something for everyone; Kita Elementary School

Today we went to Kita Elementary School. They were SO warm and welcoming and happy to see us. There was quite a buzz around campus - "The Americans are here, the Americans are here." We are the first group of American teachers to ever visit this school. At first, the kids were a little shy, peeking around pillars at us and slipping from view when 20 Americans whipped out their cameras, but by the end of the day, each of us had our own swarms of groupies, wanting to take pictures with us, wanting our signatures, just wanting hugs. My kind of place! They welcomed us with dances and songs, led by the Principal of the school on his harmonica!The energy of this day was palpable - very exhausting for someone who is used to the different pace of HS!
We are the first FMF contingency to ever visit Miyakojima Island. The press was there for our visit with the Mayor and for our quite wonderful visit with the Superintendent of Schools,
Katsumori Kugai (he'll show up again a few times.) He was very forthright with us about the problems schools are facing in Japan (particularly on this island) and his vision for ways of addressing these issues, at least locally.

Click on the picture above for some (a lot today) of highlights of the day!