, kuro). Can they tell you which colours these are?

We have also been swept away by the natural beauty of Japan in each season through some incredible photographs. From gorgeous waterfalls in Karuizawa, surrounded by lush green forests, to spectacular sculptures carved in the Snow Festivals of Hokkaido. We have seen rivers that look like pink and purple pathways under a carpet of fallen cherry blossoms, and corridors of flame as Autumn leaves surround the walkways with crimson reds, vibrant oranges, and golden yellows. Are you ready to plan your holiday yet?

These stunning seasons inspired a team up with Art, and some of the results so far have been truly delightful. The collaboration between Art and Japanese has seen students working across both subjects to craft a Japanese style paper lantern that celebrates the shapes and colours of each season. Both Dee and I are looking forward to sharing this incredible display of Japan-inspired beauty with everyone at the Art show in Term 4.

Before then, we have Japanese Day – September 19th – to be excited for! Keep your eye on this newsletter each week and your ear out for those Sentral notifications, as updates and information head out. Already available in this newsletter is your child’s invitation to wear a Japanese-themed costume on the day. Coming soon is the delicious menu from Sushi Nova as they provide us with lunch orders that give us a taste of Japan!

Some superstar Grade 5/6 students are also carefully crafting their application letters for running their own Japanese activities on the day, with the final selections happening next week. So far, I’ve seen ideas from cooking to crafting, singing to gaming, and heard whispers of more to come. With such enterprise and ambition from our young leaders we want to ensure their success on the day. So, if you are one of our trained volunteers at Dana Street and are willing/able to lend a hand supporting some activities on Japanese Day (especially cooking and crafting), please reach out and let Bec Sensei know!