I want to thank all the example lesson teachers, session presenters, panelists, and participants for a WONDERFUL Mid-year Conference. There was amazing feedback from JTEs, as well. If you would like any of the materials from the sessions or presentations, please contact me directly for copies.

Our guest presenters were even impressed and complimentary about the conference – I am elated and proud at the impression that you all made and cannot express my gratitude enough.

If you would like to read some of the great things said about you and see the official plug for next year, please make with the clickie!

From Bob Juppe (our keynote speaker), Tsukuba Gakuin University

"I cannot express what a delightful time I had as both speaker and participant. The JETs were so wonderfully approachable and congenial (on the final night, five of them invited me to have a beer before I left for Echigoyuzawa!!! Just the fact that they did that impressed me to no end.) The schedule was run beautifully, and planned extremely well. The diversity of the workshops was appealing; I am sure that the ALTs could find something interesting among the wide selection, whose offerings definitely reflected the deep experience and expertise of the teachers."

You guys rock. Thank you everyone for making this year a success!

If you still have Lesson Plan Wish lists – send them to me, it’s not too late! If didn’t get the chance to wander through the gallery, let me know and we’ll set up a time for you to come look at it or for me to bring it to you.

If you CD was a bust - let me know and I'll send you the information immediately.

Now here's my plug for next year:

Mid-year conference is only as good as the volunteers who work it. The people who presented great sessions worked their tails off. Those people may or may not be here next year. Keep in mind that presenting sessions like these are excellent resume builder and well as personal development builders. If you are interested in creating a goal for yourself, think about what you could present at Mid-year Conference, or Orientation for that matter, that would be for your own personal career development.

If you weren't so fond of the way something was presented this year - take it over and make it your own for the next seminar. Make suggestions for new content. All of us are educated, intelligent individuals with expertise in a certain field. Apply what you know to life here in Japan and help provide insight in a professional capacity to your peers. That is what mid-year is about, mentoring and development of our ALT community by the community.

Again, that said, in addition to peer development, we will try to have equally fabulous professionals come to speak. If you have suggestions for main speakers or presenters, at anytime during the year, please send them in. We have a few in mind already - but Muko-sensei and I would GREATLY appreciate your input. If we know what you want, we can try to make that happen.

You all are my heroes. Thank you everyone!

-Tonya

Hello everyone!

Both Groups A and B have arrived in Ishikawa. Area leaders have, hopefully, been in touch with each of the new folks. Even if you are not an area leader, take the time to track down them down and welcome them to the neighborhood.

Right now, we’re putting the finishing touches on Ishikawa Orientation. Orientation will be held on August 12th and 13th at the Jyosei Center in Kanazawa. For more information on how to get there, please contact me directly. Remember, Day 1 is strict business attire due to the attendance of the Director of Ishikawa Foreign Affairs. Day 2 is still business, just a little more relaxed.

Lastly, Professional Days, also known as the Team-teaching seminar, will be held the following day, August 14th, at the Kyoiku Center. I will be handing out directions to those who have responded at Orientation.

To all the JETs who have recently returned home – we miss you already and hope that the trip home was safe and settling into your new homes is proving to be more or less painless.

To all our current JETs – have a fun, relaxing summer. Come back to Ishikawa safe and sound.

Enjoy the rest of Summer Holiday!

-tonya

Hello Everyone,

Well, it's that time of year already - time for some of us to stay and some of us to go. This year we are saying goodbye to a number of JETs, including our 5 first-ever 5th years. And so, here is the information for this year's

SOBETSUKAI
Where: Fusion 21, the restaurant at the 21st Century Museum (金沢21世紀美術館)
When: Saturday, 21st June, 7:30 - 9:30 pm

Hit 'Keep Reading' for more details...

Where: Fusion 21, the restaurant at the 21st Century Museum (金沢21世紀美術館)
When: Saturday, 21st June, 7:30 - 9:30 pm
What: Nomihodai and Buffet Dinner (vegetarian option available)
Price: 5000 yen with a 700 yen discount for the leavers

See here for a map:
Fusion 21
http://maps.google.co.jp/maps?q=google%20map%2021st%20Century%20museum%20Kanazawa&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wl

Of course, this enkai is only the start of the night. It will be followed by a:

2nd Party : 9:30 - 10:30
This one is entirely up to you and your friends. After the main enkai we thought having a little extra time for some smaller 2nd parties would be appropriate. So be it karaoke, pub crawl, cosplay or transvestite bars, whatever you feel like doing, go do it!

and an:

Apre Party : 11 - dawn
This will be the last big event of the AJET year - your final chance to get down and boogie Apre-style! Even if you can't come to the enkai (though I hope you can!), you can still come to the party at Apre.

I hope to see you all there.

SO,
If you are interested in coming to the Sobetsukai, please reply to this email, and fill out the information below. Please reply as EARLY as possible to ensure your place at the party. In addition, you don't have to be a JET to attend the party, so if you have any friends who would like to come, by all means invite them.

Please fill out the information below:

Name:
Email address:
Vegetarian (Yes / No):
Leaver (Yes / No):

Send your response to ishikawaajet at gmail dot com.

Saturday 21st June 2008

7:30 - 9:30: Sobetsukai
9:30 - 11: 2nd Party
11 - Dawn: Apre Party

We want a new look for the 2008-2009 Ishikawa JETs' Living Guide!

It has been the same for as long as any of us can remember and we are looking not only to update the content (which the Area Leaders have been working on - please lend them/us a hand if you have updated content) but also the feel of the living guide.

The winning entry will receive a 5000￥ cash prize.

There are only a few stipulations:

1. The graphic will still need to be simple and black due to budgetary restraints in actually printing the living guide.
2. Please submit these graphics via email, to me (Tonya).
3. The deadline for submission will be May 29th at 5:00 pm.
4. Judging will take place on June 2nd at the next PA Meeting. Myself, Mandy, Endo and Azuma-sensei being the judges for this contest.
5. All submitted graphics may be used in the living guide and other Ishikawa JET related materials but only the winning entry, to be used primarily on the cover, will be awarded the prize (along with the honor and distinction to be placed on their resume).

I know you all are a creative lot! Please lend us your talents in creating a new look for the Living Guide!

Thank you!
-Tonya

The Ishikawa JETs Leavers' Conference will be held at Rifare on May 19th. The time has been changed from the original notice and will only be from 2:00 to 4:30 pm.

Information has gone to your supervisors, please fill out the information to sign up or decline attendence for this conference. It is not a mandatory conference, however, it is highly recommended. We will go through all the legal forms and outline each process you need to complete before and after leaving JET and Japan.

Please contact Tonya or Mandy with any questions you may have!

February 16th @ Kanazawa APRE

Coming wearing your best school attire!

See the forum for more information: http://ishikawajets.j-talk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=8418

Happy New Year, one and all! Hopefully you rang in 2008 properly (yet safely) with friends and loved ones where ever you were. Everyone should be back to work and loving the best that Ishikawa winter has to offer - especially in their classrooms!

Be sure to keep warm and cosy as best you can. Save on your heating bills by getting out of the house whenever possible - socializing is important, especially when the cold brings out the natural tendency to hibernate where it is warm. Even if it is to go sit in your local coffee shop and converse with the locals, it will be worth your while.

If you're more the active type and are longing for outdoor recreation, many of the secondhand stores (like Second Street and Kaimasu) are packed with high quality used equipment for skiing, snowboarding, and snow-shoeing. Most of it looks as though it has been used once and the whole lot (boots, boards, suits, etc.) was brought in.

So get out there and enjoy one of Japan's four seasons, because as you know there are four, by keeping warm and active!