Category Archives: Events

J2B 2018 Study Guide and Quizlet

Prepare for the upcoming second annual J2B (Junior Japan Bowl) Tournament 2018 with this handy study guide prepared by the JCC.  J2B18 will take place on Friday, May 11 at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology’s auditorium from 6pm to 8pm. 

Contact the JCC if your child is interested in being on the GFES team.  

Check out the Study Guide

Quiz yourself using Quizlet HERE.

J-LEARN Seminar: Supporting the Future of Japanese Language Education in the US

On November 5, 2017 at the George Washington University Cloyd Heck Marvin Center, J-LEARN will co-host a seminar that will discuss the current state of affairs with respect to Japanese language education in the Greater Washington DC region (to include VA Beach) in cooperation with J.LIVE Talk.  

Through this seminar, we hope to reflect on why studying Japanese is important, examine who is currently studying Japanese, address opportunities and challenges to Japanese programs, and discuss ways in which advocacy for preserving such language programs can be improved. 

By bringing together students, parents, educators and key stakeholders with an interest in Japan and Japanese to discuss the importance of continuing, preserving and promoting Japanese language education in the US, we hope to fine tune advocacy techniques and strategies in order to build a more robust advocacy toolbox. 

The Seminar agenda can be found below

Agenda-Japan Friendship Seminar 2017 vers.3.xlsx

More information about J.LIVE Talk 2017 can be found HERE.

 

Japanese Art Project 2017

This year the JCC introduced all GFES students to the wonderful and fun art of performance calligraphy.  Using brushes of all sizes (some 2ft long), students learned to make ink the traditional Japanese way, write thier names, and write a kanji word that described thier class, thier mood, etc.  Many thanks to all the volunteers who helped us out.  Also a big shout out to Ms. Giroux for letting us invade her classroom for an entier week.  Until next year!

End of the Year Potluck Picnic

Come to our annual end of year potluck for a chance to get to know other Japanese Immersion families and welcome new ones.  This year we will be meeting at Leslie Moore’s house, 828 Constellation Dr. in Great Falls.

There will be crafts and games for the kids, organized and run by some of the older students. There will also be a chance to learn about committees you can be involved in to help make next year even better, such as: Japanese Art, Community Events, Classroom Cultural Celebrations, Social, Website/social media, Fox Mill Liaison, Fairfax FLAGS Liaison.

Sign up HERE to bring a dish to share.

J2B 2017: Congratulations GFES!

On May 5, 2017, students from Great Falls ES and Fox Mill ES went head to head in Championship Round of the first annual Junior Japan Bowl Competition.  Each school sent a three-person team to represent thier school in the Level 1 Division (Grades 1-3) and Level 2 Division (Grades 4-6).

GFES Level I J2B Team consisted of:  Eric Loizeau (3), Maya Rodriguez (3) and Sana Rodriguez (1)
GFES Level 2 J2B Team:  Claire Kim (5), Bahiyyeh Aghdasi (5) and Julia Moore (6)

After a heated contests, the Level 1 team took home the championship trohpy and the Level 2 team took home the runner’s up trophy.

Great job everyone!

Kyogen Workshop Pictures

3rd and 5th Grade JIP students had a wonderful time learning some Kyogen techniques (how to laugh and cry) and were treated to a short Kyogen performance.

Kyogen Workshop 2017

In cooperation with the Japan Foundation of New York, the JCC is bringing a Kyogen Workshop by the Shigeyama family to GFES on Wednesday, March 22nd, 2017.  Kyogen (wild speech or mad words) is a 500-year old form of traditional Japanese comic theater that was developed alongside Noh.  The Shigeyama family is one of two leading Kyogen families in Japan.

3rd and 5th grade JIP students will participate in this hour-long workshop, that will led by actor, Shigeyama Ippe.

Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival 2017

Great Falls ES has been chosen to perform a number of songs at the Sakura Matsuri-Japanese Street Festival on the Sakura Stage on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at 12:45pm-1:15pm.  Interested students are asked to sign up HERE as soon as possible.

Information

  • Festival Date:  Saturday, April 8, 2017
  • Festival Place:  The Yards/Capitol Riverfront, on the Corner of M St. SE and New Jersey Ave. SE (Metro:  Navy Yard-Ballpark Green line
  • Performance Time:  12:45pm-1:15pm
  • Tickets:  Performing students will get free entry. Children 12 & under are free; Adults are $10 (To pre-purchase tickets online, Click HERE)
  • Check in with a teacher or JCC volunteer at 12:00pm by the Sakura Stage
  • Happi Coats will be handed out to each performing student at the Sakura Stage

Sakura Matsuri is a great opportunity to enjoy the tastes, sounds and feel of Japan. It is the largest one-day celebration of Japanese culture in the Washington DC area, with 4 performance stages and demonstrations, cultural exhibitors, food vendors, cooking demonstrations, a Children’s Corner. We encourage everyone to attend.

For more information, ask your JIP teacher or email the JCC at admin@jcc-gfes.org