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March 18 The final Presentation on the Research Project by the Second-year Students
The final presentation on the research project, the biggest event of the Ise High School SSH project, was held in the gymnasium. First, three groups of SS Advanced Exploration B students who participated in the Mie SSH Research Forum 2024 and Mie SSH Research Presentation 2024 gave oral presentations. After that, SS Exploration II and SS Advanced Exploration B students gave poster presentations. The second-year students have continued their research activities for about a year since forming their group in the third term of their first year, mainly in the SS Exploration class time. This presentation is the culmination of their work.
In the event, the first-year students listened to the presentations and had a concrete vision for their next year's research. We also had guests, such as SSH management guidance committee members and teachers from the nearby university or junior high school, to exchange opinions with the students who presented.
The second-year students’ research project is now in its final stages. We hope they will do their best to put their year-long efforts into a paper next year.
March 16 Mie SSH Research Presentation 2024
On Sunday, March 16, Mie SSH Research Presentation 2024, hosted by Yokkaichi Senior High School, was held at the Yokkaichi City Cultural Center, and 14 second-year students from our school participated. The students were divided into two oral and three poster presentation teams, each presenting the results of their research and SSH activities this year. The content of their presentations was quite challenging to convey, even in Japanese, due to their specialized nature. However, the students tried their best to make their presentations as easily understood as possible by improving their speaking styles and presentation materials. Although the students looked nervous at first, after the presentation, they must have felt a sense of accomplishment and joy that the audience understood their English and that they were able to demonstrate the results of their practice. I hope they will make the most of this experience in their next steps.
February 15 Science Experiment Class for Elementary School Students
Seven students from our SSC chemistry club participated in a science experiment class for elementary school children at the Mie Prefectural Museum (MieMu). They introduced elementary school students to make foaming bath salts using baking soda and citric acid. The members were able to gain valuable experience. We would like to thank everyone concerned.
February 1 International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Physics)
On February 1, our six first-year students participated in the International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Physics) held at Kuwana High School with a professor from the University of Tokyo's Faculty of Science as the lecturer. The lecture was about "Introduction to the Physics Olympiad," "Exercises for Theoretical Questions and How to Write Reports on Experimental Questions," and "Experimental Exercises." Although physics is a second-year course at our school, the six first-year students, who are highly motivated to study physics, participated in the course and were just as enthusiastic as the students from other schools. Some of them were so inspired by the students from other schools and the contents of the lecture that they decided to participate in next year's Physics Challenge. We look forward to their future success.
January 25 International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Biology)
On January 25, the International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Biology) was held, inviting as a lecturer a teacher who had been in charge of biology at our school until the year before last. The theme was “Measurement of Protein Concentration and Proteolytic Enzyme Activity Using a Spectrophotometer,” which aimed to learn how to obtain scientifically accurate quantitative data based on a familiar phenomenon: you cannot make steamed egg custard with raw maitake mushrooms.
Our students learned how to use a spectrophotometer to determine the protein concentration in solution and draw a calibration curve to measure the amount of protein degraded by a proteolytic enzyme solution extracted from maitake mushrooms. They were also able to learn the experimental techniques used in biochemistry through practical exercises such as sharing experimental results using Chromebooks and working together to create graphs and calibration curves.
This year, students from Ueno High School also participated in the course, which enabled them to interact with each other.
January 23 The Final Presentation on Project-based Learning by the First-year Students
Our first-year students have been working on Project-based Learning, an exploration activity to discover local problems and suggest solutions. Since the mid-term presentation in November, each group has been improving their posters and contents in preparation for the final presentation. On the day, the second-year students listened to their juniors' presentations to assess them. We also had guests, such as SSH management guidance committee members, from outside the school to assess the students' presentations from various perspectives.
The first-year students will start preparing for our school's main exploration activities program in the next session. We hope our students will use the knowledge and skills they learned through this Project-based Learning program to conduct more advanced exploration activities.
December 23-28 Asian Student Exchange Program in Kaohsiung, Taiwan
From December 23-28, Ise High School participated for the first time in Asian Student Exchange Program (2024 ASEP), organized by the Education Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government in Taiwan. In this competition, schools from Kaohsiung City and other schools from Asian countries team up to give presentations in English on social topics such as the environment and human rights. This year's theme was "Net-zero Green Lifestyle." Three second-year students from our school participated in the event, teaming up with three students from Wunshan Senior High School in Kaohsiung City to make a presentation titled "Plastic Free-Living: Transforming Your Daily Routine."
The students have been preparing for their presentation online since mid-October. For the presentation, they asked their schoolmates in Taiwan and Japan to fill out a questionnaire with the same content to survey their opinions on plastic use in their respective countries. They also created videos appealing to reduce plastic waste in each country and promoted them on social networking services, receiving many reactions.
Based on the preliminary preparations, on December 24 and 25, the students completed presentation slides and drafts and practiced their presentations at Wunshan High School. The next day, the opening ceremony and rehearsal were held. Although they were overwhelmed by the size of the venue and the unfamiliar atmosphere, they analyzed the contents for improvement in preparation for the performance. The six members developed a relationship where they could share their opinions to work together.
At the December 27th performance, in a tense venue, the students addressed all of the improvements made the day before and gave a convincing performance. In the afternoon, three of our students presented J-pop songs and dances in the cultural performance show. It was a good opportunity for the students to think about their identity as Japanese, as they were exposed to performances from various countries and tribes.
Their presentations were judged as Honorable Mention, and the experience of participating in 2024 ASEP was more than just the experience of giving an English presentation; it was an opportunity for the three students to be inspired by the culture and ways of thinking of people from various Asian backgrounds, and to develop a mindset that will help them become active on the international stage. Each of the three students reflected on their own English skills and attitudes toward social participation, overcame obstacles, and returned to Japan, having grown as a whole person. We would like to thank everyone at Wunshan High School for their warm welcome, and we will continue to enhance our international exchanges by making use of the knowledge and skills we have gained through this joint research.
December 14 International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Chemistry)
On Saturday, December 14, the International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Chemistry) took place, featuring Prof. Ayato Sato at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules of Nagoya University. This year's theme was "Forensic Investigation," and the event included experiments and lectures on ninhydrin and luminol reactions in the morning, followed by thin-layer chromatography in the afternoon.
After the lectures, two student assistants shared their experiences of university life and research. One of the assistants, an alumnus of the school, entered Nagoya University after participating in the SSH exploration activities at Ise Senior High School. This provided the high school students with valuable insights into student life, helping them visualize their futures after graduation.
In addition to our students, participants included students from Kuwana High School, Yokkaichi Minami High School, Matsusaka High School, and Suzuka High School, totaling 20 eager students engaged in experiments to enhance their knowledge and skills.
November 9 Fieldwork on Geology in Kamishima Island
On Saturday, November 9, fieldwork was conducted for SS Advance A students to observe the karst topography of Kamishima Island (Toba City) and to explore the island's geological formation. Kamishima has a circumference of approximately 4 km and consists of two main types of rocks shaped by fault zones, and we can also see accretionary prism including limestone. Participants examined the various rock formations and had the opportunity to make a fire using local stones.
The tour provided a valuable opportunity to study the geological strata of the island with the guidance of a geology teacher from a prefectural high school, helping students understand the geological and mineral characteristics of Mie Prefecture.
October 26 International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Informatics)
On Saturday, October 26, the International Science Olympiad Enhancement Lecture (Informatics) was held with Prof. Katsuyuki Hagiwara at Mie University as the lecturer. The content of the course consisted of essential learning and exercises in the C language, which is required for participation in the Japanese Olympiad in Informatics. This year, students from Kuwana High School, Yokkaichi High School, and Tsu High School, as well as our school students, participated and learned enthusiastically.
The Japanese Olympiad in Informatics is open until November 14 this year, and we hope more students will take up the challenge.
September 21 International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Earth Science)
The International Science Olympiad Reinforcement Course (Earth Science) was held with Dr. Ken-ichiro Hisada, a former professor at University of Tsukuba, as the lecturer. The students, including some students from Ueno High School, listened to the Japan Earth Science Olympiad and the International Earth Science Olympiad, took a lecture on geology, and experienced practical training such as observation and sketching of rock and fossil specimens. They were enthusiastic about learning, sketching the specimens they had never touched, and actively asking the lecturer questions. We hope they will use what they learned in this course in future exploration activities and their lives.
August 6- August 8 Super Science High School Students Fair 2024
Super Science High School Students Fair 2024, sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), was held at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall on August 7 and 8. The high school students from 231 schools, including SSH schools from Japan, gathered to present their research results and deepen exchanges during the lively two-day event. Six students from our school participated in the event with a presentation titled “The True Effects of Folk Medicine ‘Heisaku’.” They gave their presentations as proudly as the students from other schools and were able to be heard by many people. We hope the knowledge from this event will be used for future research and guiding their juniors.
August 7- August 8 SSH Study Tour to Kansai
Every summer vacation, we conduct "SSH Study Tour" to visit universities, research institutes, and museums in Japan to learn about cutting-edge research and to broaden our perspectives in the field of science. As part of this program, 20 students of ours went to the Kansai region from Wednesday, August 7 to Thursday, August 8.
On the morning of the first day, we visited the Kobe International Exhibition Hall to see the SSH students from all over Japan present their research. In the afternoon, we visited JT Biohistory Research Hall in Osaka and attended a lecture on "osamushi," which is called "ground beetle" in English, followed by a detailed explanation from a staff member and a tour of the exhibition. In the evening, our graduates currently enrolled at Kyoto University joined us for a workshop. The workshop focused on sharing experiences and advice about university life and entrance exams. We believe that our students found the workshop very meaningful.
The second day began with a visit to The National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, where the students were treated to an interactive lecture. They explored a planetarium, engaged in experimental crafts about light, and had a tour of the facility. In the afternoon, a professor from the Department of Informatics, Faculty of Engineering, Kyoto University, delivered a lecture in a manner that was easy for the students to grasp, providing a glimpse into their potential university studies.
Throughout the two days, our students, with their keen interest and attentive listening, absorbed the knowledge shared by the lecturers. They are now equipped to apply this knowledge to their future inquiry-based learning and career decisions. We hope that this study tour will have an even more positive impact on the academic and professional journey of our students.
August 5 - August 6 SSH Study Tour to Tokyo
Every summer vacation, we conduct "SSH Study Tour" to visit universities, research institutes, and museums in Japan to learn about cutting-edge research and to broaden our perspectives in the field of science. As part of this program, 20 students of ours went to Tokyo from Monday, August 5 to Tuesday, August 6.
On the first day, we visited The University of Tokyo and were guided around the campus by the graduates of Ise High School. Next, we visited Tokyo Medical and Dental University, where a lecture was given about the education policy of Institute of Science Tokyo (the merger of Tokyo Medical and Dental University and Tokyo Institute of Technology), which will be established in October this year, and about research in orthopedics.
In the evening, a round-table discussion was held between the graduates, who guided us around the campus, and our students. They talked about university lectures, entrance exam studies, and other topics.
On the second day, at St. Luke's International Hospital, the director of the hospital and the chaplain of St. Luke's Chapel spoke about the origins and philosophy of the hospital and science from a Christian perspective. After that, senior students from Ise High School talked about the importance of being well-educated not only in one's specialization but also in other fields. In the afternoon, we visited the National Museum of Nature and Science, which boasts many exhibits. They browsed the exhibits in their fields of interest.
At the end of the round-table discussion on the first day, one of the graduates said to the high school students, "When I was a high school student, I decided to take the entrance exam for The University of Tokyo because of this study tour."
The contents of this tour were precious and could not be received anywhere else. This was made possible by the presence of all the active graduates in their respective fields. 20 students must have learned more from these seniors than they could in their daily school lives. We hope our students move forward even further based on what they learned in this tour!
July 10 SSH English Interview Test
SSH English Interview test was held for the 3rd graders. Six ALTs from Mie Prefecture were invited to our school as interviewers, and students communicated with them one-on-one in English. Each student gave their interviewer an overview of their research and answered the interviewers' questions about it. Though a little nervous, the students seemed to thoroughly enjoy the interaction with the ALTs, as they occasionally laughed in the interview room. We hope that this positive experience will help them improve their English skills and seed the desire to continue their studies to play an active role in the international community.
July 4 The 1st Interim Presentation
In the exploration activities at Ise High School, second-grade students choose SS Exploration II or SS Advanced Exploration B and spend almost a year researching an issue they have set for themselves. Each group forms a research plan in the first semester of their second year. At the first interim presentation, each group presents their research plan and how it has progressed so far.
Third-year students, who worked on the project last year, play a crucial role in the exploration activities. They not only participated in the presentation but also guided the second-year students. Their questions and advice were offered from the perspective of those with experience, creating a supportive environment for the second-year students.
Students who chose SS Advanced Exploration B could connect online with our alumni to exchange ideas and receive advice from their perspectives as university and graduate students.
From now on, the second-year students will be working on their research projects in earnest based on their plans, and are scheduled to give their second interim presentations at the end of the second semester. We wish them the best of luck in their research.
June 15 The 1st Medical Seminer by a Professor from Faculty of Medicine, Mie University
As part of the Super Science High School (SSH) program, Ise High School organizes a “Medical Seminar” twice a year, in which students visit the Faculty of Medicine of Mie University and receive lectures and practical training from a university professor.
In the morning, students attended a lecture on the anatomy and physiology of the heart and blood pressure by Dr. Tashiro Yasura, a professor at the Center for Medical and Nursing Education. In the afternoon, students practiced blood pressure measurement and had a discussion with five university students from the faculty of medicine who had graduated from Ise High School.
All 23 participating students were highly engaged and enthusiastic about the lectures and practical training. They were able to have in-depth discussions with the university students about student life in the faculty of medicine and studying for the entrance examinations. The road to becoming a doctor is often a challenging one, but we are confident in their potential and wish them all the best in realizing their dreams.
June 14 Experimental Workshop with SSC members from Tsu High School
SSC (Super Science Club) is a club activity related to the science field, and SSC members from Tsu High School visited our school. Students conducted experiments on bismuth crystals in cooperation with each other. Through this experience, the students made new discoveries and had a meaningful time.
May 21 - May 22 International Exchange with Wunshan SHS
We have just established a sister school partnership with Kaohsiung Municipal Wunshan Senior High School in Taiwan to promote more profound exchange and research. On May 21 and 22, 18 Wunshan Senior High School students visited our school. On the first day, we presented each other's research, conducted a scientific competition, and experienced Japanese culture together. On the second day, we also visited some sightseeing spots around Ise High School. Our students explained Ise's history, culture, and marine life to Wunshan Senior High School students in English, deepening the exchange.
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