Sister City Schools

Glendale Elementary School

Glendale Elementary School established a cultural exchange program with Megurita Elementary School in Higashimurayama in 1988. Glendale School sponsors a Japanese Culture Club to promote this relationship.

The mission of Glendale Japanese Club is to give our Glendale 4th and 5th graders an opportunity to learn about Japan. We have many cultural lessons and activities such as ikebana, origami, sushi tasting, tea ceremony, and many others. Recently we have added drumming, Kempo, and small plays of Japanese children's stories. Glendale Japanese Club performs several places all over the city. Our most recent performances were at the KC Comets Game, The Jackson County Cultural Arts Commission's Showcase of Arts, and at the KC Japan Fest at JCCC.

Glendale Japanese Club is unique to the Independence School District because it is the only elementary school with the distinction of a Sister School in our sister city of Higashimurayama. We have exchanged gifts, emails and letters with Megurita Elementary for over 15 years. Last year we were fortunate to have the principal of Megurita, Mrs. Ishida, come to Glendale for a day. She brought with her a beautiful tapestry that was made by students at Megurita. Many of our Glendale Japanese Club members are able to visit Megurita Elementary when they reach high school. This is a very special experience for our students. They are truly visiting old friends!

Glendale Elementary houses many beautiful Japanese artifacts including quilts, dolls, and clothing. Please come visit us anytime! We're very proud of our club.

Join us at the annual Japan Festival at Johnson Community College in September and see the Sister City School perform. Visit the festival's website for more details.

Glendale Japanese Club
Jeannae Segura Brown (sponsor)
Glendale Elementary School
2611 Lee's Summit Road
Independence, MO 64055

Pioneer Ridge Middle School

Pioneer Ridge Middle School has established a cultural exchange program with a Junior High School in Higashimurayama in the 30th Anniversary year of 2008. Both schools sponsor a Japanese Culture Club to promote this relationship. It costs $55 to join the club at Pioneer Ridge, as an after-school sponsored program.

The mission of Pioneer Ridge Japanese Club, which is still being drawn up, will be to give our Junior High School students an opportunity to learn about Japan, and the Japanese students in the 6th, 7th and 8th grade will be able to learn about America. This additional program in Independence, as well as in Japan, will help to offer opportunities to another age group.

Glendale Elementary Students that participate in the Japanese Club performs in Independence as well as in other areas of the Metropolitan area of Kansas City because the program is run by the elementary music teacher. The Junior High group will not repeat or be exactly like the elementary program. It will be geared for an older age group.

Japanese Clubs, started by Mrs. Sue Hammett over 20 years ago, are unique to the Independence School District because these schools are the only elementary and middle schools with the distinction of Sister Schools in our Sister City of Higashimurayama. Jeannae Segura-Brown, the head of the Glendale Sister School has already been to Megurita Elementary and Alreda Adams, the head of the new Pioneer Ridge Sister School, will meet with Hirom Tanuguchii in Japan this summer. Alreda and Hirom will draw up their Mission Statement, set goals and most of all bond together in their sister city endeavors.

Many of our Glendale Japanese Club members will be able to continue their interest in Japan when they advance to middle school at Pioneer Ridge and perhaps they will be able to visit the sister schools when they reach high school. The Japanese Sister City send ten "high school-to college age" students to Japan each year. This is a very special experience for our sister school students. They are truly visiting old friends!

Join both sister schools, Glendale and Pioneer Ridge, at the annual Independence Cherry Blossom Festival. The day is packed full with Japanese interests such as anime, bonsai, Ikebana, martial arts and Japanese entertainment. Japanese food will be served and Japanese items will be for sale.

• Newsletter from Higashimurayama 2nd JHS

Pioneer Ridge Japanese Club

Alreda Adams (sponsor)
Pioneer Ridge School
1656 South Speck Road
Independence, MO 64055