(English follows Japanese)
8月7日に始まった2023年のSapphire Study Tourが20日の羽田空港帰着で終了いたしました。今年は4つの学校から16名の参加者を得て開催されました。毎回そうであるように、今回も、出発時は不安と緊張に包まれていますが、帰国の時点では皆、共通の体験をした同じ仲間という意識が芽生えていました。今後の生活に必ず生きてくるものと思います。特に今回は、急遽決まった附属幼稚園での剣道、折り紙、剣玉を皆で一緒になって作り上げました。臨機応変に協力して行動してくれたことが、引率2名にもうれしいことでした。このプログラムは一人ひとりの特技や隠れて持っているadvantageを見つけ、表現する場を用意することにも力を入れています。
これまで留守ご家族と関係者にお伝えしてきた日本語版・英語版ニュースレターの中から、現地の最終日の模様の日本語版を編集してご覧いただきます。
＊なお、2024年度は2つのコースを設ける予定です。先着順ではありませんが、事前登録制で、11月15日受付開始です。参加者募集前に受け入れ学校が先に決まっているという点がよそであまり見かけない「学校体験＋ホームステイ」のプログラムです。また参加者にはテーマを持って参加していただきます。「スポーツ」、「IT(情報科学)」、「音楽・芸術」、「社会問題探究」、「英語」、「文化体験と発信」などです。
The 2023 Sapphire Study Tour, which began on 7 August, ended with the return to Haneda Airport on 20 August. This year, 16 participants from four different schools took part in the event. As is the case every time, the participants were anxious and nervous at the time of departure, but by the time they returned home, they had developed a sense that they were all colleagues with whom they had shared a common experience. I am sure that this will come to each participant’s future life. This time, in particular, we all worked together to create kendo, origami and kendama at the affiliated kindergarten, which was decided on at short notice. The two leaders were very happy to see that the students were able to act flexibly and cooperatively. This programme of ‘Sapphires’ also focuses on finding each person’s special skills and hidden advantages and providing opportunities for them to express them.
From the Japanese and English versions of the newsletters we have been sending out to the families and other interested parties, we have edited the Japanese version of the last day of the programme to show the Japanese version of the final day at the site (Sorry for only Japanese).
*Note that there will be two courses in 2024. It is not on a first-come, first-served basis, but requires pre-registration, with registration opening on 15 November. This is a ‘school experience + homestay’ programme, which is not often seen in other countries, in that the host school is decided before the participants are recruited. Participants are also asked to choose a theme for their participation. Themes include Sports, IT (Information Technology), Music and Arts, Social Issues by inquiry based learning, English, Cultural Experience and Communication, etc.
(Special thanks to Bishop Druitt College & Goshu Info)
