Japanese Exchange Students Settling in Well

Our three Japanese exchange students from our sister school, Azusa, Karin, and Yoko, have now settled in very well to college life at St Andrews. They are enjoying both the subjects and sports they have chosen, and it has been wonderful to see them immersing themselves in new experiences while also sharing aspects of their own culture with us.

In Year 10 Visual Arts, the students recently completed a graphite pencil drawing which they were able to take home this week. The task was to draw a simple food item of their choice under the theme “Fine Diner”, with a focus on tonal value. Each student carefully worked on shading and creating realistic effects in their artwork. Miss Rivera, who is the Year 10 Visual Arts teacher, was amazed not only by their art skills but also by their focus and concentration in class. She commented that having exchange students brings a fresh perspective, as she is able to share Australian classroom culture while also learning about Japanese culture from them in return.

Outside the classroom, the exchange students have also been participating in sports with our Year 10 students. They have been enjoying rock climbing, challenging themselves to climb higher each week. Their determination to reach the top of the more difficult climbs has impressed their classmates, and their enthusiasm is contagious.

The students themselves shared their thoughts:

• Azusa: “I really enjoyed drawing in Visual Arts. Our teacher is very kind, and it is always fun to attend the lesson.”
  
  
• Karin: “Rock climbing was exciting because I had never tried it before in Japan.”
  
  
• Yoko: “Everyone in class is very kind, and I like studying different subjects here.”
  
  

The students have quickly become valued members of our school community, and both staff and students are enjoying the opportunity to learn from them and share experiences together. We look forward to seeing how they continue to grow, contribute, and enjoy their time at St Andrews in the weeks ahead.

Mrs Mariko Suzuki

Leader of Learning - Languages