On the afternoon of July 12, the first conference of SSH management and guidance commettee was held.  Prior to the meeting the Basic Science Seminar Lesson was open to guests and visitors.  Students in 1-2 made a presentation in English on four scientific phenomena such as Gaussian accelerator, Return cylinder, Melting ice and Rotating magnet.  They were doing their best to make themselves understood.

On July 12th, the debriefing session of research study for the students in literature course was held.  Our students made a presentation on their study which they have been working on since this April.  Teachers from Ehime Prefectural Education Center gave the students advice on how they should make their research a fruitful one, how they could make their presentation effective, and how important it is to refer to previous studies.

On July 10th, the debriefing session of research study for the students in math and science course was held.  Our students made a presentation on their study which they have been working on since this April.  Teachers from Ehime Prefectural Education Center and Niihama Industrial College of Technology gave the students advice on how they should make their research a fruitful one, how they could make their presentation effective, and how important it is to refer to previous studies.

Students' Presentation on "Disaster Prevention" and "Local Economy"

On July 4th, students in the first year had Yu-fa-z.  7 groups (one out of each group) had their presentation on "Disaster Prevention" or "Local Economy."   Each group did their best and they had an active session of questions and answers.

The following is a student's answer to the task, "Is food in Japan healthy?"

I think that food in Japan is healthy.  I have two reasons.  First, Japanese food take a lot of nutrition.  Second, there are a lot of chemical-free vegetables in Japan.  They are safer than others.  These are the reasons why I think food in Japan is healthy.

The following are students' answers to the task "What team do you join now?  Try to write about it in more detail." "To someone who hasn't joined any teams.  What are you interested in?  What do you enjoy doing?"

☆I am in the photography club.  I usually take pictures of animals and scenery.  I like landscape photos.  Also, I like taking pictures.  We can take pictures with our own cameras.  So we can take our favorite pictures.  It is very fun for me.

☆I am in the English Speaking Society club.  It is a poular club in my high school.  There are about thirty people in the club.  We usually enjoy studying English.  I like to talk with other students in English.

☆I am on the soccer team.  I started soccer when I was seven years old.  So I have been playing it for nine years.  I like to play soccer, because I like sports.  I want to try baseball and basketball.  But I don't have time to play them.

☆I'm interested in TV programs such as the news, sports, travel, and comedy programs.  I enjoyed watching these programs.  My hobby is collecting stamps.  They are very beautiful.  I want to have more hobbies.

The following is a student's story about their GW holiday.

On April 27, I went to see a basketball game with my friends which our seniors took part in.  The game was held in Imabari Industrial High School.  There were two games on the first day, and on the second day, there was a rivival of the losing teams.  Our seniors had 1 win and 1 loss.
On April 28, our school team had the loser revival match with the team from Imabari Kita High School, who lost a match the previous day.  We cheered for our team with all our might.  Our team lost the game.  It meant that they had to retire.  I was very sad.  But it was good to see the seniors' games.  It was good to become a manager of the male basketball team.  I love my seniors.

On June 27th, YFU short-term exchange students had a field trip around Saijo Senior High School.  They visited Kodomono-kuni, and had a close look at the Danjiri, Mikoshi, and Taikodai, all of which are decorated floats for Saijo Festival held every autumn.  Then they visited Saijo's Local Museum and they learned about some of the collection there.  They also paid a visit to Suito Market, looked at the local fruits and vegetables and tasted Uchinuki, Saijo's underground spring water.

YFU short-term exchange studetns have arrived from US.  They are going to stay in Saijo for about a month and experience high school life with us.

The following is a student's story about their GW in 2019.

I went to Hiuchi Athletic Stadium on May 1st.  It's because there was a tournament.  I participated in the high jump and the mile relay.  It was the first time for me to take part in the mile relay.  I was No. 1 in the high jump.  We were No.2 in the relay.  I was very happy.  But as for the high jump, I was a little sad, because I was not able to do my best.  I want to do my best in the next tournament, so I will practice hard.

Students in the first year prepared for the presentation on the topics "Disaster Prevention" and "Local Economy" on June 20th, Thursday.  They worked in groups in each class.  Some of them are going to have a presentation in the gym with a class representative on July 4th.

The following is a student's story about their Golden Week Holiday in 2019.

On May fifth.  I went to Matsuyama with my family.  I enjoyed talking with them in the car on the way there.  Usually my parents are busy.  So I thought this time is important.  At noon, we arrived at Matsuyama and went shopping.  The Gintengai was full of people.  There were many foreigners because it was Golden Week.  While we were walking, a foreigner tried to talk to us.  He asked us something but I was not able to understand him clearly.  I said, "I can't speak English, sorry."  I want to catch and speak English well.  I had a special experience.  In the evening, we went to my grandmother's house.  We ate tempura there.  My grandparents and aunt were fine.  I talked about my high school life.  My aunt said, "Studying hard is very good.  But somethimes take a rest."  I said, "Thank you.  You too!"  I was able to relax and said to myself, "Do your best again!  My family's bond deepened today.  I had a good time.

The following is a student's story about their Golden Week Holiday in 2019.

I climbed Mt. Ishizuchi with my family.  It was the first climbing experience for me and my sister.  First, we moved from Shimetani station to Joju station by ropeway and walked to the Joju station.  After visiting there, the mountain climbing began.  I went up a lot of stairs and walked uphill and downhill, so my feet hurt.  I also took a break on the way.  I climbed the first chain, the second chain, and the third chain.  The last chain were almost vertical and seemed long.  If you climb it and you will arrive at the top!  It was a long and hard way, but it was very fun to walk in nature, as it is not usually the case.  I also went to Mt. Tengu at a height of 1982 meters.  The height of 1982 meters was so high that I was surprised.  There was a big sense of accomplishment when I reached the top.  I had a very good experience as I was able to climb the highest mountain in western Japan.  I want to go there again.

The following is a student's story about their GW in 2019.

I went to Kobe with my family to visit my grandfather and my uncle on May 1st.  My family and I left our house for Tokushima at teno'clock.  Because my grandmother and my uncle live there.  I saw them for the first time in two years.  My family and I took a rest in their house.  After that, we went to Kobe.  We went over the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.  We visited the museum of the bridge and we walked under it.  I felt very cool.  After that, we went to the Arima Hot Springs.  Our room had open an air bath.  I took a bath and I was very comfortable.  For dinner we had beef.  It's a Kobe menu.  The meal was delicious.  The next day, we went to the Kobe Port Tower.  The tower height is about one hundred meters.  The view of observatory was very beautiful.  We enjoyed the trip.  I love Kobe.  I want to go to Kobe again.

The send-off Party and the advance training for the 5th batch of students studying abroad was held on June 8th, Saturday at MEXT.  Our student who is leaving for Germany this July to study took part in the meeting.  About 300 high school students gathered from all over Japan.  They inspired each other and had a very fruitful time.  (This year a total 800 high school students are leaving Japan to study abroad with the help of this Tobitate! program.)

The following is a student's story about their GW in 2019.

My brother became a university student this spring.  He lives in Osaka now.  My brother returned to Ehime from Osaka During Golden Week.  He suddenly came back to Imabari with his friend in his friend's car to surprise the family.  My mother looked at my brother and smiled.  And she said to him, "Did you lose a bit of weight?" Then tears started spilling from my mother's eyes.  My brother asnwered with a little hesitation.  "I'm all right."  I knew my mother's feeling towards my brother and I also knew my brother's feeling towards my mother.  We had a nice time during Golden Week.

The following is a student's story about their GW holiday.

On May 6th, I ate freshwater fish and a charcoal-grilled chickens with my family in our garden.  These fish were caught by my father and brothers for my family.  The name of the fish is called "trout."  The fish is faster than killifish.  First, I ate trout.  It was tasty and it had a lot of meat because the trout was very fresh.  Second, I ate a charcoal-grilled chicken.  My father grilled them for us.  My father is kind.  The chicken was very good, too.  It made me happy, and my family made me feel relaxed.  I am full of happiness because I got to spend time with my family.  I want to go camping this summer.  I love my family.

The following is a student's story about their GW in 2019.

I ate watermelon for the first time this year on the last day of the Heisei era.  It tasted sweet because we had had very little rain so far.  I like watermelon.  It's the best of all foods.  When I took English conversation lessons online, I told my teacher about that.  Unexpectedly, watermelons are vegetable.  Actually, melon is the same type of food, too.  My mother said to me a long time ago, "If you eat a watermelon seed, sprouts will come up out of your stomach."  Everyone knows this.  I was scared to hear that.  Looking back on it now, it was a silly story.  Speaking of watermelons, "split a watermelon with a stick blind folded," "fruit punch," and so on occur to me.  I'm getting excited just thinking about it.  I will keep loving watermelons.

The following is a student's story about their GW in 2019.

I went to Osaka with my family on May 2nd.  We went to USJ, an amusement park in Osaka.  We rode many roller coasters, because I like them.  There are many cute characters there.  I like Minions very much.  I bought many of their goods and I bought my friends some souvenirs.  I hope they will be happy.  We were so excited.  But we were also tired, too.  Because there are many people there.  After riding the attractions, we ate takoyaki, popular Japanese food.  They were very delicious.
We went to Kyoto on May 3rd.  We visited Kitano-temangu, a Japanese temple.  I prayed to become a smart girl.  And we visited Byodoin.  We visited there for the first time.  Byodoin Hoodo hall is displayed on the ten yen coin.  I thought it was beautiful.
I was excited.  I had a good time.  The two days in which we went to Osaka and Kyoto were good memories.

The following is a student's story about their GW in 2019.

I had the Toyo high school track and field competition from May 1st to May 3rd.  It's very important.  The top eight finalists can take part in the Ehime high school track and field competition in June, so we practiced so hard to win this competition.
I entered the 100-meter race, the 400-meter hurdle race and a 400-meter relay race.  It is the first time for me to enter the 400-meter hurdle race.  It was known as the most severe race, so I was very nervous. But I was able to finish and I will be able to enter the Ehime competition.  I was very happy.  My goal is to join the Shikoku high school track and field competition this year.  Of course, I will aim to join the All Japan high school track and field competition next year!  So I have to practice harder and harder.  I want to run faster!