Items:
- Introducing John Savage;
- Contributing to HIS;
- Festive Eve Survey;
- Syrian Refugee Winter Clothing Drive;
- Sakura Medal;
1. Principal’s Message
Dear HIS Families
I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday. Please make sure you keep up a consistent routine of reading through the holidays (English & Japanese) and also practice that kanji. Just a bit each day can make a big difference over time. See you all back in January.
Kind regards
Damian Rentoule (Principal)
2. Crane Video
3. Introducing John Savage
Here is an introduction from John Savage who will be joining HIS as MYP Coordinator/Secondary Vice Principal in 2018/2019. We are all looking forward to seeing you here next year.
As a Canadian born educator, I spent the first part of my teaching career in public school systems. My overseas adventures began in 2002 in Fukuoka, Japan where I met my wife, Kazuko. Together we have spent the past 10 years in Muscat, Oman at an IB World School. I have held many administrative and teaching positions during my educational journey. My wife and I are very excited for the opportunity to serve the HIS community, and in particular, your children. We look forward to meeting each and every one of you during the 2018-2019 school year.
4. Contributing to HIS
As part of our HIS Annual Giving Campaign, we are very pleased to announce a very generous donation of 3,000,000 yen made by the Tomita Family to HIS to support our educational program. As we are a self-funding school, the generosity of our school community is extremely important and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for this kindness.
We would also like to thank the Meiki Family for the donation of one of our first items from the HIS Wish List on our Contributing to HIS page. (Susan Meiki is our General Director of the Board of Directors so also contributes a great deal of her time to the school community.) This is a section of netting/fence that will be used to separate the playground when we have car parking on the field for HIS families visiting the school for events.
We appreciate your ongoing support.
5. Festive Eve Reflection Survey
Each year HIS a Festive Eve production is a highlight as we move toward the Winter Break. Congratulations to all the cast, crew and supporters who worked so hard to prepare for the performance.
This year we held Festive Eve on a Saturday instead of after school. We also held one rehearsal after school to reduce rehearsal times during regular classes. These changes were made based on ideas received last year. We would like to, once again, hear your thoughts on this year’s production to help us plan for next year.
Please share your ideas in the following survey.
6. Syrian Refugee Winter Clothing Drive
Thank you to all of our community members who donated winter clothing to the Japan Syria Solidarity Association for their winter clothing drive campaign. We were able to send off a square-meter container filled with clothing and blankets to their collection center. We hope to support the organization in the future.
7. Sakura Medal
As is tradition, HIS will be participating in the Sakura Medal Competition again this year. Students are able to read and explore a variety of stories and authors from different countries and backgrounds selected by librarians across Japan. Then able to vote on their favourites. There are books for all grades and ages, from EC to High School level in both English and Japanese.
Because the selection of books in the competition is limited, students are only allowed to borrow one Sakura book at a time and we encourage students to read and return their Sakura book promptly so as to allow other students to read and enjoy as well. While students wait for their chance to borrow a particular Sakura book, we encourage they look at last year’s winners! The Sakura competition at HIS will run from now until the end of April, the voting procedures will be explained more fully after the Winter Break.
8. PTA News
PTA News 15th Nov(日本語は以下に）
Save the date to the next PTA Meeting January 31,9 am. Thank you so much to those of us who joined us this week for another very productive meeting. Your involvement is greatly appreciated.
Board of Trustees Report: Briefly: the greatest challenge to HIS currently is corporate funded student enrollment. Corporate tuition fees are nearly double the private rate. Last school year, HIS lost seven corporate rate tuitions. The goal is to keep HIS tuitions stable, and the finances in the black; however without the corporate rate tuitions, challenges are posed. Currently our KG-1 and 2-3 classes actually have waiting lists (we cap at 24/25 students) and many other class levels are near capacity. Last year HIS cut teaching staff (cannot happen this year). The area where we can grow is the Upper School, which is why the dormitory and boarding of overseas students has been explored. There is no current plan to implement this system; however it will continue to be something that will be explored. Additionally a home stay option is being considered with an outside company being used to facilitate this. It was noted that parents of HIS students need to be kept updated on these proposals.
The school’s facilities were discussed – the grounds seem to be the area that needs the most improvement. Most of the facility is in good condition otherwise.The treasurers report included how far in debt the school is and some discussion of how this will be addressed. The school website now also includes a contribution section. Recent contributions of over ¥3,000,000 help, but do not completely address this debt. More fundraisers are being considered.
Currently, our Board is not fully compliant with our charter, this is mainly due to two factors: the original charter was set with the position “Significant Financial Contrib
There seems to be a slight disconnect between what the BoT feels are the school’s greatest challenges and what the parents believe are the greatest challenges. Neither side is wrong, but more communication needs to happen between the two sides, who share the goal of keeping HIS in a position of providing an excellent education for its students. Matt will endeavour to add some of the concerns of the parents to the next BoT meeting agenda. Please contact him either directly or through the PTA with your ideas.
Playground Improvements: Thanks to everyone for sharing their ideas on how we can improve our school playground. Children who contributed their ideas will soon receive a small gift of appreciation.
Out of all the ideas, we have selected two small projects to work on starting in January:
– improving the garden and,
– painting
– improving the garden and,
– painting
You can be involved in making these two projects a success in many ways.
In addition to the parents who have already volunteered, we are looking for parents whose knowledge and skills we could benefit from in these two areas. For example, if you have any connections to a hardware store or garden centre perhaps you may be able to help us get a discount on paint or plants? Perhaps you can share your expertise on which plants are the best for our garden?
Garden project
If you are a keen gardener perhaps you can join us? You could give us your expertise into which plants to use in such sandy soil? We would like to make a compost heap and identify a simple watering system. If you can’t give up your time perhaps you can lend us some gardening tools such as shovels and garden forks. We plan to reuse old tires as planters and we want to paint them bright colours so we need paint.
We need plants so perhaps you could donate plants? We need topsoil and earthworms to improve the soil, maybe you could help us in this?
If you are a keen gardener perhaps you can join us? You could give us your expertise into which plants to use in such sandy soil? We would like to make a compost heap and identify a simple watering system. If you can’t give up your time perhaps you can lend us some gardening tools such as shovels and garden forks. We plan to reuse old tires as planters and we want to paint them bright colours so we need paint.
We need plants so perhaps you could donate plants? We need topsoil and earthworms to improve the soil, maybe you could help us in this?
Painting
We would like to paint games on the pavements and fences such as Four Square and Hopscotch and again we need paint. We need paint for concrete, metal or wood as well as for external walls. Perhaps you’ve had experience of having painted Four Square or playground art?
We would like to paint games on the pavements and fences such as Four Square and Hopscotch and again we need paint. We need paint for concrete, metal or wood as well as for external walls. Perhaps you’ve had experience of having painted Four Square or playground art?
For the two projects we will need:
– compost / topsoil/ earthworms
– pots of different colours of paint which we can use on tires, wood and metal
– blackboard paint to make blackboards outside
– wooden boards for the blackboards
– old tires
As you can see there is a lot you can get involved with so please help us. Some parents are doing a bake sale in January to raise some money for these two projects but if you’d like to donate your time, materials or money at any time that would be wonderful.
Please contact Marina Clark to volunteer or for more information.
Clarkiemarina@gmail.com
Clarkiemarina@gmail.com
HIS Logo Merchandise- We are hoping to order new HIS logo merchandise including, but not limited to, t-shirt, hats,![]()
etc.in parent and student sizes. Does anyone in our HIS community have a connection with a screen printing company that we could discuss our idea with?
A great way to give business to some of your friends or family. Please email to the PTA if you have any suggestions.
PYP Cleaning Day- At the first PTA meeting of 2018, scheduled on Wednesday, January 31th, we will be holding a short ‘school clean up’ time for students and parents from 9:00 am to 9:30 am.
We are hoping this experience will enable students to become responsible members of our community who take care and appreciate the school property.
To support children with dusting shelves and sweeping the floor etc, we are looking for volunteers on the day. If you are able to join, please let us know by emailing to yorokobiwarau618@gmail.com.
Also, if you have any used hand towels or dustcloths that you no longer need at home and wish to donate, please send them to school. There is a box located by the office. Thank you!
To support children with dusting shelves and sweeping the floor etc, we are looking for volunteers on the day. If you are able to join, please let us know by emailing to yorokobiwarau618@gmail.com.
Also, if you have any used hand towels or dustcloths that you no longer need at home and wish to donate, please send them to school. There is a box located by the office. Thank you!
From Rie Oride and Kumi Morimoto
Ice skating day-Since Friday night is filled with group lodgings, we will do skate day on Saturday.
Date: 3rd Feb 2018 1 p.m.- at Big Wave in Ushita/Higashi-ku
More information will be announced at a later date.
Donation for HIS Festival- We will do Festival next April. It is the biggest event for HIS. We have set up a box at the entrance of the school. Items we would like to be donated are unnecessary but good conditioned clothes, unbroken toys, books, etc.) Please donate before disposing of!
And, those who would like to join the festival positively from the planning, please contact us! *We are still looking for Room Parents for the EC class and KG/1 class. It is a very small responsibility and will mainly work with the PTA on some small spring events and welcome any new families that have students in your child’s classroom. Please let Brooke Amidei know if you are interested in filling those spots. 2-3 parents/classroom would be ideal. brookeamidei@gmail.com *Continue to send in your family information and photo to include in the Crane. This is not just for new families, but for all families to get to know each other and build a stronger community!
*Illumination Walk happened on Thursday night. Thanks to those who joined.
If you have any questions please e-mail us: pta@hiroshima-is.ac.jp
Thank you: The PTA would like to thank all of the teachers, the Principal, and of course, parents who have joined our meetings. We appreciate the growing interest and participation this year. Teachers have expressed an interest in joining the meetings when they can and have done so. Mr. Rentoule’s presence and participation at every meeting this year has also been very helpful. We invite members of both the Board of Trustees and Board of Directors to join as well in the coming year. Enjoy the winter break, and the holiday’s that you and your family celebrate, we are looking forward to seeing you again in 2018.
ＰＴＡニュース
１３日、ＰＴＡミーティングにご参加いただきありがとうございま
ＢＯＴ（Matt氏）からの会議の報告：
現在ＨＩＳに課せられている最大の課題は簡潔に言いますと企業か
ご存知の通り企業学費による生徒Iの授業料は個人払いの２倍です
目標はＨＩＳ授業料を安定的に保つこと、そして黒字財政を維持す
学校の施設について議論が行われました。ほとんどの施設は良い状
財務担当の報告には学校がどれだけ借金があるか、それはどう対処
現在ＨＩＳの理事会は憲章に完全に準拠していない状況です。２つ
何が学校の最大の課題であるかについて、ＢＯＴと保護者の間には
どちらも間違っていませんが、両者のコミュニケーションがより必
Matt氏は次回のＢＯＴ会議の議題に保護者の持つ心配事等を加
校庭の改善について：
校庭をどのように改善出来るかについてのアイデアを出していただ
寄せられたアイデアの中から２つの小さなプロジェクトを選び、１
＊花壇の改善
＊ペイント
この２つの計画へは様々な形で関わることができます！既にボラン
たとえばＤＩＹやガーデニング関係でお知り合いのいらっしゃる方
＜花壇プロジェクト＞
ガーデニングが好きな方、参加しませんか？
砂地にはどのような植物がいいのか専門的なアドバイスをしていた
＜ペイント＞
私たちはフェンスや舗道に（Four Squreやケンケンパなど）ペイントしたいと思っています。そ
上記２つのプロジェクトに関して必要なもの
＊コンポスト、表土、みみず
＊タイヤ、木材、金属に使用できる塗料
＊外に設置する黒板を作るための黒板塗料
＊黒板用木製ボード（外用です）
＊古タイヤ
できるだけで構いませんのでみなさまのご協力をお願いいたします
＜ＨＩＳロゴ商品について＞
私たちは新しいＨＩＳのロゴの入ったＴシャツ、帽子、その他、大
<ＰＹＰ大掃除について＞
来年1月31日(水)に、9:00amから30分間、子供達と保
また、ご家庭で不要になった使用済みのハンドタオルや雑巾など、
From Rie Oride and Kumi Morimoto
また、ご家庭で不要になった使用済みのハンドタオルや雑巾など、
From Rie Oride and Kumi Morimoto
＜アイススケートデイ＞
金曜日の夜は団体の貸し切りで埋まっているため来年度は土曜日に
日程：２月３日（土曜日）１３時より 東区牛田のビッグウェーブにて。
詳しい内容は後日ご案内いたします。
＜フェスティバルへの寄付について＞
来年の４月にフェスティバルを行います。ＨＩＳのイベントの中で
学校の玄関に箱を設置しています。恒例の１００円ショップで販売
また、フェスティバルに関して計画段階から積極的に加わりたい方
＊ルームペアレンツの募集をしましたがＥＣクラスとＫＧ/ G1 が決まっていません。大きな役割があるわけではなく、ＰＴＡと今
各２,３名が理想です。ご興味のある方はこちらへメールをくださ
＊ファミリーインタビューをまだまだ募集しています。新しい家族
＊イルミネーションウォークは木曜日に終わりました。ご参加いた
すべての問い合わせはこちらへ。どうぞお気軽にお願いします。p
＜みなさまへ感謝＞
ＰＴＡは校長含めた先生方、
どうぞ楽しい冬休みを！２０１８年、
9. Japanese Outline