Events

School and Overnight Trips

First and
Second Year

Yochisha Elementary students have many opportunities to go on field trips. Most students participate in the school trips held in early spring. The first-year students take a tour of Keio University’s Hiyoshi Campus, while homeroom teachers choose a destination for the second-year classes.

Third and
Fourth Year

In their third year, students go on their first overnight trip. They spend one or two nights at Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, to learn the basic social skills required to spend time travelling together. Fourth-year students spend five days and four nights at Tateyama, in Chiba Prefecture. This has been a tradition since 1967, and the trip is packed with fun activities, such as collecting seashells, observing sea life, running mini-marathons, and playing in the sand dunes.

Fifth and
Sixth Year

Students spend a week or more at Keio’s mountain lodge in Tateshina, Nagano Prefecture (in early summer for sixth-year students and early autumn for fifth-year students). There, they climb mountains, collect mushrooms, hold tournaments against other homeroom classes (softball, basketball, volleyball), make Jomon period-style pottery, visit local welfare facilities, and much more—experiences that are not possible in Tokyo. These extended stays strengthen the bond between classmates, helping them to learn how to behave in group settings, and to live an everyday life with regular routines. When the children return to Tokyo, we see a definite change. Finally, before their graduation, sixth-year students go on a school trip for six days and five nights.

Cultural Workshops and Experiences

School Exhibition

At the end of September, just after the start of the second term, we hold an exhibition, which is one of the major events at Yochisha Elementary, along with the sports day and school performance day. At the school exhibition, each classroom from first to sixth year displays works from the students in that class—transforming the school into a large, connected exhibition space. Students pick a theme for their piece and produce it during summer break. Works range from 3D objects to paintings, calligraphy, handcrafts, observation diaries, and research reports. Each piece showcases the artistic sense and ingenuity of our students, and the fruits of the time invested into pursuing their interests. The exhibition is a great opportunity for the pupils to see and enjoy their classmates’ work, and to show their appreciation for one another.

School Concert

In the school concert held each December, students get a taste of what it is like to work in unison and learn the importance of cooperating or “harmonizing” with others through music. The concert is held by fourth- through sixth-year students, who perform in various vocal and instrumental ensembles, giving them a space to show off what they have been practicing in music class. For the vocal ensembles, students are grouped by year and sing either two- or three-part choir arrangements. Instrumental ensembles are performed by class, with pieces ranging from classical music to anime soundtracks, musicals, and film. The concert ends with a chorus performance featuring all of the students. Music and the school concert have become staples of the early winter season at Yochisha Elementary and present a precious opportunity to promote our students’ personal growth and overall enrichment.

School Performance Day

At the end of February, just before the end of the academic year, we hold our school performance day. This is one of the biggest and most important events at the school, and students from all grades take part. First-year students memorize a six-verse song about Keio’s founder entitled “Here Stands Yukichi Fukuzawa” and sing it as a group in front of an audience. The performance and ensuing applause fill the auditorium with a sense of unity. All second- and third-year students put on plays, with each grade performing a different selection. Fifth- and sixth-year students present their club activities, either in the auditorium, on the school grounds, or in the gymnasium. Some clubs have their displays in the library. The school’s performance day is a great way to end the academic year and to demonstrate the progress each student has made.

Special Activities