Sanya Elementary School

Goal of our education

As of 2006, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the founding of the school.

When the school was founded, the land was donated and each of the trees was hand-planted by the people in the community. Now that the school has been designated as a community-managed school since 2005, the spirit of the school as an integral part of the community will live on. It is our shared hope that the children at this school will grow in this community and develop into contributing members of the society.

As we commemorate a new start in the 51st year, we have decided to set a new goal of education to meet the needs of the new era.

Special features of our education

1. In the classroom

   Students active involvement is encouraged in lessons.

   • In math lessons, children are divided into smaller groups
   • In Japanese lessons for 3rd grader and up, team teaching is introduced
   • Science and Social Studies lessons are given by specialist teachers for 5th and 6th greaders
   
   
2. Sannya time

   Ten minutes on Tuesday Thursday and Friday morning is reserved for book-reading activity (Sannya time) for 1st through 6th greaders. On Tuesdays, volunteers from the community or parents come to the school to read books to the children.

3. Partnership with other schools

   Programs are jointly organized with different schools in the area.

   • Making flower beds and seedlings, collecting fallen leaves, drawing horses (with an agricultural high school)
   • Weather forecasting, making handicrafts, English classes (with a technical high school)
   • Rugby lessons (with the rugby team of Waseda University)
   
   
4. Outdoor activities

   Taking advantage of the abundant greenery in the school premises, we have the following programs:

   • Picnic on the rooftop grass
   • Herb gardens in which children can learn about herbs that grow in the school premises and make illustrated reference books in the periods of integrated studies
   
   
5. Other programs

   Having been designated as a community-managed school from 2005, the school management council commits itself actively to the school's education programs.

   • The library has been renovated with a new Japanese tatami-matted room with a large sign board
   • Project to encourage greeting has changed the way children greet to each other
   • As part of career guidance, profesisionals and experts in the community are invited to come to the school to talk to the children about their jobs
   
   
6. Events

   Events such as Sanya Kids' Fest, Sports Day, and Traditional Games' Week are planned and carried out by the children's committees. Music concert is given by children in each grade for the parents and people in the community.