The Harrovian | December 2022

THE HARROVIAN

DECEMBER 2022

CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM OUR HEAD MASTER

Message from our Head Master

Welcome to Harrow Appi

My First Few Weeks of Boarding

Our Short Ex

Creativity in our Learning

Dear Harrow Appi Community, We’ll never experience a term like this again. I suspect it’s been many decades since a mountain boarding school was established and it’s been an absolute privilege to work with you on the foundation of Harrow Appi. Reviewing this first edition of ‘The Harrovian’ provides an awakening; a realisation of how far we’ve come since the Commencement Assembly back in August. At Harrow Appi, it all starts with the Houses. Building house spirit and providing a home from home with HM’s leading the house teams that will nurture and guide the students has been central to the success of our unique young school. Lyons’, Ogata, Masamune and Churchill are now bonded, happy families, with personality and spirit. In the day school we’re blessed with a faculty of Beaks who are passionate for their subject and the craft of teaching and who have been able to swiftly adjust the curriculum to the needs of our young Harrovians. The focus on establishing an academic environment, with successful learning, additional opportunities through the super curriculum and the extras of supervised Prep, Period 9, Thursday Talks and visiting speakers has firmly established our academic credentials.

The Once in a Lifetime Appi Experience

Finally, our commitment to developing the whole child, holistic education, has taken the children out of the classroom and into wonderfully enriching experiences, with performing arts, sport, adventurous pursuit and community service all featuring in the past months. We’re on a journey of developing these programmes and have started with ambition. Our four Harrovian values of Courage, Humility, Honour and Fellowship are at the core of the experiences we provide to our young people. Reviewing the images and text of this magazine, we can see the emergence of these behaviours and attributes in our wonderful students. I am confident that you’ll observe this growth in your daughter or son as you spend time with them over the holiday.

Diversity and Inclusion

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Outstanding Awards

Thank you for your contribution to this developing Harrovian Community, and Merry Christmas!

Committed to Charity

Mick Farley Founding Head Master

We are open We were finally delighted to open our doors on Saturday 28 August to our founding families. It was wonderful to not only see the excitement but feel it within the boarding Houses and around campus as we welcomed our first 170 students and their families to Harrow Appi for the first time. Our new Harrovians looked incredible in their bluers, greyers and Harrow Hats. During our first week at Harrow Appi, students established wonderful bonds and a real sense of camaraderie. They pilled together in Houses and in year groups and are now displaying the Harrovian values of Courage, Humility, Fellowship and Honour. Students are bonding within lessons, playing sports in our Sports Hall and the 'Batting' field and even taking their first steps off site and into Appi Kogen to explore our wonderful natural surroundings. Harrow Appi supports students' development as leaders for a better world.

MY FIRST FEW WEEKS OF BOARDING

We have now established the Harrow Appi community, and the worries of boarding are a thing of the past. Now, we pull together as one big family.

When I came to this school, I was so excited. Very soon I made lots of friends. I play a lot of sports and I am getting better at volleyball because of my friend, Ken. Not only that, but I have received a lot of House Points which shows to me that my Beaks respect me and my achievements. I am proud to be a member of Churchill House. I am trying hard to be kind to my house mates as I will be with some of them for the next seven years and I am looking forward to getting to know them even more. Shun, Lower Prep, Churchill House At first, I was very anxious about whether I would be able to make friends, but everyone in Lyons House has been very kind and accepting, and now I am having a great time every day. I love Lyons House because I feel so secure here and I think I can overcome anything that may happen to me in the future with my House. Moa, Shell, Lyons House Coming to Harrow International School Appi has changed my life in so many ways. This is my first time living in a dorm and first time not speaking my mother tongue. It can be tiring speaking English all day and the School day is very busy so I do feel tired sometimes. BUT it’s a lot of fun and I am learning a lot, and there are new challenges every day. I want to enjoy this school to the fullest Masako, Upper Prep, Ogata House

When I first came to Harrow Appi, I was very nervous and anxious both about learning, and friendship. However, everyone was very friendly, and I was able to make lots of friends in a short amount of time. And during our first Short Ex, we worked as one big family to complete activities. The Short Ex has really improved our ‘Fellowship’. Now, the whole House feels like a home, and I am very happy and glad to be here. Ayaka, Lower Prep, Lyons House

I felt so nervous as I walked in the School. I felt so sad to see my parents and my best friends, my sisters, go. So I went up to the girls I have never talked to before and I started to feel more comfortable in this new School. Sure, I still miss my family, but I know they are

counting on me to do my best. Elena, Upper Prep, Lyons House

At first when I came to Harrow Appi, I was relieved. Because the other students and my Beaks were very kind to me. I used to be worried about how I could get into their friendship groups, but instead, students were asking me to join them. In my House, the students are like brothers to me. And in the School, I was never bored because there were always important and interesting things for me to do. Harrow Appi had almost everything that I wanted to do in CCAs and SCAs. I am lucky to be in Harrow Appi. Karl, Shell, Masamune House.

I am very happy to see the students enjoying their time in boarding. Our House is one big family and it is amazing to see the boys take care of each other. The students have different responsibilities in the boarding House each week and it was fascinating to see them fulfilling their duties positively and actively. Being a music teacher, I always look forward to our Masamune brothers showcasing their skills and talents. We had a halfway get-together party in our House where many students performanced of musical pieces, card tricks and Rubik's puzzle. I am proud to be a part of this House, surrounded by students who are eager to learn, embracing their differences, and having the courage to overcome challenges. Mr K, Assistant House Master of Masamune House, Music Teacher.

Lyons Short Ex During the Lyons’ Short Ex, we had a fantastic time! We did leadership games, nature hikes, and even nature hunts. We explored everyone's beautiful talents as we had a memorable talent show. In the evening, we had an amazing view of the sunset, and we even did some stargazing! From left to right, and up to down, it is almost impossible to not see a star. During this time out of school with nature, with no devices, and no internet, Lyons' girls had a very enjoyable time although, I think all the girls can agree with me that it felt like more of a decade. We are so glad to be back at school safely and not eaten by any bears! One thing that really changed in all of us was being afraid of bugs. We all had to deal with them. I just want to thank all the amazing Beaks who took the time and effort on the weekends to join us and make our Short Expedition so memorable.

Caskade, Upper Prep, Lyons House

Churchill Short Ex Humility can mean lots of different things. The definition which we approached the weekend with was: ‘freedom from pride or arrogance.’ For some of us, this was our first experience camping and we had to be ready to ask for help when we were not sure what to do. We were very well-prepared for putting up our tents from our Academy sessions, but we still needed to be ready to look for someone who could help us if we could not quite remember how to make sure we would be warm and dry at night. When we arrived at the Beech Station, the weather was beautiful. We split into two groups. Half of us took part in preparing the camp and the other enjoyed team building and leadership activities. For some of these activities, we wore a blindfold and relied on one member of our team to guide us. Sometimes our instructions were not quite clear enough and our teammates walked in the wrong direction or even fell over! We had to be able to recognise how we could improve and make our instructions clearer. Once the sun set, the temperature dropped very quickly. Our next challenge was admitting that we might not be wearing the right clothing and changing before we became any colder. Mr Kerr then took us on a journey to the stars by sharing his interest in astronomy. To warm us up, we sang to the playlist which Ms Maisey made for us, drank some hot chocolate and got ready for bed with our tent mates. The next morning, we woke up with the sunrise and set off on our hike. There was lots of singing and chanting, mixed in with the noise of bear bells. At times, the hike was challenging, and we had to help each other navigate the paths as they were steep and overgrown in places. We returned to the camp feeling that we had achieved something together, as a House. By now, we were all very tired and ready to head back to school. However, our last task was to take down our tents and make sure the campsite was left tidy. For some of us, this is when we found it hardest to remain positive with each other. Now that we have been through this experience, we understand the value of the friendships we have already made with each other, and how important the support and guidance is that we receive every day from our Beaks and supporting adults.

We would like to finish by saying a huge thank you to all of the staff who came with us and gave us a weekend we, as a House, will never forget.

Harusato and Ryoya, Upper Prep, Churchill House

Ogata Short Ex

We weren't sure what to pack. Is it going to be so very cold? I have never been camping before, so I really had no idea what it would be like.

Is it going to be windy, and did we need sunscreen? All I thought was dirt and mud and cold, but it was quite good when we arrived, and the sun was shining on the campsite. We went for a walk through the trees and over the fields, uphill and downhill and across little rivers. This was my first walk on a mountain and all I wanted to do was sit down and rest my legs. That evening we had fun and games putting on sketches, singing under the stars, being loud and silly (as no one could hear us) we laughed and only our feet started to get cold, so we quickly washed our faces, brushed our teeth and went to bed. Did I get cold? Well, no, I was amazed, the only cold part was my nose. In the morning, we got out of our tents and had breakfast, it tasted good! We took the tents down after drying them (as we learnt they would go mouldy if we did not dry them) and then played a scavenger hunt before returning back to camp. We packed the bus and returned. So tired! Maybe it was the fresh air or was all the exercise that made us tired? Who knows, but I know we were so tired! The Harrow values were shining on our camp, we all looked after each other, we all cared for each other, it was interesting how we all coped in this different environment, we all did great on our Short Ex.

Anna, Remove, Ogata House

Masamune Short Ex

The Masamune Short Ex was a first-time experience for many of us, we experienced many challenges during the expedition, but at the same time enjoyed many things. When we got there, we helped each other set up the tents, a lot of us found it hard so most of the Seniors and Beaks helped us with the tents. The fellowship demonstrated by our Masamune brothers was fantastic as many students helped others who were having difficulty. For many of us, our stereotypical idea on the trip was that the tent was full of bugs and that it was going to rain. Meanwhile, we also expected a lot of marvellous activities. At the start of the trip, our Beaks told us about our long hike ahead of us and we were all hesitant about it. For some, it was their first real hike in the forest, we even doubted ourselves if we could achieve this. However, we all overcame the great hike, showing courage and determination, although our feet were freezing because we fell into the water, but other than that we really enjoyed the hike, and a delighted smile was put on our faces as we felt proud of ourselves for completing it. We had an enjoyable time on the hike but now it was time to have supper. We had to warm up, so we all huddled up. When supper was served, we were all having a fun time and talking about the trip. There was a lot of excitement for hot chocolate as the temperature got colder. We had a massive dance party that brought us all together as a House and as friends. The House danced and danced with everyone showing their best moves. The fellowship amongst the students was fantastic. Everyone was included and respected for their dance moves, music selection and even support towards Mr Budnick's dance moves. After such a big day we were all getting sleepy, so off to bed we went. The following morning, we woke to crunchy white grass and ice on the tents. We had a nice sleep but it was cold and so it was time for more hot chocolate. We said good morning to the Head Master as he walked by the campsite with his adorable dogs. We had a heartwarming time with the dogs. We played some House games and then soon after, it was time to leave the site. The last day was an opportunity for us to demonstrate our learning of humility. Students packed up the tents, demonstrated honesty in our team building games and supported each other through the whole expedition. We enjoyed the trip and developed new friendships and appreciation of our Masamune brothers.

Kei and Kei, Upper Prep, Masamune House

CREATIVITY IN OUR LEARNING Creativity is very important at Harrow Appi. It enhances self-confidence and well-being at the same time as enabling students to become articulate and skilled communicators (in a range of mediums) to prepare them for future studies and perhaps one day to become the published authors and artists of the future. We seek to nurture self-expression through the visual arts and writing. We would like to showcase some of the creativity that has inspired students since they began their studies in the mountains of Appi Kogen. Enabling students to develop their skills by studying great writers such as Michael Morpurgo and John Steinbeck has inspired our students to produce some brilliant creative writing this term.

Senior students at Harrow Appi wrote about our natural environment and how it shapes their lives: Nature and Harrow Appi

Blair, Remove, Ogata House A road paved with pebbles runs through the lawn. Standing on the grass looking out at the distant mountains they appear like the billow of the sea. Fog floats on the air above the mountains blurring the horizon between sky and land. The nearest mountain is covered with green trees, except the ski track remains – shallow green – waiting for snow to fill it. On the way to class, we look up into the far sky, a band of striped, white cloud, suspended in the middle of the air, climbing up the sky, inspiring like a ladder. Golden spindrift runs through the sky wave by wave, like white flowers sewn together with transparent needle and thread. The sky, hidden behind the building slowly, gently, changes from golden yellow to pure bright blue like a fairy's gauze dress. The other side of the sky is dotted with closely packed clusters of dark clouds that look obtrusive in the blue of the sky. Dense forest covers the bottom of the sky. Looking forward from the window the scenery appears like a dream that never existed - the dream of children who live in the city. Benjamin, Remove, Churchill House From the football ground of school, if you were looking away from the imposing stone buildings, your gaze would first meet a road cutting off the school from the land beyond. Across from that road a gentle slope leads up through tall grass onto a little hill. From this hill, if you were to gaze off into the distance, your site would be cut off by a slope covered in bright, clean cut green grass: this is the golf course it rests on the slope of a short mountain. This mountain is far from the imposing blue-green of the massive Mount Memori, or further off the outline of Mount Iwate overlooking the countryside - almost a little brother to its two older siblings. A constant reminder of our proximity to nature. If you were to take a stroll on the little mount and, climbing past the golf course, on a cloudy, misty day, I imagine this is what you would see. As you wander upwards, away from the golf course in the school, the trees gather closer and closer around you. There dark brown bark seems almost grey in the shade of their dense foliage which reaches over you. Occasionally a gap in the leaves reveal a glimpse of the cloudy sky overhead. The wind sometimes brushes the greenery with a shushing sound, but apart from that, the pad of your feet on the grass is the only thing you hear. The air feels moist against your skin, and an aroma of green plants and rainwater fills the peaceful atmosphere around you. An occasional plant brushes against your ankle as you ascend the mount. You arrive at a small clearing in the trees. A mossy stone sits against the trunk of an old tree, an inviting seat for your body weary of trekking through the forest. You sit down on it and lay back against the ancient wood. Your gaze drift towards the sky. A hawk circles above you, merely a black shadow against the grey clouds. An updraft catches it and it soars upwards before dropping down again, as it searches the land. The air cools your skin as you watch the hawk. Your body relaxes and settles into your natural chair. The Hawks circles you once, twice, then drifts away and out of view.

After studying the novel "War Horse” by Michael Morpurgo we asked our students to write a piece imaging they were an animal.

Flora, Upper Prep, Ogata House I am a fox. A fox that spends my days roaming and discovering in the Norwegian forests. Springing into action; striking into the green mountains, silently creeping through the leafy Autumn trees. I grew up here - living freely like a sprite of the forest – with my family. I understand and know every leaf, sign of mysterious nature, scampering through forests, leaves fall in unison – red and yellow like dancing flames. I inhaled deeply the gentle, nutty warm scent of fallen pines crunching under my paws. Quick as a roaming blur of shadows I crept towards a brown flash of fur that flashed through the ancient oak trees (standing there stretching elegantly towards the blue sky). As if playing a simple game of hide-and-seek, I followed, ducking through low prickly bushes covered in berries, going on and on through willows, into a grassy field covered by roots and rocks. I saw it again. I approached – not leaving a speck of sound - gaining strength in my hind paws – stretching, lowering my body flat to the pile of dry leaves. I attacked; my prey turned back frantically in the last seconds. I saw the flashing of its life in the hare's big brown pupils, but it was too late for it to escape. Trotting slowly back to my family's den with the hare clamped between my jaws. It's the way we live, the unspoken and unwritten rules of the forest. We fight and survive, with all our might. The forest allows us to grow and live a peaceful life. We thank nature and honour our enemy as well as our prey. We must kill to feed and defend ourselves, or else it is us that will perish.

Sometimes there are even pink and purple skies that are so beautiful that students in the canteen come out to watch the setting of the sun.

TURNING TIDE / 30 YEARS OF UKISHIMA SCULPTURE STUDIO

STEAM DAY

Our students are lucky to be surrounded by incredible role models who are passionate about their field. Mr Griffin Pain and Ms Warburton visited an art exhibition in September to take advantage of the local talent. “On Saturday 10 September, Mariko-san and I were proud to represent the School at Kate Thomson-san and Hironori Katagiri-san’s exhibition “Turning Tide / 30 Years of Ukishima Sculpture Studio” at the Ishigami Museum of Art. In 1991 Katagiri-san and Thomson-san established a sculpture studio thirty minutes’ drive from Harrow Appi in the Ukishima area of Iwate Town. We could hear Gerald Muirhead-san before we could see him. Muirhead-san is a well-established piper in Japan and the sound of Loch Lomond served as lovely company as we entered the gallery. The room was packed with interesting amiable characters from an eclectic array of disciplines, including the Mayor of Iwate. It was clear that the opening of the exhibition was a hot ticket! Kate-san and Katagiri-san warmly introduced themselves before giving a short lecture on their works. I had a particular affinity to Katagiri-san’s work “Streamline: Turbulence”

During the STEAM Day, students were tasked with identifying an opportunity involving waste generated on campus. They could consider reducing, reusing, and developing a superior system, product, or service that will ultimately benefit our community. The final stage was to present their ideas to a panel of Beaks the presentations were diverse, and we heard some incredible presentations and suggestions. The winning group presented their idea to assembly. They spoke about how they would like to use the food waste at school to create compost and utilise the soil so students could take part in gardening and we could eat some of the foods grown. The STEAM day allowed students to think innovatively and you can read some of their peaks of the initiative below:

Jacob, Upper Prep Masamune House

Nanatsu, Upper Prep, Ogata House During the STEAM Day, I learned to work in teams, researching about one theme deeply, and other more. Before the STEAM day, I wasn't interested about food waste, so this was a good timing for learning about it.

Lily, Upper Prep, Lyons House Something I enjoyed in the STEAM project was that you had a chance to work with new people, the Beaks picked the group randomly and put me in a group with people I don’t normally work with, at first I was freaked out with the idea of working with new people. It was hard to communicate so I didn’t talk or contribute to any of my team but the more I worked with them the more I realised there not that bad and in fact really fun people to work with, which led us here winning first place and talking in front of the whole school. So in the future challenge yourself to be open minded to work with new people.

One of the hardest challenges that we had to overcome in my opinion was having to present in front of so many teachers. Sota, Upper Prep, Churchill House It was good because I was curious about how many food waste there was at school.

The tour culminated in a majestic three-meter-high marble “Aphrodite” statue by Thomson-san. Kate-san spoke about how many of her sculptures are like two abstracted figures in conversation, in a kind of dance / embrace. This semi- abstract helix shape is like the twisting torso of a solo dancer, the Greek goddess Aphrodite (Venus in Roman culture) rising from the sea.

below which is part of his “Streamline” series. The work incorporates memories of his family’s tuna fishing business in Kesennuma. As a child Kata-san would watch as the ships would leave the port, sailing out towards the Pacific Ocean. In 2011 his hometown, like so many others, was wiped away by the 130-foot-high tsunami. It had taken everything.

Kate Thomson-san’s work is a continuation of the sentiments of sculptures created by Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. After lunch and a very impressive piobaireachd by Muirhead-san a small group of us drove to Thomson- san and Katagiri-san’s studio. It was an oasis of calm. Nestled in the Elysian fields of Iwate’s countryside the studio is a full of the two artists’ works. Below is an image of five relief sculptures which will one day become part of

Thomson-san’s “7 Days” series. It was fascinating seeing the process by which these artists created their works and very kindly they have offered to show our art students around in the future.

So many people’s memories, livelihoods and loved ones had been swept away by the disaster . Kata-san talked about how art became a means to fill the void of catastrophic loss. I see these works as being about holding onto memory. Through the process of animism, in this Swedish black granite sculpture, and others in Japanese basalt, Katagiri articulates stone as a physical medium that holds onto the past. Afterwards we were shown around the Ishigami Museum of Art’s outdoor “Forrest of Art and Flowers”, carefully curated to showcase the works by multiple international artists which all complemented the outside environment. I especially enjoyed Atsuhiko Misawa-san’s works which, nestled in the natural idyll made it feel as if we had stepped into the mind of Lewis Carroll.

Kate-san and Kata-san on behalf of Harrow Appi, I want to thank you for inviting us to the opening of your exhibition and I hope to see you soon. We are fortunate Harrow Appi is situated near such a celebrated art hub.”

Felix Griffin Pain, Gap Student, Ogata House

THE ONCE IN A LIFETIME APPI EXPERIECE

We have come to the end of the Appi Experience, where students have sampled a range of activities to help them develop the skills they need to move forward in the Service and Leadership Programme. From campcraft and trail running to indoor sports and swimming, students have thrived in everything they have put their mind to and displayed the Harrow values along the way.

Yuko, Remove, Lyons House

Tomo, Remove, Masamune House

=We have done eight academies over three rotations – this is 24 individual sessions. Academies like campcraft, hiking, and mountain biking teach us about fundamental skills for occasions like Short Expeditions. Academies like individual sports, swimming, and trail running that test our individual strengths and weaknesses. Academies like outdoor and indoor team sports have improved our teamwork and collaboration skills. I believe that through all these activities, we have all been able to grow and become closer with our House members. Trail Running was something I dreaded because I hate running or moving in general. When we arrived at the Beech Forest Station, it was cold, there were bugs everywhere, and I think I can speak for our Lyons' girls when I say, we were all just hoping to get it over with. I thought it would be tough and I was right. We had to run up and down and keep our knees high or else we would trip. My feet felt heavy, and it was hard to breathe. At the end I was sweating and gasping for air. But, on the way back, I reflected on the experience, and I realised, it had been worthwhile. Something about running in the woods, surrounded by nature, being aware of my environment and myself was a simple and peaceful feeling.

Throughout Green Season A I really enjoyed mountain biking with Mr Kerr. And Mr V. They taught us the fundamentals of riding a mountain bike and how to control the bike in various occasions such as riding the bike while balancing on an unstable surface. Last time, we went outside the school to enjoy the outdoors and felt the freezing wind as the season started changing. We all went sliding fast down a road and as the wind hit my face hard and my adrenaline kicking in, I felt alive. As the White Season approaches, we start to see the snow up on the mountain gradually and slowly descending and it will eventually fill our school with snow. In the White Season our academy time will be focusing on the Alpine Academy, and we will have opportunities to ski and snowboard, which I am really looking forward to, I am also looking forward to snowball fights. In the future Green Seasons, actvities will be picked by individuals, and we will be able to choose the sport we want to improve and specialise in. Let’s take all the skills and learning we have gained from the Appi Experience and apply it to the White Season ahead and the Green Season B in the spring.

LANGUAGES EXCHANGE

The Languages Department held a hugely enjoyable languages exchange event in the Leo and Curie Breakout spaces on Friday 18 November. A total number of 42 students from all year groups taking either Chinese or Japanese as their Super Curricular Activity took part. The exchange involved Chinese students studying Japanese talking about themselves in Japanese to their Japanese counterparts followed by the Japanese students, talking Chinese, introducing themselves in Chinese much to the admiration of the Chinese students. The event was the culmination of many weeks’ hard work in the SCA classes to allow students to understand and converse in each other’s language. Not only did this provide an opportunity for students to build confidence in communicating in either Japanese or Chinese but also fostered inter-cultural respect, mutual understanding and appreciation. Both groups of students helped and corrected each other as well as praising and encouraging the efforts to speak as fluently as possible. The students entered enthusiastically into the roles of speakers and listeners and the event was held in a spirit of fun and positivity. They were an enormous credit to Mr Sakai and Ms Cheng who have worked tirelessly with the SCA students since the start of term developing reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

Here are the views of some of the students who participated:

It was fun! This is my first time speaking Chinese to Chinese students in school. On the other hand, I am happy to teach them Japanese. I taught them some practical Japanese so that they can use it in their daily life. I want to do this activity again because it is really interesting. Tomoki, Churchill House

I found the Languages Exchange event really beneficial and helpful to improve my Japanese talking. It motivated me to study Japanese harder. And I know how Japanese people say colloquial sentences now. Also I learned how to use honorifics. Amy, Remove, Lyons House

I think it is a valuable experience. We were able to use Chinese rather than English to communicate with each other. I could use simple Chinese to respond. I hope this activity can be run again as it is a very good way to practice what we have learnt in class. I really enjoy teaching them Chinese. At the same time, this is a good way to help them understand our language and culture. Tsumugi, Lower Prep, Lyons House

I enjoyed this activity because it makes me feel comfortable speaking in Japanese with Japanese students. And I got to know new students such as Tomoki better so I could make new friends. I appreciated the assistance of the Beaks who made this event happen. Daniel, Remove, Masamune House

LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

HOW TO DEVELOP A GROWTH MINDSET

BUSINESS TALK

Mathematics is an intellectually challenging subject; some students find it difficult and even develop “Maths Anxiety”. Throughout this term, the Mathematics Department has encouraged students to not be afraid of failure but keep trying, keep going. To develop growth mindset, students reflected on the words we say, for example, instead of saying, “Maths is difficult”, we say “it takes more time and effort”. This positive attitude helps to develop a new approach to studying maths. The department has also offered three study skill sessions led by subject specialists. Students have had in-class discussions on notetaking, presentation, homework expectation and solving worded problem. The aim is to promote effective maths learning strategies, develop independent learning skills and nurture a passion for the subject. Yuko comments: “I hated maths.” In my previous school, I was constantly failing my tests and had no idea what was going on in the lessons. I was stuck and I couldn't move forward. This demotivated me and I lost my confidence. When I came to Harrow Appi, I was put in a completely new environment. New topics, new Beaks, and the biggest difference was, everything was taught in English. What worried me the most was that I would become stuck in the same situation where I could not understand anything. However, this wasn’t the case. Thanks to the close personal tutoring and help from supportive beaks, I’ve regained my confidence in Maths. Harrow approaches Maths by first learning something new, practising it, making mistakes, understanding why we got them wrong, seeking for help from Beaks and then becoming able to solve it. This ‘Mastery Approach’ has helped me improve my understanding and grow in Maths. Harrow Appi also encourages its students to have a growth mindset when taking on any subject. By having a more positive mindset toward Maths, I have become motivated to work harder and have set higher goals for myself. This learning environment has helped me to grow and find a love for Maths.”

On 7 November, we were fortunate enough to receive a talk from Masa Okada, who works as the Managing Director of eBay Japan. Masa Okada previously worked in Apple and kindly shared his experience and some secrets about Apple. He informed us about how strict and secretive the workspace was. If he was working on a project, his colleagues would not know about it and vice versa. He also mentioned some humorous anecdotal stories like how he could not use one of the elevators because Steve Jobs would use it. For the second half of his talk, he enlightened us about what Apple has focused on for its products. For example, the picture for the app for photos is consistent through all of Apple’s products. I had never thought deeply about it before, but Masa Okada taught us that Apple was doing this deliberately. The reason for this was that Apple focused on making their products as simple and easy as possible. In our Business Studies lessons, we have learnt about various kinds of topics like business objectives and the different types of businesses. We have also started learning about marketing and the different types of it. From Masa Okada’s speech, I realised that one of Apple’s objectives was simplification and that some of their unique selling points were based upon this aim. The innovative services and designs were striking and helped me understand original ways to develop products. It was very beneficial for the students to have received this talk as we were able to learn and understand more in depth about business. This was an enjoyable experience and I hope that there are many more talks to come.

Yuko, Remove, Lyons House

LEARNING MANNERS &

GEOGRAPHY TRIP

POLITE DINNER CONVERSATION The much sought-after formal Dinner was introduced to students this term. The first dinner was led by the Head Master, with Beaks serving students their 3-course meal of soup, steak, and bread pudding. There was also an opportunity for students to practice their 'light dinner conversation', as well as their knife and fork etiquette. The tables were set with an autumnal theme, and we had some wonderful music from our own students on the piano between courses. After dinner, students retired to Speech Room to hear the Head Master speak about one of his passions- skiing! Students were in awe of the videos he showed of top class skiers, which has really set the mood for the coming winter season. At Harrow Appi, we teach beyond the classroom. To provide educational excellence for life and leadership we understand that learning is much more than hiding behind a textbook.

On Friday the 18 of November, the Geography Department undertook their first day of fieldwork with the Remove geography students. Fieldwork is an integral part of the geography curriculum as it allows students to consolidate their learning outside the classroom and build upon the skills needed to undertake geographical enquiries in the IGCSE. The Remove students have been learning about urban models in the current topic of Settlements, so we visited two areas of Morioka to see if they matched the Burgess model theory. Students completed two sets of data collection, one set in the central business district and then a second set in the outer suburbs. This comparative data will allow us to compare the quality of the environment and service provision in each area and make links to the geographical theory. The skills to collect the data included completing an environmental quality survey, conducting a traffic count and recording the decibels of noise in each area. Having collected this data, the students will present the data using various graphical skills and analyse it to make their own conclusions to match the theory. Congratulations to the Remove students for their enthusiasm and exemplary behaviour on the day and a big thank you to Mr Hogan and Mr Hill for accompanying me on the trip. I enjoyed the trip to Morioka last Friday, especially standing in front of the Morioka Station and sketching the buildings of the CBD for Morioka. Also the shopping free time at the last hour in Aeon, the noodles were so delicious. I now understand the difference between CBD and outer suburbs which helps me memorize their different features of them. Such as higher buildings in the CBD and lower detached houses in the outer suburbs of Morioka. Kozu Ogata House

I really enjoyed going outdoors to Morioka doing a case study. We learned lots of new things such as big shopping malls in the outer suburbs because there’s more space and the land is cheaper. It was definitely a great experience filling in the booklet in both the CBD and the outer suburbs. Ingrid Ogata House

OUTSTANDING AWARDS International Duke of Edinburgh Award is coming to Harrow Appi We are delighted to announce that we are now a licensed centre to run the International Duke of Edinburgh Award. The current Remove Students will be commencing the award in our next green season with the current Shell cohort starting in the next academic year. The International Award will offer our students the opportunity to develop transferable skills in leadership, teamwork, and adventure, whilst also having the chance to contribute to our school and the wider community here in Appi. We are very excited to offer this to our young people and look forward to the success and achievements they gain from completing the award. Further announcements and details will be communicated through the White Season.

Appi Kogen named Japan's Best Ski Resort At the end of November, Appi Kogen won Japan's Best Ski Resort 2022. The resort is rightly very pleased with this recognition and we are honoured to be able to use ‘Japan’s Best Ski Resort’ up to four times a week during White Season.

NATIONAL FENCING

CHAMPION I have been fencing for five years. For those of you who have not heard of fencing, it is an individual sport which involves a contest between two people using special swords called: foils, épées or sabres. At the start of term, I travelled to Nagoya to compete in the Japanese National Fencing Championships and came first in my age group. Fencing has taught me the skills of having a strong mind and it teaches me to work hard to achieve success. I think that fencing helps me to show the Harrow value of Honour because it has taken me lots of hard work to get to this point. Also, because fencing is an individual sport, I have had to show a lot of control in my training to make sure that I am successful in competitions. Finally, when I am competing, I must always behave in an honourable way towards my opponent. This respect for the sport can be difficult to learn when you are always trying to win, especially when you have a sword in your hand! Aertaiaole, Lower Prep, Churchill House

COMMITTED TO CHARITY

Movember Movember is a charity which aims to spread awareness of mens mental health and by doing so seeks support from men to grow a moustache to encourage the conversations around the topic. Churchill House have selected this charity for their fundraising initiative and in support have been taking part in running, swimming and even talent shows to keep the conversation alive at Harrow Appi. The Movember initiative this year has centred round the number 60 due to the 60 men who take their own lives every hour worldwide. To keep this theme at the heart of our challenges, so far students have swam 60 lengths of the swimming pool, ran 60 laps of Batting in fancy dress, showcased their talents within 60 seconds and aim to reach 60km of exercise by the end of the month. Meanwhile, to keep with the traditions, some of our male staff have been growing their impressive moustaches to show their support. Students have shown great COURAGE in participating in these awareness activities and HONOUR the cause they have collectively chosen to support.

MOVEMBER is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men's health issues, prostate and testicular cancer within men. This month, in Churchill House, we aimed to raise awareness of these issues within our school by completing ‘Movember Movement’. In the house, Mr Troxler made a goal for each Churchill boy to complete 60 km of movement in a month. We raced to see how many kilometres we could complete, and some people did more kilometres, for example I’ve exercised 87.5km this month, which is 27.5km extra. And this isn’t just me, lots of other Churchillians are smashing their target too. I really enjoyed this project as I liked trying to reach a new target and it was fun to just exercise a bit more than normal. Surprisingly this makes us very comfortable. This project was great, and I am looking forward to challenge 120km next year with my friends. Shun, Lower Prep, Churchill House

Studies have shown that men are less likely than women to get help from friends or doctors for mental health issues. These statistics show the need for mental health support for men everywhere on this planet. For so long as a charity, the Movember Foundation has been sharing all kinds of support to save lives all over the world. This is the reason why it is such an important charity to support. My favorite part of Movember was working towards the target of 60 km. For that 60 km, I rode on the bike in our games room every day during ‘device time’. It was really fun as it was also the first time that I have ridden a static bike with some music playing on my phone – it was enjoyable and at the same time strengthened my body. Maybe this is the charm of Movember, we can exercise our body, and give financial, mental support to men around the world. Kevin, Shell, Churchill House

Final total 2923 km

Raised 3025 USD

Target 2880 km

Harrow International School Appi Japan 180-8 Appikogen, Hachimantai City, Iwate Perfecture, Japan

harrowappi.jp

info@harrowappi.jp

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