School Commencement Ceremony

Last weekend, Mia was invited to attend Matsumura Youchien's commencement ceremony for new students. Even though she started school there a year ago, she missed the opening ceremony. Youchien is the Japanese version of kindergarten that starts from age four through six years old. Afterwards, kids go to elementary school. School starts in April, with long breaks in July/August, over New Years, and in March.

http://matsumura-youchien.jp/



This is Mihoree sensei, the head-mistress of the school. She is explaining the different name badges that each class wears.

To the left is last year's teacher, Emi sensei. To the right is her new teacher, Shima sensei. Mia is in the oldest class at school, the tsukigumi class or "moon" class. Last year she was in the hoishigumi or "star" class.

Afterwards we had our picture taken.

Aaron spotted Rhett on the jungle gym...

We were very proud of our little girl. Mia is really adapting well to Japanese school. She speaks Japanese at school and can now read and write in hiragana. Now if her parents could only catch up to her...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hiragana