A Celebration of International Friendships

International Friendship Day timed perfectly with our week of international friendships at St Peter’s Woodlands. Early this term, SPW welcomed 16 Japanese students and their teachers into our school community.

For the past 12 years, SPW has continued to build a partnership with Kori Nevers Gakuin, a Primary school in Osaka. Over the course of a week students shared in a range of experiences that not only immersed our visitors in Australian school life but also gave our own students the opportunity to learn about Japanese culture, celebrate our similarities and differences, and build lasting friendships.

Congratulations to our Year 5 students who engaged so respectfully, kindly and creatively with new friends from Japan as the children shared a school integration program together. We are very grateful to the sixteen SPW host families in Year 5 and Year 6 who provided an incredible homestay for the Japanese children. Thank you to the SPW community for embracing this opportunity and being part of what is going to help keep our world that bit more peaceful – and what fun we had!

“I definitely recommend this wonderful experience, and I feel very grateful to be able to have been a host family in Primary school. I thought it was incredibly courageous of the Japanese students.  I am glad they came to our school.” Lewis Year 5

“It was fun and exciting to be a host student. It was an awesome week and a special experience for my family. Haruki got to experience Australian life with us, but I also go to learn lots about his culture, too. I made a friend from Japan and I miss my student Haruki. We are still emailing each other and I really hope to see him again someday.” Innes Year 5

“Haru and I had so much fun playing, gaming, joining in soccer and going to Bounce. It was exciting and I was sad to see him go home. I am really glad I got to be a host for Haru.” Monty Year 5

“It was exciting to meet my host student when I went to Japan and visited her school in Osaka! Having Sakuko stay with me was fun and I learnt so much from her. This experience has inspired me to keep learning more Japanese!” Anna Year 5

“There were challenges in being a host student which I really grew from and there was also a lot of fun! I thought my Japanese student was very brave and resilient. I liked that we had the opportunity to host a Primary aged student from Japan and overall, I came away with a really great experience.” Eva Year 5

Article shared by Skye Baldacchino, Sensei.