Motivated by the Shizuoka Salesio school motto ‘To learn, keep it simple’

By Our Own Correspondent

Shizuoka, Japan, 17 September 2016 -- 1100 students and 120 teachers of ‘Integrated Mission School: Kindergarten, Elementary School, Junior and Senior High School are forming truly Salesian family environment of a Catholic School. This is probably the only EAO Salesian School under the Salesian Cooperators leadership.

The modern facility of FMA founded school are located just at the side of the Shinkansen (bullet train) between Tokyo and Osaka. As many of the Catholic schools, also Salesio was founded in the immediate post World War period (1947).

What makes the Salesio Shizuoka so special?

There is large group of young Catholic teachers (beyond the ordinary Japan percentage: about 23 of 120 school staff are Christians), animated by the elderly but enthusiastic FMA community (6 Sisters) and the school leadership (Chief Director, Principal, Vice-principal) posts are entrusted to the Salesian Cooperators (Shizuoka Center with 9 members and 2 Aspirants). There is also a relevant presence of Salesio Past Pupils among the teacher (20/120).

Salesian Spirit of Salesio

‘Assistenza’ is declared and lived as the education method of the school. Within the limits of highly competitive Japan school, there are more than 20 different sport, art and service activities for all students. In order to strengthen the Don Bosco Preventive System since 2014 there is a regular monthly formation session for the teachers, shared by Fr Angel Yamanouchi, SDB – Rector of Hamamatsu community (100 km distance). There are quite few international links with the SDB schools in Australia and FMA schools in the Philippines, there is an active VIDES branch and the students with their teachers have also volunteer experience in Tohoku (2011 Earthquake region) or in Hamamatsu.

Salesian Cooperators and Salesio

But the main motivation is the enthusiasm and education passion of the Salesian Cooperators and other Catholic teachers, some of them confess: ‘Salesio School is for me everything, it’s like a Church – here I received baptism, here is share my faith and do all my best for the education of our youth!’ or ‘Here I’m getting closer to God. Here I’m sharing the joy of my faith!’ One teacher shares her motivation for starting Salesian Cooperator formation: ‘I would like to be more deeply involved in our team work for the young people education!’ Two of the teachers are preparing for their Promise of Salesian Cooperator during the 2017 EAO Regional Congress in Tokyo.

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