First-Year Students Take Part in Spring Training to Develop Independence, Diversity, and Teamwork

From Monday, April 20 to Saturday, May 2, shortly after entering the school, first-year students took part in the annual Spring Training program by class at Hiruzen Kogen Surikawa Gakuen Seminar House in Maniwa City, Okayama Prefecture.

This overnight training program was held in a rich natural environment overlooking Mt. Daisen. Through living and learning together, students deepened their understanding of the school’s educational framework, the Grand Rubric (GR), with a focus on three key themes: independence, diversity, and teamwork.

On the first day, students took part in activities such as team-building exercises and mind map creation. Although many students felt nervous at first, they gradually opened up through communication with their classmates. By discovering new and unexpected sides of one another, they learned the true value of teamwork, including the idea that things which may be difficult to achieve alone can become possible when people share ideas and work together.

On the second day, students participated in activities related to the SDGs and reflected on the entire training experience. In their reflection sheets, many students wrote about moments where they began to show independence, such as observing the situation around them and thinking about what action to take next. Others shared their awareness of diversity and the importance of respecting values and perspectives different from their own.

With the bonds they developed over these two days and a growing sense of identity as students of our school, their high school life is now truly beginning. We look forward to seeing our students use the lessons they gained in Hiruzen as a foundation for further growth and success in their school life ahead.