Until now, our school did not have a class diary, so the students did not have the habit of reflecting on their school day. Therefore, I decided to create a class diary and have every class fill it out daily.

The items to be recorded include the date, weather, name of the student writing, each teacher’s rating of the lessons (on a scale of 1–10), reflections from the student on duty, teacher’s comments, and the classroom’s cleanliness and organization status. The main focus is on reflecting on class attitudes and maintaining order in one’s surroundings.

At the first student assembly in October, I explained the purpose of keeping the class diary and how to fill it out. In addition, during every Friday assembly, we decided to summarize and present the results of each class’s entries for the week.

The purpose of this class diary is to praise the students’ efforts in their school life. When I read the reflections written by the students on duty, I found that they noted both the good and bad points of the day, and even included suggestions for improvement. I was deeply moved by their sincerity when I read these entries. Once again, I was reminded of how wonderful the students of AASO truly are. Excellent!

After the dismissal meeting, the student on duty in each class writes a reflection for the day in the class diary and submits it to the principal.

The teacher’s evaluation is on a 10-point scale. The reflections written by the student on duty show their sincerity and seriousness.

Reflections from the student on duty show thoughtful self-evaluation and a determination to do better next time. It is this mindset that truly matters!

The comments are truly honest and heartfelt, and they even make me feel happy too.

Comments from the teacher

Comments from the student on duty. They set a goal of 10 points and express their determination to do their best. Great!

To track the students’ growth, the class diaries will be compiled and kept in a separate file.

The students asked for a group photo, so we took one, but climbing on the railing is prohibited. This will serve as good evidence.

On Wednesday, September 24, we held a physical education exchange class with Class 3-4 of Kakazu Junior High School in Ginowan City. The purpose of this activity was to help our students become familiar with the public school environment and to interact with peers of the same age. At the end of August, we visited Kakazu Junior High School and requested the exchange class from Principal Masaharu Nakahodo, who kindly agreed. Eleven students from AASO are currently enrolled at Kakazu Junior High, and they were also looking forward to this exchange class with great anticipation.

On the day of the event, we departed on foot for Kakazu Junior High at 2:10 p.m. and arrived just as the sixth-period bell rang at 2:40 p.m. Although we were slightly late, we were relieved to be greeted with smiles by the principal and vice principal. At the entrance to the gymnasium, a large vertical banner read, “Welcome, American School in Okinawa,” which impressed the students greatly. I was deeply moved by Kakazu Junior High School’s hospitality and felt full of gratitude.

During the PE class, the boys played basketball while the girls played soft volleyball in a game-style format. In basketball, both teams played cautiously at first, and scoring was difficult. However, after a short time, the tension eased, and the students began moving actively and scoring points. The final score was 22–16 in favor of AASO, but the skill gap was small, and the students enjoyed the game while following the rules.

In girls’ soft volleyball, since few students had prior experience, the ball did not pass smoothly at first, resulting in isolated plays. After a while, the students rotated members and played in mixed teams, focusing on enjoying the game rather than winning. The students themselves found ways to ensure everyone could participate, keeping the game lively and engaging. Both boys and girls had a very fulfilling exchange experience.

We sincerely thank Principal Masaharu Nakahodo, Vice Principal Jun Atoma, Class 3-4 homeroom teacher Hisashi Yamauchi, and all the students of Class 3-4 at Kakazu Junior High. We look forward to the next exchange!

Instructions before departure. Everyone seems a little nervous.

A welcome greeting was given by the boys from Kakazu Junior High. Let’s have fun!

On Tuesday, September 23, we held a career guidance session at our school with the participation of two alumni. Since September 23 fell on the Autumnal Equinox, public high schools were closed, so we asked a few graduates to share their experiences on high school entrance exams and life in high school with the younger students. Two alumni kindly agreed to participate: Yujin Nagahama, who graduated in 2022, and Keiran Kondo, who graduated in 2023.

Both graduates reflected on their use of the recommendation system for high school admission and particularly emphasized the effort they put into interview practice. They also mentioned that they listed English qualifications—Yujin with Pre-1 EIKEN and Keiran with 1st Grade EIKEN—on their applications, stressing the importance of making English a strength for AASO students.

Regarding high school life, Yujin shared that he enjoys a fulfilling life participating in the student council and club activities. When he has spare time, he works part-time to buy a guitar or cover personal expenses. Keiran shared that he belongs to the basketball club, practices from early morning until late, and has made many friends.

Ms. Aika prepared discussion topics including: “Why did you choose that high school?”, “What did you focus on for entrance exam preparation?”, “What kinds of classes are offered in high school?”, and “Is there academic support available?” Both alumni responded clearly and confidently.

During the Q&A session, students asked questions more about daily life than academics, such as “Do you have a lot of homework?”, “How much do you earn from your part-time job?”, “What do you spend your part-time earnings on?”, and “What advantages have you gained from being good at English?”

In any case, there is no doubt that their stories served as a great inspiration for the current students. We are very grateful to them.

The junior high students listened attentively as Mr. Takayasu and Ms. Aika explained the purpose and significance of the career guidance session. They were very focused.

Both graduates responded appropriately to the topics prepared by Ms. Aika. Hearing directly from AASO alumni was a valuable learning experience for the current students. Thank you very much.

On September 22, we once again received a generous donation from American Engineering Corporation (AEC) for this academic year. This marks the 27th consecutive year of support, and we are deeply grateful for their long-term commitment to AASO since its founding.

In the early years, most of the donations were used to provide financial assistance to families in need, mainly covering tuition reduction. In recent years, however, with the increase in student numbers, the funds have also been used to improve our educational environment. In particular, last year the donations were used for remodeling the entrance hall, purchasing materials for additional classrooms, and installing air conditioning.

The AEC donations have thus been applied in various ways and have become an invaluable resource for enhancing our school’s educational programs. We sincerely appreciate AEC’s continued understanding and support of our school’s education.

The executives who attended the donation presentation ceremony. From left: Mr. Sasahara, Assistant Director of the President’s Office; Mr. Kenneth, President; and Mr. Nagamine, Executive Director. (The photographer was Mr. Yogi, Public Relations Officer of the President’s Office.) We sincerely thank you.

The volunteer committee members are carrying out the greeting campaign from the very first day of the second semester. They’re ready to do their best this semester too!