Volume 04, Number 21

Kids

Annual Family Festival at ISSH

This year's Family Festival is also ‘homecoming' with special activities planned to celebrate the “Century of Learning” as the school celebrates its Centennial during the 2007–2008 academic year.

It all began with Madeleine Sophie Barat's vision to provide quality education for women and the four sisters who arrived in Yokohama on January 1, 1908 with a mission to found a school in Japan. By April of that year, the first students entered Gogakko, the original name of the school. In 1947, Gogakko was renamed, the International School of the Sacred Heart (ISSH) when the school moved to the estate of the late Empress Nagako and held its first class in the Kuni Palace on the present campus.

There is a buzz of energy and excitement as the current parents of ISSH spend hours planning and organizing the festival. Teachers and students are rehearsing for the many live shows scheduled for the day. Every homeroom has an event to entice participants to their activities and game booths. The multicultural atmosphere of ISSH will be evident from the numerous food booths with delicacies from around the world. Several vendors will offer their wares and students from the Amnesty International club will sell beautiful cards while explaining some of their initiatives. The Alumnae Booth and Raffle Booth are popular meeting spots. Raffle winners will take home items from a generous array of gifts of trip vouchers, dinners, merchandise, etc. donated by supportive community members.

On a more solemn note, the lives of deceased alumnae, faculty and staff will be remembered and celebrated at a mass on the Thursday prior to Family Festival. Right after the festival sweep by the Boosters, many alumnae will scurry off to attend the Alumnae Dinner Party. On Sunday, a “Tea Party” will be hosted at the school creating an opportunity for Gogakko and ISSH alumnae, faculty, former faculty and Sacred Heart sisters to reminisce. It has been rumored that the mystery time capsule, buried at the 75th Anniversary ceremony will be unearthed by ISSH's former headmistress, Sr. Ruth Sheehy. Many former students and faculty look forward to attending this event. Monday will be a nostalgic “Day at ISSH” when alumnae will revert back in time to attend classes in the pottery studio and home economics kitchen, as well as play or watch a volleyball game in the gym (like the old days) and tour the school to identify the many changes that have taken place and search for a favorite nook or cranny that still remains.

Parking will not be available in the area. Take exit two of Hiroo Station on the Hibiya Line. This year's Festival is on Saturday, Nov. 10, 10am–4pm and is one event and celebration that should not be missed!