This year’s Japanese Week activities were enhanced by the participation of three exchange students from the Keio School in Japan. The students added their valued perspectives and enthusiastically participated in activities that ranged from practicing calligraphy to making Japanese rice balls called onigiri.

Bolles upper school students also enjoyed dynamic, educational videos about Japan and listened to Japanese music during the change of classes on the San Jose Campus as part of the awareness week held February 27-March 3.

The Keio students arrived in Jacksonville the week before on February 22 and stayed with their Bolles host families until March 8. Bolles leaders welcomed the students and their teacher at a special reception in the Martin E. Stein Sr. Courtyard February 24. During their visit, the Keio students enjoyed taking classes alongside their host students, visiting local landmarks and attending School functions, including athletic games and the Upper School Winter Dance.

Bolles has enjoyed a longstanding exchange relationship with Keio. This study-abroad program was conducted for the first time in three years after being canceled due to Covid. Bolles students will visit Japan for a similar exchange experience in June.

Special thanks to upper school Japanese teacher Yukari Braren and the Japanese Club for welcoming our friends from Keio and arranging the Japanese Week activities!