The Japanese Program at Dromana Primary School, aims to develop skills in the use of the Japanese language through listening, speaking, reading and writing.
Our foundation students start experiencing in only Japanese spoken environment by a Japanese teacher.
Foundation to Year 2 students develop an awareness and appreciation of Japanese culture through storytelling, songs and cultural activities. Students focus on simple and familiar topics such as animals, colours, fruit and vegetables and so on.
Year 3 to Year 6 students continue to focus on familiar topics and develop their speaking and listening skills as well as reading and writing skills. Year 3 to Year 6 students are encouraged to challenge their hiragana karate belts. Hiragana karate belts system is divided into eight different levels (belt colours) and students can learn at their levels to test their reading and writing skills.
Biannually the whole school becomes involved in a Japanese day, where children dress up in Japanese costume and colours, host a number of Japanese visitors and join in a variety of activities.
Dromana Primary School has established a relationship with Kitaura Elementary School in Ibaraki Prefecture close to Tokyo as our sister school in Japan in 2016. Since then we have been establishing our friendship by using Skype communications. In 2018 our first delegation of Year 5 and 6 students travelled to Japan and we received warm welcome from Namegata City and Kitaura Elementary School.
Lunch Time activities include Origami Club and Extension Japanese Classes. Anyone (P-6) interested in folding Origami or even making things using their imagination can come and enjoy at one lunch time. At another lunch time, selected Year 5 and 6 students study extension Japanese which they can develop their communication skills and hiragana reading and writing skills. Our extension Japanese students rehearse and perform Japanese play based on the famous Japanese folktales each year. In 2019 they had their first excursion to Melbourne CBD to experience Japanese culture and eat Japanese food at Japanese restaurant.
Dromana Primary School also participate in several activities organised by Frankston Susono Friendship Association such as Frankston Japanese Speech Contest, Japanese Festival and so on.
