Nishinomiyahama Compulsory Education School Is Doing Something Unique [Nishitsu Report]

I heard that Nishinomiyahama Compulsory Education School has some rather unique activities called “Marina Friends Time” and “Marina Work”, so I went to take a look.

Some of you may also be wondering, “What exactly is a compulsory education school?” or “Where is it in the first place?” so I’ll give a quick explanation of that too.

Where Is the Compulsory Education School?

It’s in Nishinomiyahama.

Its full official name is a bit long: “Nishinomiya Municipal Nishinomiyahama Compulsory Education School Affiliated with the General Education Center.”

A little trivia: apparently it’s sometimes shortened and called “Gimu.” They shorten it that much!?

Here it is on the map↓

The address is 4-2-31 Nishinomiyahama, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture (East Building). The West Building is at 4-3-12.

What Is a Compulsory Education School?

A compulsory education school is a public integrated elementary and junior high school, and Nishinomiyahama Compulsory Education School is the fourth new school of its kind in Hyogo Prefecture. It only opened in 2020.

There are a fair number of private integrated elementary and junior high schools, but public ones are extremely rare.

It was originally Nishinomiyahama Elementary School and Nishinomiyahama Junior High School.

The building on the right is the former Nishinomiyahama Elementary School, and the one on the left is the former Nishinomiyahama Junior High School.

Since it’s an integrated elementary and junior high school, they don’t say “first-year junior high.” First-year junior high students are called seventh graders.

Wait, They Play During Class!? I Went to See “Marina Friends Time”

I went to see one of this compulsory education school’s unique programs, “Marina Friends Time.”

What kind of activity is it?

They play.

To be a little more specific, “students from grades 1 through 9 mix together and play.” If you want to put it more formally, it’s what’s called cross-grade group activitiesThe ninth-grade leaders apparently plan in advance what kind of games they’ll play.

This group was passing a ball to the person next to them in time with the music, and when the music stopped, whoever was holding the ball was out.

In this scene, the music had actually stopped right before this, and the boy who got eliminated is looking pretty down.

That melancholy. Still, even as everyone kept getting eliminated, they all looked like they were having a great time playing.

This group was having a picture shiritori showdown. Like this, a ninth grader stands at the front and explains how to play. Impressive!

They draw a picture like this, then the next person draws another picture to continue the shiritori chain. Even so, it’s amazing that they can tell what everyone is drawing! I recognized the apple, fish, and cat!!

Here’s picture shiritori from another group. This group also wrote the names of the objects under the drawings. It’s interesting how the rules can be slightly different for the same game depending on the group.

After the game ended, when someone asked, “Who wants to share what they thought today?” a boy cheerfully raised his hand and answered. It really made me feel like Nishinomiya’s future is bright! So impressive!

I Went to See “Marina Work”

Next, during the afternoon’s fifth period, they apparently do an activity called “Marina Work.”

This East Building (the former junior high school) is where grades 5 through 9 are. Students were gathering on the grounds in groups.

More and more students were gathering. If you look closely, some students are holding up number signs. What could those be?

Then the students from grades 1 through 4 came in full of energy.

So they were group numbers.The first through fourth graders also dashed right over and lined up with their groups without hesitation.

This is sudden, but I found a remnant of Nishinomiyahama Junior High School inside the compulsory education school.

There was also this mysterious art-like object inside the East Building. I hope it brings back some memories for graduates

Now then, let’s get back to Marina Work.

Some students are holding plastic bottles. What are they going to use them for??

Oh, I know! A speed water-drinking contest!!!

It looks like fun, so that must be it! Right?

Ahhh! They’re pretending to be in Kiki’s Delivery Service

Hm? Sponges

Ah cleaning cloths

Of course garbage bags and work gloves

But where are they going to clean up?

Hm? They’re walking outside the school.

They got separated while waiting at the traffic light. But even with this kind of little mishap, the students stayed calm.

So, where did they go?

They’re gathered around somewhere colorful!

They were scrubbing the various artworks around Nishinomiyahama.

It was so heartwarming to see the older students explaining how to do it so kindly.

They were even carefully cleaning artworks with gaps like this. They’re really working hard.

A peace sign from a student working hard to clean up the neighborhood! Absolutely shining!!

へぇ〜 51