The Bolles community welcomed three students from Keio School, Bolles’ sister school in Japan, and faculty chaperone Masashi Otake during a spring visit this year. The students stayed with Bolles host families February 23-March 6 and audited classes while on campus.

The visit began on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus, where faculty members Lily Kuonen, Mike Mulvey and Shannen Murray, along with international student advisor Jessica Boylan and travel programs coordinator Kristin Hong, oversaw student-led tours of campus. Bolles Associate Head of School Andrew Forrester later greeted the group at a reception in Bolles Hall and presented a gift to Otake on behalf of the School.

During their stay, the students also traveled to the Bolles Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus to share lessons about the Japanese language and Kamishibai, a traditional form of paper theater, with young students alongside campus librarian Christina Karvounis. Kamishibai storytelling uses illustrated boards placed into a small wooden stage as narrators advance the story. The Ponte Vedra Beach Campus library features Kamishibai stories with illustrations and text in both English and Japanese. 

The remainder of their time in Jacksonville focused on daily life at Bolles and included roller skating with host families, attending a Bolles baseball game and a visit to NASA by one student. Special thanks to Hong and Bolles Director of Global Learning and Engagement Allison Chandler for arranging the Keio School visit! Visit our online photo gallery to view more pictures. #BollesGlobal