UAIS is truly international

The Utica Academy for International Studies played host this week to three guests from the Michigan-Shiga Exchange, a partnership through Michigan State University’s Office of Gifted and Talented Education that promotes exchange between Japanese and American schools and their students. 

Nagahama-Kita High School Principal Mr. Koichi Tsuji and Hikonehigashi Senior High teacher Ms. Kayoko Katsuramato visited the UAIS as the first of a 15-school tour during a two-week stay in the United States. 

UAIS Junior Marissa Hocking visited Shiga Provence and attended classes this summer as a part of the exchange and is now hosting her student, Tomoyo, as a part of the home-stay process. 

Tomoyo will be attending classes at the UAIS for the nearly three weeks she is participating in the homestay. 

The Japanese educators were able to see the UAIS in full swing as students and staff were engaged in Student Development work that was exploring the science of learning and how to expand student capacity. Exchange representatives also interviewed teachers, students and administration in the process. Judy Nixon of the Michigan-Shiga Exchange Program accompanied the guests.