Kon'nichiwa From Mr. Razem! PhilipRazem,WillowsPrep’sMYPCoordinatorandAssistantHeadofSchool,recentlyspent2weeksinTokyo and Kitakyushu, Japan, as a recipient of aJapaneseFulbrightScholarshiptostudyEducationfor Sustainable Development (ESD). Mr. Razemcollaborated with both American and Japaneseelementary,secondary,anduniversityteachersandstudentstoraiseawarenessofESD-orientedschoolprograms, enhance ESD-related curricula in bothcountries, and deepen a sense of globalinterconnectednessbetweenteachersinJapanandtheUnitedStates.
July 10-14
Astheschoolyearbegins,Mr.Razemhopesto introducethese lessons intoWPSschoolcultureandelevatetheentirestudentbodyandstaff’sknowledgeonhowamoresustainablefutureispossiblethrougheducation.
ThefocusofMr.Razem’sjourneyrevolvedaroundthecityofKitakyushu. Inthe1950’sand1960’s,KitakyushuwasoneofthemostproductivesteelproducingcitiesinJapan.Withsuchrapidproduction, localwaterandairquality deteriorated topoint of which the city’s river was nicknamed “the sea ofdeath” and locals complained they needed to wash theirclothesseveraltimesadayduetothe“sevencolorsofsmoke”pouring into the sky from nearby factories. Local mothersformedataskforceandafteronlyadecadeofeducation,
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technological exploration, and government support, the city has completely revitalized itself into whatenvironmentalistscallan“ECO-Town”.Fieldsofsolarpanelsandwindturbinespowerthecityandeveryounceofwasteisrecycled,frommilkcartonstooldcars.
Thecityhasbecomecompletelystable,bothenvironmentallyandeconomically.Mr.Razemtouredbothfactoriesandschoolstoobservehowthecity’stransformationisusedtoeducateyouthinJapanandallovertheworld.Also,Mr.RazemwasabletolearnmoreabouttheJapaneseeducationsystemthroughcollaborativemeetingswithJapaneseeducatorsandstudents.HestayedwithaJapanesehostfamilyandsubmergedhimselfasdeepintoJapaneseculture
aspossible.HewasaskedtodeliverthefinalcommencementspeechonbehalfoftheAmericanteachersforUSConsulateandJapaneseofficials.Inhisspeech,he spoke of the lessons he learned from his first experience in Japan: theJapaneseemphasisonrespect(forhistoryandeachother),theimportanceofteachingallcommunitiesaboutsustainabilityinthe21stcentury,andJapan’scouragetofundandsupport“ECO-towns”throughoutthecountry.
PROGRAMMING SUMMER CAMP AT WPS July 31th-August 4th Call(425)649-0791orvisithttp://willowsprep.com/programs/summer-camps/formoreinformation!
Goodnews:24WillowsPrep8thgradersareofficiallyregisteredfortheeducational,fun,andlife-changingadventurethatawaitstheminWashington,D.C.!WPSnowhasanaccountmanagerwhowillcollaboratewithWPSstaffandfacultytomakethiscustom-plannedtrip a glowing success. For example, a great new and humblingopportunityhasbecomeavailabletoourstudents;theyareinvitedtoplaceawreathsignedbyWillowsPreparatorySchoolatoneofthe major memorials in Washington, D.C This experience isguaranteedto leavea lasting impressiononour studentsastheyreflect on the sacrificemanyhavemade for thebenefitofmanyacross the country. Students may have the chance to researchindividualsfromtheRedmondcommunityorfamilymemberswhoplayed a role in World War II, or Korea, or Vietnam. Anotherpossibility involves students visiting thememorial for thosewhoperishedatthePentagononSeptember11,2001.
Ifyouhavenotregisteredyoureighth-gradestudent,there isstilltime!Youcansecureapositionforyourchildbypayingadepositof$99. It’s easy to sign up (trip ID: 147576) online atwww.worldstridesdiscovernow.orgorbyphoneat1-800-468-5899.
WPS Washington, D.C. Trip Update
BCA Japanese Basketball Camp
BCA is hosting a basketball camp from 7/17through 7/20 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thecamp will be instructed by former Japaneseprofessionalbasketballplayer,memberof2010World Championship, bronze medalist of 2006AsianGame,MissHiromiSuwa.
Fee:$100 Ages:6-9Pleasenote,instructionwillbe
giveninJapanese.
SignupHERE.
WPS Orientation 2017 AUGUST 24th
Orientation for 6th graders will be from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Orientation for 7th & 8th graders will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
System (Homework and Grade Reporting) Orientation* is from 11:30 am - 12:30 pm *for 6th grade parents and new parents only
WPS students and their families are invited to orientation at the designated time above. Students will pick up their assigned surface or laptop, catch up with friends, meet and greet the 2017-18 WPS staff and faculty, and embark on an unofficial school tour. We ask parents to submit all required student forms before this date.
Reminder: space is limited for trimester one clubs and teams. Sign up your child today!
