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Shaler Area to host Japanese exchange students through the Kakehashi Project



Shaler Area students and the community will have the unique opportunity to learn about Japan from native high school students through the District's participation in a special program.

Shaler Area High School and its families will host 24 students from Igusa and Suginamo Soga High Schools, in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the Kakehashi Project. The Kakehashi (Bridge for Tomorrow) Project is an initiative of the Japanese government to promote youth exchange between the United States and Japan. The Japanese students are visiting Shaler Area High School from March 23-26 as part of their 10-day trip to America.

As part of the Japanese students’ visit, Shaler Area High School will host the Kakehashi Community Event on March 25 at the high school auditorium. The program will include a performance by Pittsburgh Taiko, a Japanese drum performance troupe, and student presentations on Japanese culture. There will be a reception following the entertainment and presentations and the opportunity to speak with the visiting students.

The event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are appreciated. Please contact Steven Balsomico at [email protected] with any questions or to RSVP.

Kakehashi Community Event

Date: Wednesday, March 25

Time: 6 to 8:30 p.m.

Location: Shaler Area High School auditorium, 381 Wible Run Road

Shaler Area is one of 20 school districts throughout the country selected to participate in J-LEAP (Japanese Language Education Assistant Program), a program that places a native Japanese language assistant teacher in an American Japanese language classroom for a period of two years. Mr. Shunji Iwasaki, of Osaka, Japan, is co-teaching with Shaler Area High School Japanese teacher Steven Balsomico from August 2014 to June 2016.

“This is a chance for the students to experience real Japanese,” Balsomico said of Shaler Area’s participation in the J-LEAP program and Kakehashi Project. “Understanding another culture is so important to learn about yourself and the world.”




10-day U.S. tour brings Japanese students to Shaler
TribLIVE | Neighborhoods article March 30, 2015

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1800 Mt. Royal Boulevard     Glenshaw, PA. 15116     P 412-492-1200     F 412-492-1236
1800 Mt. Royal Boulevard Glenshaw, PA. 15116 P 412-492-1200 F 412-492-1236
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