Our students learn with peers not only from Canadian Academy but also from local Japanese schools. As a school located in Kobe for 110 years, we are proud that we have built strong connections with local schools and have collaborated to learn from each other. In November, we were excited to welcome students from Ikuno Elementary School to our campus.
It has been around 20 years since the partnership with Ikuno started, and the 4th graders from both schools meet for cultural exchange every year. You might be surprised to know, but the Ikuno school is located in the city of Asago, 100 km away from Kobe! Despite the long distance, we have built a strong partnership with them for years.
‘Welcome to CA!’ Having prepared beautiful welcome signs and fun activities, our 4th graders could not wait to welcome their Ikuno friends on the day of their visit. The moment when the Ikuno students arrived, the CA students naturally put big smiles on their faces, and the atmosphere in the room lifted. They welcomed their Ikuno friends with a warm speech in English and Japanese, and then they headed for activities in small groups.
It was impressive to see the CA students taking the initiative to make sure all the Ikuno students were included and could enjoy the activities.
At the technology creation station, the CA students nicely guided their Ikuno peers and had an enjoyable time together. For the scavenger hunt, the CA students happily showed their Ikuno friends the school while answering interesting questions they had prepared. It was also amazing that the Ikuno students were risk-takers and open-minded, and quickly made friends with their new peers from CA.
After having lunch and playing outside together, it was time for the Ikino students to depart. Although it was sad to say goodbye, our 4th graders looked satisfied and proud because they were confident that their Ikuno friends enjoyed the visit. This year, we are fortunate to have a chance to visit the Ikuno school in December. How exciting it is to see their bond keep developing through the exchange program!