I have been corresponding with the teacher of our Japanese students (who, incidentally, is Scottish) and he tells me that all the students are back home and at school after the earthquake. They are still experiencing after-shocks and people around them are still homeless.

Some of the lovely year 8 students wanted to help out and have donated some small gifts to let their pen pals know we are thinking of them. These will be posted next week, together with all the handmade postcards made by the year 8 and 9 students.

Teaching our students to be global citizens through global collaboration…..

On our return to school, there was yet another parcel awaiting year 8 and 9 students.  This time it was a bundle of hand made ‘postcards’ from our new Japanese pen friends.  While students are writing letters to Italy (Year 8) and Poland (Year 9), this is a little bit different.  Instead of writing chatty letters about life at school and Kalbarri, students will be exchanging brief handmade “postcards” which will deal more with our culture.  Our Japanese pen pals have chosen to include a picture displaying some aspect of Japanese culture and have written very briefly about the same topic.  Some have described their food (such as sushi), others have described temples, celebrations or architecture.  In return, our students will be making their own postcards depicting Australia and Kalbarri.

Just after the Japanese students sent their postcards to us, the recent earthquake hit their very town.  The students all survived but are now living in cars or evacuation centres.  Hopefully, we can help make them feel less alone by writing to them.

Here are some photos sent by the teacher –

Photos from the earthquake which hit the town where our new pen pals live