Cultural Exchange
Exciting Cultural Exchange with Niigata International High School
During Week 8, our school had the pleasure of hosting a group of students and teachers from Niigata International High School, Japan. This visit was the first cultural exchange program aimed at fostering international friendships and understanding at St Joseph's Catholic College for many years.
The visiting students were warmly welcomed with a special assembly with speeches from Mrs Rolfe and Mrs Chapple. During the week our visitors attended a special lesson with Year 7 where they introduced themselves and shared fascinating insights about Japanese culture, traditions, and their school life in Niigata. Our students were particularly intrigued by the presentations on traditional Japanese festivals and the unique school activities that Niigata students participate in.
Throughout the week, the Niigata students attended various classes and participated in a range of engaging activities. They had a blast cooking traditional Australian treats like ANZAC biscuits and Vegemite scrolls, which were a hit with everyone. They also enjoyed making wooden koala key chains, a fun and creative way to take a piece of Australia back home with them, creating cyanotype print art with Mrs Wallace and meeting our friendly Alpacas with Mrs Allott and the Year 9 Agriculture class.
In addition to these hands-on activities, the students learned how to play ultimate frisbee, a sport that quickly became a favourite. They also participated in math games that challenged their problem-solving skills and creativity. Another highlight was the mask-making workshop, where students from both schools created beautiful and imaginative masks, showcasing their artistic talents and their personalities.
One of the highlights of the visit was the MADDness showcase held in our school hall. Niigata International High school students and teachers were so impressed by the creative talents of our students, and we welcomed them on stage to share their experiences of the cultural exchange with their host students. The event was a huge success, with everyone enjoying the chance to try new things and make new friends.
The visit concluded with a visit to the Olive Grove with Year 11 Agriculture and Primary Industries class where our Japanese visitors were able to see beautiful views and meet our very cute baby calves. Niigata International High School students also attended sport with their host students on Thursday afternoon.
It was clear that this experience had a profound impact on both the visiting and host students, creating memories and friendships that will last a lifetime. On Friday morning our visitors left for a visit to a zoo in Sydney and all our host students and their Japanese friends were very upsetting saying goodbye.
A special thank you goes out to the host families who opened their homes and hearts to our guests. Your generosity and hospitality made this exchange truly special and helped create a welcoming environment for our visitors.
We look forward to continuing this valuable exchange program and hope to visit Niigata International High School in the near future. A big thank you to everyone who helped make this visit a success!
Tanya Chapple
Language Teacher
