Marking 25 Years as Sister Schools
Written by Rangi Ruru Girls’ School Archivist Johnann Williams for Wide Sky Summer 2025
The special relationship between Yokohama Jogakuin and Rangi Ruru began in 1994 and has flourished across the years through ongoing exchange visits.
This partnership is an important part of Rangi Ruru’s commitment to building global citizenship, offering both staff and students opportunities to share ideas, connect across cultures and form lasting friendships.
Like Rangi Ruru, Yokohama Jogakuin Junior and Senior High School in Naka-ku, Yokohama, is a Christian private girls’ school with a strong academic tradition. Founded in 1947 from existing Shinto and Buddhist schools, it now has a teaching staff of over 100 and more than 1,000 students. The similarities in ethos between the two schools created a natural foundation for friendship and exchange.
In 2000, the relationship was formally recognised with a Sister School agreement, signed at a ceremony in the Rangi Ruru Chapel. This agreement committed both schools to respect each other’s traditions and culture, welcome visitors warmly, and provide exchange opportunities for students and staff. The schools also pledged to communicate regularly, create opportunities for students to connect, and share this special partnership with their wider communities.
To commemorate this formalisation, Rangi Ruru established a Japanese Garden beside the original drama theatre. Designed by Sue Falconer as a symbol of peace and permanence, the garden featured large rocks that had to be craned in, water elements and carefully chosen plants representing the bond between the schools.
In 2016 after the Christchurch earthquakes, the garden was recreated between the Art and Science blocks, ensuring that the spirit of the partnership continues to be honoured. Similarly, Yokohama Jogakuin dedicated a Rose Garden on its campus to celebrate its connection with Rangi Ruru.
Each year, a large group of Yokohama Jogakuin students visits Rangi Ruru, and the experience is one of the highlights of the school year. Years 9 and 10 students are paired with Japanese buddies and quickly discover that friendship transcends language.
They communicate through gestures, drawings and plenty of laughter. Sharing daily school life, exchanging cultural traditions and watching their visitors’ confidence in English grow is inspiring. Saying goodbye is always emotional, but the friendships, photos, and memories created last far beyond the visit.
Rangi Ruru students also travel to Yokohama, staying with host families and experiencing Japanese school life. These exchanges are often transformative: Students return with a deeper appreciation of Japanese culture, from wearing kimono and visiting Mt Fuji to exploring Tokyo’s landmarks and sampling new foods.
Most importantly, they build strong personal connections with their host families. As 2018 exchange students Ruby Moore and Tamsin Witts shared, “The friendships quickly became the best part of the exchange.”
This sister school relationship is much more than an annual event—it is an enduring bridge between two communities. For over 25 years, it has fostered understanding, respect and empathy, enriching the lives of students and staff alike and helping to shape globally minded young women ready to engage with the world.
