Former Tripp student Rie Kita visits her 4th grade teacher, Ann Pfeil, after 12 years and tells students first-hand about the Japanese school year. Ms. Kita used a poster that she and a friend, Chinami Kamiya, had designed to help the 4th grade students visualize what is celebrated each month in Japan.

Students created Teru teru bōzu and hung them from the classroom ceiling much like the Japanese do when they hang the ghost-like figurines near windows to blow in the breeze and celebrate summer. Rie and her friend are in the Chicago area while on break. Rie will return to Japan and finish her nursing degree by next spring.