Recently, we had 10 visitors from Japan visit our school: 7 Japanese junior high school students, a representative from the Board of Education, a Junior High School principal and an English teacher from Nogi Town in Tochigi Prefecture. The students were generously hosted by families of Kalamunda Senior High School. A big thank you to the Schrapes (x2!), Haighs (x2), Jones, Hulcup and Sinfield families who gave the students such wonderful host families!

The Nogi Junior High students had intensive English lessons each morning, before joining a variety of lessons with Kalamunda SHS students. It was great to see my Japanese language learners putting into practice some of their language skills! It always makes me so happy to see how warm and welcoming Kalamunda SHS students are to exchange students. Particularly those students that looked after the exchange students at recess and lunchtimes!

I would also like to thank the teachers that hosted not only the exchange students, but also the Nogi town officials, in their classes! Mr Reece Young, Mr Jacob Petit, Ms Kayla Maritz, Mr Ian Mcmullen, Ms Catherine Bode, Mrs Alanna Webb, Mr Matt Millan, Ms Lauren Smails, Ms Anna Head and Mrs Jan Mackenzie all generously opened their classrooms to give the students a feel for school life in Australia! Also, big thanks to the whole Languages Department that stepped in to cover the day that was meant to be the Sports Carnival! We could not support these exchanges without such supportive colleagues and I feel lucky every day to work with the best in the business!

Toward the end of the exchange, the Nogi Town local government hosted a farewell dinner for the students, their host families, and the teachers that had supported their visit over the week. We were treated to a delicious meal at The Vault, and entertained by the students performing the Soran Bushi. It was a great night!

Tori McGuire
Languages Teacher