Japanese Sister School Visit
From the 24th to 31st of July, DHS hosted our Japanese Sister School, Sakuyakonohana High School. Many students and staff were willing to become the host family for the Japanese students. It was a wonderful experience for everyone at school to connect and interact with the exchange students from Japan and create unforgettable memories for themselves.
On the first day, Japanese students were given a tour of the school and later met their host families. Many of our school’s students have mentioned how their arrival has brought warmth, grace and harmony from Japanese culture to our school. Their presence has shown us the beauty of different cultures connecting together.
Following the second day, they participated in classes and engaged with our school's students. This gave them an insight into our studies, classroom expectations, and how we engage with each other. Later in the day, they visited the Sovereign Hill Education Program. It was a place that recreated the days when gold was extracted in Australia.
On day 3, they had a cultural exchange party which the Japanese students prepared in Japan. One student mentioned, 'I was surprised at how eager everyone was to study Japanese. In the cooking class, we made Australian cookies. The girls we were paired up with were very skilful and reliable. I enjoyed making very delicious cookies.'
On day 4, they went to the city of Melbourne to watch the AFL game. Day 5, the students got the opportunity to spend a splendid day with their host family.
On day 6, they visited Healesville Sanctuary to see koalas, kangaroos, birds and many other animals up close. There they also had the opportunity to get souvenirs.
On the last day of their stay at Dandenong High School, they participated in different classes with the Dandenong High School students. One student mentioned, "What was particularly impressive was the maths class. Although I had already done it once before, I could not understand it at all because of my difficulty with English. It was frustrating, so I will try to study harder."
As the school day was coming to an end, the Dandenong High School held an amazing farewell assembly for the exchange students, where our school's choir team performed singing, there were many speeches, and lastly a lot of chatting and interaction. To end the day, they participated in a volleyball match organised by the students.
Exchange students have shared:
The trip made me feel the importance of human connections. At first, I was worried that I would not be able to speak well, but I felt a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment when I was able to get my message across, and I was able to speak without fear of making mistakes. My host family was very kind and I was very sad to leave them. Also, the students at Dandenong High School were very kind and I really enjoyed talking with them. There were many things I could learn just by taking classes, and I am glad I came. My most memorable experience was the cultural exchange meeting. Although the languages are different, I enjoyed the many
discoveries I made when communicating with people. I talked about many things while asking people's names at bingo and calligraphy.
I had a lot of fun in Australia. I made memories that I will never forget. I am very glad that I studied abroad and went to Dandenong High School.
This opportunity of our school hosting the Japanese sister school marks the beginning of a remarkable journey not just for them, but for every member of our community—a journey of learning, sharing, and growing together. In closing, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Japanese visitors for creating precious memories with us. Here’s to a successful exchange, to new beginnings and many more great opportunities that our school will hold in the future.
Nahian N
Year 11
Grevillea