Yume-Kita Expo — Day 7: Walking Practice & Rehearsal with a Professional Model

On Saturday, September 13, we carried out the seventh day of our Yume-Kita Expo programme.
We invited a professional model to lead walking practice and a rehearsal.

With precise tips on posture and posing, everyone’s motivation rose another notch.

The big day is next week (Saturday, September 20).
Please look forward to it!

Keywords: Hokuryō Junior High School / Yume-Kita Expo / walking / rehearsal / model coaching / posture / posing / main performance / stage / performing arts

All posted photos were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via a wired connection to staff PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.

International Exchange Report: Australian Short-Stay Student Begins Classes with Year 8, Class 3
Through the Osaka City Junior High School International Exchange Program, our school is hosting one student from Australia.
From today for three days, the short-stay student will take part in classes with Year 8, Class 3.

Today, the Mornington Secondary College Principal, Deputy Principal and Japanese teacher visited our campus.
They were joined by the President, Vice-President, Secretary-General and an Interpreter from the Osaka City PTA Council, making seven guests in total to observe the welcome.

In the Principal’s Office, Principal Linda Stanton asked many thoughtful questions, and the meeting became an unexpected opportunity for Japan–Australia交流.
When our Principal added, “I’m a fan of AC/DC (the Australian rock band formed in 1973), especially Angus Young,” the room took on a slightly more rock vibe.
Music, it seems, shortens the distance faster than language.

The short-stay student then met the Mornington staff in the Principal’s Office.
We heard that the homestay has already included a nagashi-somen party and some enthusiastic takoyaki-making, which reassured our guests.

Next, everyone observed a lesson in Year 8, Class 3.
It happened to be a social studies class taught by a student teacher, and the Deputy Principal watched with a sympathetic grin, murmuring that it was a “tough gig,” yet clearly delighted by the lively learning.
It was a good reminder that, on both sides of the desk, schools cheer each other on across borders.

The delegation will visit several other junior high schools after this.
We hope these three days become a wonderful memory for our visitor and, in time, that they’ll become a bridge between Japan and Australia.
We’ll keep turning today’s small Hello into tomorrow’s big friendship.

Keywords: Hokuryō Junior High School / international exchange / short-stay / Mornington Secondary College / AC/DC / Angus Young / student teaching / takoyaki / nagashi-somen / Osaka City PTA Council

All posted photos were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via a wired connection to staff PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.

All-School Assembly Report (September 16, 2025) — Broadcast Format / Science Club Highlights & International Exchange Begins

The long weekend has ended. Midday is still hot, but the later sunrise makes the morning light gentler during arrival time.
Today’s all-school assembly was held via the school broadcast.

Last Friday, the Osaka City Junior High School Science Research Conference was held at Osaka Kyoiku University. Our Science Club presented three reports. Using that occasion, the principal spoke about so-called “kotatsu articles” (desk-bound write-ups) versus on-site fieldwork, and praised the club’s hands-on efforts.

Starting today, as part of the Osaka City Junior High School International Exchange Program, one student from Australia will join our classes as a visiting student. If you see them on campus, please welcome them with a smile and a friendly wave.

Keywords: Hokuryō Junior High School / all-school assembly / broadcast assembly / Science Club / Osaka City Junior High School Science Research Conference / Osaka Kyoiku University / fieldwork / international exchange / visiting student / Australia

All posted photos were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via a wired connection to staff PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.


Whole-School Assembly — Principal’s Remarks (September 16, 2025)

Good morning, everyone.

Last Saturday, the “Osaka City Junior High School Student Science Research Presentations” were held at Osaka Kyoiku University. In the presentation category, our Science Club earned three Honorable Mentions. To everyone in the club—congratulations!

What made these projects special is that they weren’t just a lineup of facts gathered from the internet. You went out to Wakayama again and again to look for fossils. On campus, you picked up branches and leaves, buried them in soil, dug them back up, and observed how wood decays over time. You even grew morning glories to make a “green curtain,” watching them day by day. You sweated, you got muddy, you recorded your failures, and you kept checking with your own eyes and hands. That steady effort led to these results.

Changing gears: lately you may hear the term “kotatsu articles.” The word sounds cozy, but the meaning is simple—it’s what we’d call armchair reporting: articles stitched together from online sources without ever going to the scene. Of course, most real news comes from reporters who go out, listen, verify, and then write. That’s why their stories carry a certain atmosphere and warmth. There’s a big difference between checking facts on a screen and going out to check them on your own two feet.

The opposite of “armchair reporting” is fieldwork. You go somewhere, see it, touch it, measure it, and take notes. That is exactly what our Science Club did. When you step outside the classroom, you notice things you just can’t get from a desk—the smells, the sounds, the air, the weight of things. That hard-to-describe “feel” widens your understanding.

Tomorrow, our ninth graders will visit Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai. It’s a chance to see global exhibits and the latest technologies right where they are. Reading a brochure or watching a video is one thing; standing there in person is another. It stays with you in a deeper way. As you walk around, jot down a few short notes in your own words—“Wow, that’s impressive,” or “This part is really interesting.” When you share those thoughts with your family after you get back, it can spark your next round of learning.

The learning we do at school—the “sit-down” kind—is essential. But learning that moves your body, like fieldwork, matters too. I hope you bring back lots of discoveries tomorrow—the kind you only make because you went and looked for yourself. Ninth graders, travel safely and have a great day at the Expo.

That’s all.

The 77th Osaka City Junior High School Science Research Conference (Presentation Division): “The Story of Soil Told by Saprotrophic Fungi - Ability to Decompose Specific Materials”

Today (September 13), the conference was held at facilities of Osaka Kyoiku University in Teradacho.
From our school, three projects were nominated for the Presentation Division and nine for the Exhibition Division.
Here is a brief report on one presentation: “The Story of Soil Told by Saprotrophic Fungi - Ability to Decompose Specific Materials.”

What the presentation covered
Students investigated saprotrophic fungi in school soil using everyday materials. They buried Someiyoshino cherry twigs for about six months from winter to spring at depths of 5 centimeters, 10 centimeters, and 20 centimeters behind the school in a shady, damp area. During summer, they buried Houttuynia cordata leaves at the same depths for about two months. After recovery, they observed appearance and smell, and split the twigs to check for discoloration near the bark.

The twigs showed little change on the surface; inside, slight discoloration appeared near the bark, and the smell was earthy rather than woody. The leaves were not found at any depth, and an ant nest was noted nearby. The students concluded that clear twig decay was not demonstrated within the short period, while the leaves may have been broken down by saprotrophic fungi and or insects and molds. They also noted that warmer seasons, longer burial time, and the type of material affect the pace of decomposition.

Principal’s reflection
I was impressed by the idea of testing decomposition with familiar soil and plant matter. I felt the careful observations and safe handling showed steady growth. Next time, I would like to see a longer duration, additional plant types and depths, and records of soil moisture, temperature, and acidity, as well as control plots and fixed-point photo records to make the results even clearer.

Keywords: Hokuryo Junior High School / science research / saprotrophic fungi / wood-decay fungi / Someiyoshino / Houttuynia cordata / burial test / soil ecology / decomposition / inquiry-based learning

All posted photos were taken with school-owned cameras, transferred via a wired connection to staff PCs, and uploaded to the website from a securely managed environment.