The Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences and the Arts recently established a new agreement with one Japanese school and expanded a longstanding relationship with another that will continue to grow the institution’s commitment of developing a global community of learning.
During a trip to Japan on Sept. 3-13 through the Hot Springs Sister City program, Director Corey Alderdice signed an agreement with Hanamaki Kita High School in Hanamaki to establish a Sister School Relationship between the two schools. The agreement is an outgrowth of the Hot Springs Sister City Program between Hanamaki and Hot Springs.
The Sister School agreement encourages the schools to utilize technology and other forms of interpersonal communication to explore each other’s languages in context with native speakers. The schools also will develop joint research programs that explore each region’s connections in geography, water conservation, climate and other areas of scientific interest.
On the same trip, Alderdice signed an agreement establishing a Global Learning Partnership with Tennoji Senior High School, which is attached to Osaka Kyoiku University in Osaka, Japan. Tennoji students have visited ASMSA and Hot Springs six times in the past few years. A seventh group is scheduled to visit the school this spring.
The agreement is ASMSA’s first step in building external relationships to study abroad and other international opportunities. The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) designated Tennoji as both a “Super Science” and “Super Global” high school. These specific interests align with ASMSA’s STEM education and global learning goals.
ASMSA and Tennoji’s agreement is similar to the one with Hanamaki Kita, with both schools pledging to explore each other’s languages in context with native speakers and to develop joint research programs. An annual trip to Japan for students will be added to ASMSA’s Global Learning Program beginning in 2017.
The agreements are an effort to continue and expand the outstanding relationships ASMSA has developed with Tennoji and the Hot Springs Sister City Program. A total of 63 ASMSA students, faculty and staff members have visited Japan through the Hot Springs Sister City Program, the Kakehashi Project, Japan Foundation of Los Angeles delegations, the Global Learning Program and other programs since 2013.
“ASMSA’s community of learning has worked diligently over the past several years to facilitate opportunities for students and staff to explore the globe while instilling a vision for them to take on leadership roles in a quickly shrinking world,” Alderdice said. “Achieving these goals requires having committed partners like our friends in both Hanamaki and Osaka.
“Our collaborations with groups like the Sister City Program, Kakehashi Project, Japan Foundation of Los Angeles, MEXT, and Youth for Understanding have been some of the most meaningful and productive experiences as we developed the Global Learning Program. We’re excited to be able to leverage these groups’ interests in promoting Japanese language and culture to inspire ASMSA students and staff to build lasting friendships with peers across Japan.”