Le Jardin Academy had some very special guests this week. Our school was visited by the Kagoshima Fisheries Senior High School in Japan. Our LJA High School students got to experience a thrilling karate demonstration as well as learn about the Kagoshima Fisheries Senior High School and the vessel the students live, learn, and work on. These students are working diligently to become engineers, ship captains, and much more in the technical marine biology field. Our very own Chinese Level I student, 花大姐, speaks fluent Japanese and served as a tour guide and translator during the event. Mr. Allan and the Headmast of Kagoshima Fisheries High School visited the Chinese Department after the presentation and refreshments. The visiting students were certainly friendly and well mannered. Our LJA students got a chance to mingle and get to know a few of the Japanese students.


We are currently scheduling a Saturday afternoon outing to the Dragon Garden Bonsai Nursery (http://dragongardennursery.com/). Students and family members will be treated to an afternoon tour of the lovely nursery deep in the Waimanalo Valley with an accompanying class on creating your very own bonsai. Children (siblings welcome!) will get hands on practice. Families will have the opportunity to purchase their own supplies to build their own bonsai or purchase one already started. Mr. Liu will be our teacher and tour guide. Mr. Liu has published serveral books on the art of bonsai and has lectured all over Asia and the United States on this lovely gardening hobby. A sign up letter will be sent home with your child. Date and time to be announced. $5 per child. Adults are free. Siblings welcome.


Interested in shadow puppetry? Students have been enjoying to speak Chinese with shadow puppets. Almost every morning I find more and more shadow puppet that children lovingly created and carefully left on my desk. Today after character writing practice 2nd grade students were treated to a traditional Chinese puppet show from Youtube. With this video students have a up close view of what happens behind the scenes of a Shadow Puppet Show in China. Want to view it from home? Just go to Youtube.com and search "Chinese shadow theatre - backstage by tpventi. Enjoy!