Good afternoon! It was a short week at school, and I hope everyone enjoyed a fun—or relaxing—Golden Week break.

On Thursday, we continued working on our information projects about local animals. The students are making great progress with their research and presentations. We had an extended gym session combined with Grade 5, which was a lovely opportunity to spend time together and build connections across year groups.

As it was Open Campus Day, we were delighted to welcome the Milky Way class from Nagano to our school. They enjoyed a tour of the campus and spent time with Grade 1 and Grade 2. The visitors joined us for lunch and outdoor play, making the most of their time here. They were especially fascinated by our class pets! It was so lovely to see them again and share part of our school day together.

On Friday, we were very fortunate to have Chiyo’s mum (from Grade 1) visit and speak to the students about the importance of managing screen time. She shared how children’s brains are still developing and explained that excessive use of devices—such as games and YouTube—can have negative effects. These can include reduced patience, difficulty staying calm and focused, and impacts on work habits and social development, particularly when screens replace interaction with others. She also highlighted the physical effects, such as strain on the eyes and neck.

The students engaged thoughtfully in the discussion and contributed their own ideas about the benefits of limiting screen time. They shared that having less time on devices allows for more meaningful activities, such as improving skills in skiing or snowboarding, spending quality time with family, and visiting new places like Mt. Fuji.

After break, we focused on English, revising word classes and practising how to identify them within a passage. Strengthening these foundational skills is essential for building confident and capable writers.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend—hopefully with some time to enjoy the lovely sunshine!