“Excellence, Friendship, Respect” These are the Olympic values. But how do they relate to a junior high school? Let’s explore the story of Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School. It is a public junior high school in Tokyo.
Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School opened in Bessho in April 1990. It was built as a school for the new Tama Newtown area. In 2010 the school celebrated its 20th anniversary. Initially it was a small school with only 67 students. Today Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School is a medium-sized school. It has three classes per grade and nine classes in total. A special support class was added in 2016.
Student numbers at Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School peaked in 2001. Since then student numbers have gradually declined. At one time there were six classes in each grade. The fourth class for general students disappeared in 2016. This meant each grade had only three classes. However nearby elementary schools have seen a temporary rise in students. This may lead to more classes in the future.
Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School has a special support class. This class was established in 2016 to support students with special needs. The special support class is called Class A. This means the first general class starts with Class B. In 2018 the student population was 17 in the special support class. There were 107 first-year students. There were 104 second-year students. And there were 101 third-year students.
The school encourages interaction between general students and Class A students. It established an A Class Committee. This promotes connections between all students at Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School.
Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School offers a variety of club activities. Students can participate in girls’ basketball. They can participate in boys’ basketball. There is also a girls’ badminton club. A girls’ volleyball club is available. Students can join the soccer club. A baseball club exists but lacks members. Students interested in table tennis can join the table tennis club. There is also a track and field club. Students can participate in the soft tennis club. The handball club is also an option.
For students interested in arts there is an art club. The school also has a computer club. A brass band allows students to play music. A drama club provides an outlet for acting. And there’s a sports recreation club.
Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School also has unique activities. One is the lunchtime choir. The goal is to compete in the choir competition. Ultimately they aim to participate in the national competition. Mr. Fumihiko Ogawa a teacher and musician leads the choir.
EF Education First a global education company partnered with the school. In 2017 EF held a program at Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School. It was part of Tokyo’s Olympic and Paralympic education program. The program taught the Olympic spirit in English. Students learned about the Olympic values. They designed symbols incorporating excellence friendship and respect. Students presented their designs in English. One student said they wanted to learn more about the Olympics. A teacher noted the students were stimulated by the program.
Hachioji Municipal Bessho Junior High School shows a commitment to its students. It strives to create a welcoming environment. The school promotes both academic and personal growth.