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Oak Ridge, Naka-shi Japan celebrate 25 years of sister city relationship

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Members of the Oak Ridge delegation at 25th Anniversary celebration of sister city signing agreement with Naka shi, Japan. (Submitted photo)

 

This year, the Oak Ridge Sister City Support Organization, or SCSO, is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Sister City agreement between Oak Ridge and Naka-shi, Japan.

The significance of this anniversary was acknowledged with special events in Japan and Tennessee. In July, a 21-member delegation from Oak Ridge traveled to Naka, including City Council member Rick Chinn; Myles Hebrard, supervisor of special education for Oak Ridge schools; SCSO Chairwoman Jerralyn Luckmann; Japanese mentor Shigeko Uppuluri; and the 2016 middle school exchange delegation of students and teachers and other SCSO members. A reception and dinner with more than 100 Naka shi dignitaries, officials, and Naka International Exchange Association members attended and honored the Oak Ridge group with recognitions, gifts, songs, and karate demonstrations. [Read more…]

Sister City Support Organization selects middle school exchange delegates

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Sister City Support Organization and Oak Ridge Schools

Pictured above are back row, left to right, Myles Hebrard, Brion Fuson, Elijah Gardner, Julie Lee (RMS chaperone), Melissa Fox (JMS chaperone), Jakob Nussbaum, and Sarah Hammons; and front row, left to right, Madeline Davis, Lauryn Rouse, Savanna Rouse, Austin Mayes, Jayden Ellis, and Abby Hausladen. (Submitted photo)

 

The Sister City Support Organization in cooperation with Oak Ridge Schools has selected the delegates for the 2016 middle school exchange with the sister city, Naka-shi Japan. The 10 rising eighth-graders representing both Jefferson and Robertsville middle schools will be accompanied by two teacher/chaperones and Myles Hebrard, supervisor of special education of Oak Ridge Schools.

This is the 25th anniversary of the middle school exchange and the occasion will be celebrated in Naka-shi on July 5, 2016. Representatives from the Oak Ridge Schools, SCSO, Girl Scouts, and the City of Oak Ridge will travel to Naka with the student group in recognition of this milestone.

The SCSO and Oak Ridge schools will host a reciprocal celebration when the Naka students visit Oak Ridge in August.

The 2016 middle school delegates in cooperation with Time to Shine Car Wash are raising funds to help defray their travel expenses. Until the end of April, for any car wash patron using the SCSO code (8984) and purchasing the $20 special, Time to Shine contributes $10 to the students.

Jerralyn Luckmann is a contributor to Oak Ridge Today.

Sister City Support Organization has annual meeting Oct. 22

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The Sister City Support Organization has scheduled the annual meeting for Thursday, October 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the Robertsville Middle School cafeteria.

Buffalo Tours, the California agency that is coordinating the 25th anniversary trip to Japan in July, is sending a representative to preview the trip and take deposits. SCSO will also have a slide show of photos from the 2015 exchange with Naka shi, Japan; discuss recent developments in their relationship with Obninsk, Russia, and elect officers. A member of the Friendship Bell structure renovation committee will give a status report on this project.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Middle School Exchange with Naka shi, Japan, the Sister City Support Organization is planning a visit to Naka and tour of Japan.

“We are inviting any interested Oak Ridgers to join us,” a press release said. “It is especially important that we have representatives of the Oak Ridge city government and schools, SCSO members, previous Naka middle school travelers and host families. This is your turn to have the ‘Naka experience’ that so many students have enjoyed for 25 years.” [Read more…]

Sister City group has April 25 dinner for middle school exchanges with Japan

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Oak Ridge Naka-shi Middle School Exchange

Participants in the Oak Ridge/ Naka-shi, Japan 2013 Middle school exchange, frolic in the ocean on the Japanese coast. (Submitted photos)

The Sister City Support Organization, in cooperation with the City of Oak Ridge and Oak Ridge Schools, has sponsored the visit of middle school students to our sister city of Naka-shi, Japan, for 22 years.

In support of the 2014 Middle School exchange, the Sister City Support Organization is hosting a spaghetti supper on Friday, April 25. The supper will be held at the First United Methodist Church from 5:30-8 p.m. Student exchange participants and SCSO board members will don Japanese “happy coats” and kimonos to serve the main course and an array of delicious homemade desserts. [Read more…]

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