Fuji Junior High

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This year, in August, 2002, as part of Copperfield College visit to their sister school Fuji Junior High School, staff and students were able to communicate not only through words, but through their Art work. Students from Copperfield College took part in the project My Place Asia Australia, developing mixed media art works of their special place, either real or imagined images on postcard size paper. Students then presented these artworks to their homestays as presents, giving the family a talking point to begin communicating with each other.

As part of the project in Japan of My Place Asia Australia, the Art Teacher Ms Amanda Angel, Copperfield Japanese Teacher, Ms Mori, and four student helpers introduced the project to two year 7 classes, supported by the Art Teacher Sensei Endo. She presented the topic to her Year 9 Art class, who showed great interest in the project. Copperfield students had been staying in homestays for about five days before these classes, so they were more relaxed in communicating in Japanese and had a better grasp of students lives, having experienced a different culture first-hand, and by talking with the friends they had made.

Students worked in watercolours, gouche and mixed medium materials on postcard size paper. The images of their "special place" included topics of imagined dream places, drawing some of their favourite places in books read, their place of worship, scenes of their favourite mountain Fuji, and the surrounding country-side, playing sport, meeting friends from overseas, and favourite places around the world. Students also gave their work titles, and wrote explanations why they were their special place. The images can be viewed here on this site along with some photos of the work being made. The students enjoyed the topic so much that the teachers let them continue the project in other classes.

Fuji Junior High School
Postcards Album

ABOUT FUJI JUNIOR HIGH

A fairly new school, only seven years old Fuji Junior High School, looks like it sits at the foot of Mt. Fuji, looking out the top floor windows of the school. On a clear day you can see this mountain clearly in front of you. The students, of which their are over 600 girls and boys have classes from year 7 to 9. after which they will go to a senior high school. This school in the prefecture of Shizouka in a heavy industrial setting with a large paper-making industry and huge port not far away. This school is a public school run by the city of Fuji Educational Board. The after-school program involves a great interest in their sporting program of which there are many, a huge music program including learning how to play traditional and non-traditional instruments, cultural programs such as enacting the tea-ceremony and flower presentation.

For more information

Introduction to first class. Ms Angel and students Kathy, Hannah
,Ellen and Eleanor(not pictured).
Helping with language.

Introduction to second class, taught by
Copperfield College students.

Art teacher Amanda Angel introducing My Place Asia Australia postcards as a source of ideas for their special place.

Year 7 class Fuji Junior High School

	Year 7 Art class- work in progress.

Mami O. 12 y.o. Special place 'Old Japanese Story' in progress.

	Masayoshi. H. 12 y.o. draft of special place 'No.1 in Japan'

Sayagaka. W. 12y.o. special place beginning colour: title 'Summer in Japan'.