Seishin Visit

In a term when we are focusing on positive relationships it is important to reflect on our time spent with our sister school Seishin Gakuen from Kashima in Japan. Our first visit to Seishin occurred back in September 2005 when a group of Pacific students and staff visited Seishin Gakuen. I was lucky to be part of that group and the welcome made to us at Seishin was amazing. Since then the relationship has continued to grow positively through the bi-annual visits. This week it has been our turn to host Seishin staff and students.

A study of twentieth century history shows that when nations put their own interests first then the world can head to conflict and even war. Internationalism is a key philosophy that helps nations link together in a variety of ways from economic relationships to joint actions on environmental issue. Developing key relationships across borders can help keep everyone safe. The Gandhi foundation challenges us all individually and collectively to reach out and give our best so that others may be allowed to flourish in a world that was created for us all- every last one of us. This invitation to bring out the very best in others, and ourselves- to grow beyond the restrictive and limiting mindset that perpetuates a them and us mentality- is an invitation to participate fully in the spiritual gift of life.

Two Seishin Gakuen students from Year Ten will stay with us for the rest of this term. They are Mone Shimizu and Ririko Wada. We warmly welcome them to the Pacific community along with Chloe Mear from France and Camilla Barstad from Norway who join us on international exchange for the next twelve months.

Mr Brendan Delaney, Director of Students