本日午前中、中国の南通市の小学校との交流会が開催されました。This morning, we held an exchange event with an elementary school from Nantong City, China.

投稿日時 : 07/15

主担

７月１５日（火）午前中、中国南通市の２つの小学校との交流会が開かれました。

暑さのため冷房の入る多目的室と各教室で開催されました。

内容は

１　交流記念式典（両校長あいさつ、八町小児童代表あいさつ、学校紹介、南通市児童代表あいさつ、５つの演目披露、記念品交換、記念撮影）

２　青葉の集会（１６のたて割り班に分かれてゲームをとおしての交流会）

３　日本の給食、清掃の見学

です。

　南通市の２つの小学校の児童の発表は実に堂々としており、八町小の子どもたちにもよい影響を与えてくれました。披露してくれた５つの演目も、ダンス、演奏、合唱と、特にダンスは日本の小学校ではあまり見られない、大人びていて、大変堂々としたすばらしいものでした。

　たて割り遊びでも、言葉は通じませんが、子どもたちはすぐに打ち解け、楽しいひと時を過ごすことができました。

　中国では、昼食はビュッフェスタイルであり、清掃もないことから、日本の給食と清掃が見たいとのことで、最後に見学をされました。そして、見学後、昼放課の全校児童と代表児童が国旗をもって、お別れをしました。

　コロナ禍後、久しぶりに行われた南通市との交流でしたが、大変貴重な体験となり、子どもたちの民間交流は大変有意義なものであると感じました。

　南通市のみんさん、ありがとうございました。

Exchange Program with Two Elementary Schools from Nantong City, China
Tuesday, July 15 (Morning)

On the morning of Tuesday, July 15, we held an exchange event with two elementary schools from Nantong City, China.

Due to the hot weather, the activities were held in air-conditioned spaces, including the multipurpose room and various classrooms.

The program consisted of the following:

Exchange Ceremony

Welcome speeches by the principals
A student representative speech from Hatcho Elementary
School introductions
Student representative speech from Nantong
Performances (five in total)
Exchange of commemorative gifts
Group photo session
Group Exchange Time

Interaction through games in 16 mixed-grade groups
Observation of Japanese School Life

Visiting lunchtime and cleaning routines
The student presentations by the schools from Nantong were confident and impressive, leaving a positive impact on our students. The five performances—featuring dance, music, and singing—were particularly outstanding. The dances, in particular, were graceful and mature, unlike what is typically seen in Japanese elementary schools.

During the group activities, although the children did not share a common language, they quickly bonded and spent an enjoyable time together.

Since school lunches in China are typically served buffet-style and schools do not include cleaning duties, our guests were especially interested in observing Japan's school lunch system and student-led cleaning. After the observation, all Hatcho students and selected representatives gathered during lunch recess to see off the Nantong students, waving national flags in farewell.

This was our first in-person exchange with Nantong City since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it proved to be an incredibly valuable and meaningful experience. It reaffirmed the importance of grassroots-level international exchange among children.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to everyone from Nantong City.