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A day in the life at Fuji?> 2009 Aug-Sep |
2009 Aug-Sep
| Sep 26th (Fri) Three Silver Medals at Asia Youth Paragames
Manami Ueda, a fifth year student at Fuji, made a strong impression at the Asia Youth Paragames which were held in Tokyo this month by collecting three silver medals for swimming.
Manami has been training since the age of five and consistently improving her swimming ability. She participated in the Kanto and all-Japan competition, comming first a total of four times in the freestyle and backstroke heats.
A wonderful achievement, Manami!
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| Sep 24th (Wed) Students Participate in Panel Discussion
Two students were involved with "Sapporo Children's Book Forum - Becoming Friends With Books", a panel discussion held in Sapporo last month. Along with Mayor Ueda, Tetsuo Matsuda, a consultant to Chikuma Shobo Publishers, and Kuniharu Kusumi of Sapporo's Kusumi Bookstore, the two students (members of the school's children's book club) participated as panelists and enjoyed discussing their views on various aspects of books and reading.
The students' thoughts on the event can be read below:
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〜Reflections: part 1〜
"What impressed me most today was during Mr. Matsuda’s talk when he related a conversation between Hanae, the writer of “Diary of a Primary School Child”, and her mother. The upshot was the mother telling Hanae that “if you think the book is boring, then don’t read it”. When I heard this, I thought “Hmm, that’s not something you hear every day”. Reading a book is not something we should have to make an effort at, or be forced to do. Our relationship with books at its most profound is expressed succintly by the response given by Hanae’s mother; namely, we read books because we enjoy doing it, because we like what we have nestled in our palm.
My participation in this forum helped me to rediscover how much fun reading a book actually is. Having said this, the reason I will continue to read books is not so much because reading them is fun, nor because I think it’s good to read lots of books or challenging books; rather, because I look forward to what I can absorb from a book, I look forward to picking up the book which will leave a special impression on me.
The people on the discussions panel said that no matter how much time has passed, when you pick up a book you read a long time ago, the emotions you felt at that time come flooding back. I hope that one day I will be able to have a bookshelf overflowing with books which will enable me to experience this."
M.H.
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〜Reflections: part 2〜
"My participation in the panel discussion with Tetsuo Matsuda, Kuniharu Hisazumi, Aira Takemoto, and Mayor Ueda was the chance of a lifetime. All I was able to contribute to this discussion was how I came to like reading and how books figure in my life on a day to day basis, but I was thrilled to hear what those whose liveliehoods revolves around books had to say. As a book lover, there were so many interesting things being said. Examples included being treated to why “This book is a must-read for junior high schoolchildren!”, watching the reaction of children present when Ms. Takemoto read them a story, listening to Mr. Matsuda talking what he’s careful about when choosing a book on the programme “King’s Brunch”, and the mayor telling us what motivated him to start reading books.
I think that is very important to make sure that young children are given the chance to read books; this especially true nowadays, as many people are worried about the way in which reading seems to be declining. There are even people who “hate reading” even though they haven’t ever tried, and I think they are missing so much. It is never too late to start reading books.
Books are a door to another world. This is as true for a fantasy novel as it is for a classical novel. These worlds are always just an armslength away. Participating in this forum, I realised just how great it can be to come across so many different “worlds” and, in doing this, widen the borders of one’s own world. "
S.O.
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| Sep 12th (Sat) First School Open Day
The first open day has been held, attracting almost 300 visitors. In addition to tours of the dormitory and the school, there were mock lessons and other enjoyable classes which helped give the elementary schoolchildren an idea of what awaits them at Fuji. Various talks on trends for those going on to university, as well as the characteristics of a Fuji education, were also given to parents. The next scheduled open day will be held on October 31st (Sat) at 13:00. Please come and have a look if you have time.
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Slideshow at the dormitory
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Visitors experience a dormitory lunch
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A harp performance to start
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First years showing "trust in your neighbour"
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"Roll up roll up, English class starting!"
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Q&A on the 7th floor for any sort of question
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Experiencing an art class
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5th years reminiscing on their interviews?
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| Aug 28th (Fri) Hokkaido University Science Fair at Fuji
For the third year in a row, the students and teachers of Hokkaido University came to Fuji to put on a large scale demonstration of a variety of scientific experiments and research. There were many booths to visit, and the all of those involved taught the students about the latest research being carried out, as well as the surprises, fun, and fascination to found in the study of science.
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Students taking "class" in the gym
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A wide variety of experiments on show
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"Our rainbow from the cosmos": light!
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Observing different strains of bacteria
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Students enjoy a kind and detailed explanation
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Measuring the sweetness of fruit and vegetables
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What have we here? Ready to operate, are we?!
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Former students (centre) are also involved
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Learning about the nervous system of a squid...
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...and eating it just to make sure!
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Slime! This is what it is all about!
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Many thanks to all the teachers and students
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| Aug 27th (Thu) First Year Retreat
A total of 152 first year students attended their yearly retreat which was held at the Hanakawa campus. Thanks to hands-on learning experiences, talks on selected passages from the Bible, and sharing with friends, the students were able to realise the true importance of “compassion and kindness”. The day, which the students spent surrounded by an abundance of natural beauty, was one where the students were able to feel truly refreshed, both physically and spiritually.
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| Aug 18th (Tue) Assembly
Today, the assembly which officially marks the end of the summer holiday was held. Students came to school and were able to see their friends and teachers after the holiday. Classes start tomorrow.
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| Aug 5th (Wed) Summer Study Camp
The summer study camp for 4th and 5th years was held in the school dormitory from the 1st to the 5th of August. Students from each year spent two nights at the dormitory and were able to brush up on several subjects.
This year, air-conditioned classrooms at Fuji university were made available so that, despite the summer heat and humidity, the participants could enjoy studying in a more comfortable setting. Adding actual class time to self study time, the students had around a total of nine hours of study in one day which they took very seriously indeed. In the survey after this study camp, both sets of students wrote they they wanted to take part in the next session to be scheduled.
Good work, girls!
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| Aug 1st (Sat) Mt. Taisetsu Ascent
The school’s annual four-day trek across the Mt. Taisetsu range was held from July 29th this year. Thirty five participants, complete with their 10 kilo rucksack, commenced the arduous climb to the summit of Mt. Asahi, where many tear of joy were shed once it had been conquered.
Before starting their descent, the students prayed for the repose of the souls lost in the Mt. Taisetsu Hiking Accident only two weeks previously.
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The group about to depart from the school
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Final preparation before entering the mountain
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Waiting on morn's first light with a smile!
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At another summit
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