Nuriootpa High School hosted a group of ten students from Meidai High School (Meiji University Meiji High School, Tokyo) for a two-week study tour earlier this term.

Facilitated by International Support Teacher Mrs Jenny Howard, Meidai students were warmly welcomed into the Nuriootpa High School community and embraced Australian culture with the support of their student buddies and host families.

The study tour encompassed a wide range of activities showcasing South Australia, including excursions to Adelaide Hills where students got up close with kangaroos and koalas and to a farm near Kapunda, providing students with an insight into Australian farming life.

In addition to daily English lessons and practice with students and staff, the group participated in a range of classes at Nuriootpa High School including German language lessons, visual arts, and physical education – the perfect opportunity to introduce Meidai students to the iconic game of AFL!

Nuriootpa High School First Nations students and Aboriginal Secondary Education Transition Officer, Brooke Klose, provided important insights into Australia’s rich Indigenous history, cultures and connections to Country.

“I appreciated the very positive responses [from staff] in assisting with providing a comprehensive programme for the students. The [Meidai] students enjoyed the interactions with our students. Thank you to everyone,” reflected Ms Jenny Howard, Nuriootpa High School English, HASS and International Support Teacher.

It is these interactions that reflect the reciprocal value of the study-tour. The friendships formed and the cultural understanding developed between students and staff enabled everyone involved to learn from one another, broaden their perspectives and create lasting memories.

Inset image: Meidai High School students with Nuriootpa High School student buddies