富沢小学校 Tomilishブログ

This month the Display Committee (掲示委員会) have made posters on the theme of entrance ceremonies (入学式).
The students were very surprised to learn that in some countries they don't have entrance ceremonies.

Other countries also have very different traditions for their entrance ceremonies.
Korean schools have their entrance ceremonies in March. They have lots of balloons for decorations! Taiwan schools don't have entrance ceremonies but they have a ceremony for the start of the school year.

Some of the traditions were surprising!
In Russia the students all carry flowers and take a picture together. In Germany the students bring big paper cones filled with snacks and stationary that they exchange with their friends.

It was interesting to learn about other countries.
In the U.K. the first day at school is very relaxed. Students get to know their new classmates and teachers. In China, parents don't usually take part in the entrance ceremony but recently more and more parents have been taking part.

The posters are in the school entrance hall so please take a look if you visit the school.

Happy Halloween! On October 31st, everyone at Tomizawa Elementary School had fun celebrating Halloween.
Many teachers and staff members dressed up.

Members of the Display Committee (掲示委員会) decorated the entrance to the school.
Their ghosts, pumpkins and vampires created a great Halloween atmosphere.

Volunteers from Link decorated pumpkins to put in the students entrance.
Each pumpkin had a different face.

They even made one pumpkin look like Anejiro, our school mascot.
Wow! They look so good! Thank you!!

Many classes also held Halloween parties. They played games and dressed up.
Some classes even played games outside. Can you see Pikachu? Pikachu is playing dodgeball!

Some students also wore their costumes to English class.
Nice hats!

The homeroom teachers also tried to dress up for English classes.
Even wearing a Halloween headband changes the class atmosphere! All the students were very excited.

Some teachers put a lot of effort into their costumes!
This class wasn't taught by Ms. Emily and Ms. Ayaka. It was taught by Ms. Minnie and Ms. Jessie!

Everyone enjoyed Halloween! We are all thinking of costume ideas for next year!

This month the Display Committee (掲示委員会) have made posters about the meaning of gestures in different countries. This time everyone made a quiz.
These quiz posters are in the entrance hall for the school. Can you guess the answers?

Question 1:


Answer 1:


Question 2:


Answer 2:


Question 3:


Answer 3:


Question 4:


Answer 4:


Question 5:


Answer 5:


Question 6:


Answer 6:


Question 7:


Answer 7:


Did you learn something new? Thanks to the Display Committee, we can learn a lot of new things!

This month the Display Committee (掲示委員会) have made posters on the theme of national flowers (国花).


Do you know what is Japan's national flower?
Actually there are two different flowers: cherry blossoms and chrysanthemums. Did this surprise you?

Here are the national flowers for South Korea and Scotland.
The students decorated the posters beautifully!

The next posters are for Australia and England.
I have never seen the national flower for Australia before!

Lastly, this is the national flower for China.
It was picked because it was the most popular flower. Everyone likes peonys!

What is your favorite flower? If you'd like to see the posters more closely, they are in the entrance hall for the school.

There is one big event at the end of May for our school. Do you know what it is? It's Sports Day (運動会)! This month the Display Committee (掲示委員会) have made posters on the theme of Sports Day.

This is the display that is in the entrance of the school.
The pictures are all from Ms. Emily's (our ALT) elementary school Sports Day in Scotland.

The students were most surprised that there are no opening or closing ceremonies at a Sports Day in Scotland.
In the picture on the right you can see one of the events 'standing long jump'. The older students are helping to write down the scores.


Another event is the '3-legged-race'. We have this even in Japan, too!
The students are split into 3 teams (red, white and blue). They don't compete as a class. Ms. Emily was in the blue team.

Do you know this event? It's called the 'potato sack race'. You have to get into a big sack and jump to the finish. It is so fun! Everyone wants to try it!
Sports Day takes place on a weekday so many parents are working. Some parents still come to watch.

Two more events are the 'egg and spoon race' and the 'tug-of-war'. We do the 'tug-of-war' in Japan, too!
All the events are held on the grass soccer field. This is very different to Tomizawa Elementary School. There is no sand!

Some of the students made their poster into a quiz! Nice job!


We hope everyone will enjoy learning about Sports Day in another country!

Hello and welcome to a new school year at Tomizawa Elementary School!
This year we are continuing to focus on improving our English skills. We hope you will enjoy reading about our progress!

Yesterday, we had our first Display Committee meeting (掲示委員会） of the year. The meeting was very busy because we had to decide our officers and goals for the year but the students still managed to find the time to make a lovely display. The Display Committee are amazing!

Our topic this month is Easter.

The students made posters explaining about different traditions and games played in Scotland (Ms. Emily's country).

One ofthe most interested games was called "Egg tapping".

Two people hit two boiled eggs together and the person whose egg breaks first loses! Everyone wanted to try the game.

The students also explained about Easter cards and parades.

Rabbits and chicks are symbols of new life in spring. They are very cute!

The students also explained about Easter Eggs.

People paint eggs and play games trying to find hidden eggs. There is even an Easter Bunny (rabbit) who brings candy for children.

It's a fun holiday!
The students made a great first display. We are looking forward to seeing what they make in the future!

This month the Display Committee (掲示委員会）have made posters about the viking festival, Up-Helly-Aa. Have you ever heard of it?

Our ALT, Ms. Emily, is from an island in the north of Scotland called Shetland.

This is Shetland!

They have a festival every January. It celebrates the island's viking history.

The festival has been taking place for over 100 years. It's the biggest fire festival in Europe!


Men called 'Guizers' dress as vikings and parade through the town. They pull a viking longboat made especially for the festival. They also carry big torches.


At the climax of the parade everyone throws their torches into the ship. The ship burns and looks very beautiful.


After the parade everyone goes to many different halls. Everyone sings and dances until morning.

It's a great festival!

Happy New Year!

To bring in the New Year the Display Committee (掲示委員会）have made posters introducing New Year traditions in Scotland (Ms. Emily's country). Did you know Scotland has a special name for the last day of the year? It's called Hogmanay (ホグマニ―). Other English countries call it New Year's Eve.

On December 30th, some places have fire festivals.

These people swing fire around their heads. It is amazing to watch!

Did you spent New Year's Eve (December 31st) with your family? In Scotland, it is not a family holiday. Many people spent it with their friends. There are many street parties.

In the picture you can see some of Scotland's traditions. The first person to enter the house in the new year will bring good luck. Their presents have different meanings, for example, bringing bread means you won't be hungry this year.

When the clock strikes 12, we say "Happy New Year!"

Most cities have big fireworks displays. Everyone crosses hands and sings the song `Auld Land Syne`. It celebrates friendship. Maybe you know it? In Japan, Hotaru no Hikari has the same tune. However, the words are different.l

Did you eat Osechi at New Year? In Scotland they have traditional food for January 1st, too. Many people eat steak pie on New Year's Day.

Steak pie looks very delicious! It's easy to prepare or buy in advance, like osechi.

At New Year it is traditional to wish for health and happiness. Wishing you good health, happiness and success from everyone here at Tomizawa Elementary School. We all hope you enjoy read our blog this year too!

The Display Committee (掲示委員会）have been working hard this year to create displays introducing foreign culture and traditions to the students. Most elementary students cannot read English so the posters are written in Japanese. The students use pictures so they are easy to understand.

Last month, they made posters introducing Christmas in Scotland (Ms. Emily's country).

There are lots of different kinds of Christmas lights. Some families cover their houses in lights! In the town, there are lights between the buildings.



Christmas cake is very different! Japanese Christmas cake has cream and strawberries. Christmas cake in Scotland is made with dried fruits and marzipan! Ms. Emily doesn't like Christmas cake.



We used a picture of Ms. Emily's Christmas dinner. It wasn't chicken. She made goose, ham and many other dishes. We wanted to eat it, too.


The posters are displayed in the entrance to the school so all the students can see them easily. If you come to school, why don't you take a look?

Do you know Anejiro? He is Tomizawa Elementary School's mascot character.



He is very popular, especially with the younger students.
We use his name to teach students how to act.


Each letter of his name starts a sentence. He is helpful!

Did you know he has an English cousin? His name is Anejiro, too!
You have to say his name with an English accent: Anejiro.



He has blue eyes and rainbow clothes. He helps the teachers to tell the students how to act in English class and Tomilish Time.


His name tells the students how to act, too.

Most importantly, his pictures are in every classroom.


The students look at them before Tomilish Time and English class. They made us remember what we should do.


We have to make eye contact when we talk.


Japanese Anejiro helps, too. Let's all smile!


Don't forget to listen and speak in a clear voice!

Sometimes Anejiro comes to class, too! When there is only one teacher in English class, Anejiro helps to demonstrate conversations to the students.


In this class, 2nd grade students are asking Anejiro what pizza toppings he likes.

Japanese Anejiro and English Anejiro help the teachers a lot. The students love them, too!