Sister school travel broadens horizons

Relationships are being renewed and global perspectives gained through a South West sister school visit to Japan.

Kingston Primary School principal Alan Kidd and his deputy Anne Curd have this week led a group of students to their sister school, Takenodai Elementary School.

It is the first official visit to Japan since the sister school agreement was signed in 2012 and comes one year after Takenodai staff and students visited Kingston.

Mr Kidd said the visit also allowed students to put their Japanese language skills into practice.

"It is an opportunity to converse in their language," he said.

"They learn English but don't get the chance to speak it and we learn Japanese but don't get the chance to speak it."

The Kingston group left Australia on Friday and will return this Sunday.

Students are spending four nights in Japanese homestays and attending school classes.

The sister school agreement will also be renewed during the exchange.

Takenodai Elementary School is in the Japanese city of Kobe, the capital city of Hyogo prefecture, which has a sister State agreement with Western Australia.