Good morning!

Today in the Hall, junior high school students took part in choosing the members of the next students council. Both grade 1 and grade 2 students stood up to speak, and the rest of the students took notes. After, we returned back to our classes and voted.

Last year, the voting age in Japan was lowered from 20 to 18. That means some students in our school have the opportunity to vote in Japan’s national elections. Voting is a serious responsibility, and takes some effort. It is easy to vote for someone who is good-looking, or has a lot of energy, but it is important to listen to their ideas as well.

That is one reason we have a school council. It is a good chance for all of us to practice in this system.

Sometimes, one word in English can lead to many other words. For example, the word “elect” means “choose”. It also gives us the event, an “election”. There are also other related words, such as:

select(choose by setting apart),

neglect (not choose), and

intellect (the ability to choose between).

Have a good week. Remember, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday are 家庭学習日 on your schedule. Use your time wisely!

Hello everyone,

Yesterday was Friday, which is club day at school. After school the English club members gathered in the cooking room to make some Christmas cupcakes.

Recipe? Check. Toppings? Check. Santa hats? Check.

We made two groups of high school students and junior high school students mixed together.

Out of the oven, and on to the toppings. The more chocolate, the better!

Finished! I hope nobody ruined their dinner.

If you want to try making them at home, they are super easy. Just use pancake mix, milk, sugar, and an egg. Add some chocolate chips and toppings and you are ready to go!

The recipe we used.

This is our last club of this year, but I am looking forward to club starting again in January. Have a happy holidays everyone!

Hello everyone,

Before summer vacation, grade one junior high school students went to Shin-ai college for a lecture, and an art activity. They designed lapshades out of clay, and then the teacher at the college finished them. They were delivered back to use in October and have been on display at school.

Today the students took the lamp shades home, but first we displayed them all with little tea lights inside. It was a nice way to end the day. Here are some pictures:

Kawamoto-sensei setting up Class A’s table.

Here they are!

Ishikawa-sensei waiting for it to get darker (she takes much better pictures than I do!)

With the candles on.

My attempt. Don’t laugh! I tried to make the nativity scene with the star above, but Joseph started to lean over during the drying process. Hang in there Joseph!

It isn’t long until our Christmas Mass. Let’s enjoy the season together.

See you!

Hello everyone,

We are four days into December, and Christmas is only 3 weeks away. One of my favorite things about Christmas is the music. We call Christmas songs “Christmas Carols”. Whenever I hear Christmas carols it puts me in a good mood.

Everyday at the end of the school day, my class sings a song from the hymn (=songs for church) book we have. If you look at number 421, it is called もろびとこぞりて. We have the same song in English, and it is called “Joy to the World”.

Try singing the first verse (first part) to the music of number 421, and then you will know one of my favorite Christmas songs!

Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing

 

May your heart be merry during this season. One more test day to go, good luck!