PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN SCHOOL HANDBOOK WELCOME TO YICA Welcome to the Preschool and Kindergarten Center of Yokohama International Christian Academy. We open our doors to what we hope will be a rewarding, enriching and enjoyable journey of childhood development and education for your child. Our firm belief and educational policy is that early childhood development and education should be an enjoyable and challenging adventure for children, not a race fraught with undue pressure, unfair comparisons, and unrealistic and unmanageable goals. Each child is unique in his or her needs and abilities. Just as a flower does not grow by squeezing it; children do not grow by pressure from parents or schools to achieve goals beyond their reach and developmental stages. Our staff, curriculum, and facilities are all meant to positively nourish, support and foster children’s natural social, physical and academic development. Towards this end, we welcome you to our YICA community.
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YICA Mission Statement Philosophy Yokohama International Christian Academy (YICA) endeavors to assist parents in their responsibility to train their children, while providing a comprehensive international education which develops creativity, citizenship and academic excellence in each child. In order to reach these goals, YICA will: Provide a safe, nurturing and friendly environment for all students. Recognize the worth and uniqueness of each child. Help and encourage students to develop personal values which enable them to be responsible members of society. Encourage students to learn from and appreciate the cultural diversity within the school and the community. Recognize the importance of cooperation and encourage proactive positive communication between home and school. Facilitate to students the methods, disciplines and study habits necessary to succeed throughout their lives. Prepare students for higher education studies. Encourage global citizenship through the medium of English.
Objectives Yokohama International Christian Academy is committed to developing: Communication Skills YICA emphasizes the importance of developing in students the skills for effective and positive communication. Study Habits YICA provides students with the skills, techniques, and information to form excellent study habits. Human Values YICA emphasizes mutual respect, understanding and tolerance as an essential way for solving conflicts and developing empathy and respect for other people. Physical Skills YICA provides the environment and opportunities for students to develop physical skills and coordination. Spiritual Values YICA teaches students to apply the universal values of honesty, charity, respect and morality in their daily lives. YICA teaches students to apply the Christian values of honesty, charity, respect, and morality in their daily lives.
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Admissions General Considerations YICA does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational and admission policies, athletics and other school-administered programs. Generally: Preschool and Kindergarten students are admitted regardless of their English ability. Children should be toilet-trained and able to look after themselves. Any additional academic support may be viewed as being complementary to YICA’s curriculum. When applicable, English proficiency will be evaluated. A test fee may be required. At least one parent should be English-speaking. Things to keep in mind … Attendance at YICA is a privilege and not a right. YICA reserves the right to refuse admission to a student from any group regarded as potentially detrimental to the goals, objectives and principles of the school. YICA reserves the right to exclude, at any time, a student whose behavior or academic standing renders his/her presence undesirable in the school. YICA is not equipped with special facilities for students with learning, physical or emotional disabilities/disorders and, therefore, may not be able to accept such students.
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Admission Procedures 1. Parent and student visit and tour the school. 2. Collection of application forms and payment of application fee. 3. Submission of Application forms 2 passport-size photographs Copy of birth certificate or passport Confidential report written by a former instructor, care taker or school principal when transferring from another institution Diagnostic testing (if required). 4. Interview with both parents or legal guardians and student. 5. Sign of Parent-School Agreement. 6. Payment of Fees.
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Preschool Preschool is the start of a journey into the development of important skills needed in everyday living, in present and future relationships with others and in preparation for kindergarten and primary school. Our faculty strives to encourage each child to work to his or her full potential in all areas of development while helping them feel great about themselves and happy to come to school. Children play as a way to make sense of the world around them as well as to grow and learn. Play helps them develop emotionally, socially, intellectually and physically. Each child is unique and so are his/her capabilities. YICA’s staff strives to capture the learning interests and curiosity of each individual child through the educational experiences we offer. YICA also provides an environment in which the child feels free to explore and learn without the fear of failure. Parents are the primary educators of their children. YICA’s task is to work with parents to help our children develop to their full potential. Every child is different and special, with special needs, interests and characteristics. Your child is important to you and us as well, so we need to work together to help your child grow, learn and develop, both as an individual and as a member of our school community. Eligibility YICA’s preschool program is for children 3-5 years of age. Children eligible must be at least three years old by September 1st. be toilet trained. be able to separate from parent. be current on all immunizations. have completed all required enrollment procedures.
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Curriculum YICA’s curriculum is designed around standards and benchmarks. Standards
are the broad concepts and skills we want students to know and be able to demonstrate by the time they complete their preschool years. Since standards are the end goal of instruction, teachers and parents need a way to know if progress is being made at the various grade levels. This is where benchmarks fit into our curriculum.
Benchmarks
are the developmental milestones students reach as they work toward the achievement of the standards. Benchmarks are coordinated to promote consistent and appropriate instruction. As the student’s abilities and experiences expand, so do the learning expectations.
Assessment Effective teaching is driven by sound assessment. Teachers use a variety of tools to determine what their students are learning. Each assessment helps teachers track student progress. YICA teachers report student progress by using a four-point rating system. The following describes the four levels of proficiency. 4. 3. 2. 1.
Student’s work is advanced. The work exceeds expected level of understanding and ability. Student’s work is proficient. The work is at the expected level of understanding and ability. Student’s work is basic. The work meets some of the criteria set for the expected level of performance. Student’s work is minimal. The work has critical errors and lacks most of the criteria set.
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Core Activities The children will be introduced to the basic skills needed to be successful in kindergarten. These skills include (but are not limited to) recognition of letters and phonetic sounds, numbers and shapes, and listening and comprehension. They will also develop a sense of time and order as they use the calendar to record days, months, and seasons. There will be time to explore rhythm and movement, nursery rhymes, games, songs, etc. Other parts of the preschool day include: Free play – to provide the children with many opportunities to learn through active involvement and social interaction. Outside play – games and play designed to improve large motor skills. Small group time – to provide individualized instruction. Snack Time Large group time – for teacher led activities, projects, and Bible stories. Any additional academic support may be viewed as being complementary to YICA’s curriculum. Developmental Milestones for Preschool Age Students Developmental milestones are a set of functional skills or age-specific tasks that most children can accomplish at a certain age range. Although each milestone has an age level, the actual age when a normally developing child reaches that milestone can vary substantially. Because every child is unique and learns at an individual rate, some deviation from these milestones is to be expected.
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Developmental Milestones There’s no perfect formula that determines when children are truly ready for kindergarten. YICA uses the following universally accepted milestones as guidelines to evaluate child development and progress. 3 to 4 year old
4 to 5 year old Movement Climbs well Hops and stands on one foot Walks up and down stairs, up to ten seconds alternating feet Goes upstairs and Kicks ball downstairs without support Runs easily Kicks ball forward Bends over easily without Throws ball overhand falling Catches bounced ball most of the time Moves forward and backward with agility Hand and Finger Skills Copies and draws shapes and circular strokes with Draws a person with two to pencil or crayon four body parts Turns book pages one at a Uses scissors time Writes uppercase and Holds a pencil in writing lowercase letters position Screws and unscrews jar lids, etc. Turns rotating handles
Makes vertical, horizontal
Language Follows a two- or three Understands the concepts of component command "same" and "different" Recognizes and identifies Speaks clearly enough for almost all common objects strangers to understand and pictures Tells stories Understands most sentences Understands physical relationships ("on," "in," "under") Uses four- and five-word sentences Can say name, age and sex Strangers can understand most of his/her words
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3 to 4 year old
4 to 5 year old Cognitive Makes mechanical toys Correctly names some colors work Understands the concept of Matches an object in her counting and knows hand or room to a picture in numbers up to twenty a book Approaches problems from a Sorts objects by shape and single point of view color Begins to have a clearer Completes puzzles with ten sense of time pieces Follows two-part commands Understands concept of Recalls parts of a story "many" (ten) Understands the concept of same/different
Imitates adults and playmates Spontaneously shows affection for familiar playmates Can take turns in games Understands concept of "mine" and "his/hers"
Social
Interested in new experiences Cooperates with other children Increasingly inventive in fantasy play Dresses and undresses Negotiates solutions to conflicts More independent
Emotional By 3, separates easily from Imagines that many parents unfamiliar images may be Objects to major changes in "monsters" routine Views self as a whole person involving body, mind and feelings Often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality
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Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten As parents, you are instrumental in preparing your child for a successful kindergarten experience. The best learning activities you can provide your child are those which occur naturally and everyday. For instance: Talking to (and with) your child stimulates language development. Reading to your child promotes language development and attending/listening skills. Drawing pictures, coloring, and cutting coupons out of the newspaper are excellent activities to develop fine motor skills. Visits to the museum, library, wildlife sanctuary and zoo, as well as family vacations and watching educational/TV programming stimulate intellectual and basic concept development. Playing catch and having your child run, skip and hop are great opportunities to develop gross motor skills. Playing table games with your child is another excellent opportunity for your child to listen, take turns, and share. These behaviors are important within the group learning environment of our school. Completing tasks and following verbal directions are also critical to your child’s development as this enhances his/her ability to work independently within a classroom setting. The experiences listed above are excellent opportunities for intellectual, basic skill, language, motor, and behavioral development for your child and are instrumental for a successful schooling experience. How Can You Help Your Child? While the majority of your child’s preparation for a successful kindergarten experience results from the natural and everyday activities listed on the previous paragraphs, the following academic skill and behavioral emphasis with your child prior to kindergarten entrance could also contribute significantly toward his/her kindergarten success: Below, are activities that will help your child: Teach your child their first and last name. Teach your child to print their first name (D'Nealian alphabet is used) (only first letter should be capitalized). Familiarize your child with the basic colors and shapes. Provide opportunities for your child to use pencils, crayons, scissors and glue sticks. (See diagrams below) Encourage your child to speak in complete sentences. Encourage self-help skills (buttoning, zipping, tying shoes, and snapping) and appropriate bathroom use. Provide opportunities for your child to follow directions independently. Give your child responsibilities and praise for his/her accomplishments. Encourage good manners (sharing, taking turns, using please and thank you, listening to others, observing rules).
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How to Hold Pencil Make sure your child is holding his or her pencil this way when printing or drawing! The pointer finger and thumb should grasp the pencil on its painted part (about one inch above the point). The pencil should rest on the middle finger. The shaft of the pencil should rest on the hand.
How to Hold Scissors The thumb should be in the top hole with the middle finger or middle finger and pointer in the bottom hole.
D'Nealian Alphabet
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KINDERGARTEN The German word kindergarten means “a child’s garden,” and this first year of formal school will be filled with opportunities to plant seeds of learning in your child. Your child will learn many of the basic skills needed to read, write, and do math. Your child will also learn to get along with others and to follow rules. What kindergarten teachers hope to see on the first day of school are children who are healthy, mature, capable, and eager to learn. In reality; however, YICA welcomes all children regardless of their capabilities. Our mission is to help all students improve their motor, social, behavioral, and language skills so they are fully prepared for the challenges of first grade. Eligibility YICA’s kindergarten is for children aged 5 or older as of September 1 st. Children must also: be current on all immunizations. have completed all required enrollment procedures. Curriculum YICA uses a comprehensive Reading and Phonics curriculum that prepares students for first grade. YICA’s curriculum is designed around standards and benchmarks. Assessment Effective teaching is driven by sound assessment. Teachers use a variety of tools to determine what their students are learning – projects, writing samples, observations, and performance tasks. In YICA, teachers report student progress by using a four-point rating system. The following describes the four levels of proficiency. 4. 3. 2. 1.
Student’s work is advanced. The work exceeds expected level of understanding and ability. Student’s work is proficient. The work is at the expected level of understanding and ability. Student’s work is basic. The work meets some of the criteria set for the expected level of performance. Student’s work is minimal. The work has critical errors and lacks most of the criteria set.
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Student School Supplies
1 Box of Colored Pencils 1 Box “Coupy” Pencils 1 Glue (Stick type) 1 Box Tissues 3 Writing Pencils with Eraser 1 Scissors (rounded point) 1 Earthquake Hood 1 School Polo Shirt (available at YICA office) 1 2-Liter Bottle of Water 1 Change of Clothes 1 Sleeping Mat
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Things you can do to help your child As parents, you are instrumental in preparing your child for a successful kindergarten experience. The best learning activities you can provide your child are those which occur naturally and everyday. The experiences listed below are excellent opportunities for intellectual, basic skill, language, motor, and behavioral development for your child and are instrumental for a successful kindergarten experience. Talking to (and with) your child stimulates language development. Reading to your child promotes language development and attending/listening skills. Drawing pictures, coloring, and cutting shapes out of the newspaper are excellent activities to develop fine motor skills. Visits to the museum, library, wildlife sanctuary and zoo, as well as family vacations and watching educational/TV programming stimulate intellectual and basic concept development. Playing catch and having your child run, skip and hop are great opportunities to develop gross motor skills. Playing table games with your child is another excellent opportunity for your child to listen, take turns, and share. These behaviors are important within the group learning environment of a kindergarten classroom. Completing tasks and following verbal directions are also critical to your child’s development as this enhances his/her ability to work independently within a classroom setting. Parental Suggestions
Show daily interest in your child’s work and praise efforts. Read to and with your child daily and make frequent use of the library. This will stimulate your child’s interest in reading. Clearly communicate to your child your expectations of behavior and effort while he/she is at school. Discipline your child with firmness, consistency, and affection. Promote your child’s ability to follow directions independently. Promote your child’s independence and responsibility by having him/her complete of tasks or chores daily. Encourage your child to speak in complete sentences using correct language. Establish a brief daily home time to review academic concepts or to practice fine motor activities.
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Developmental Milestones for Kindergarten Students
5 to 7 year old Movement Stands on one foot for 15 Climbs sec. or longer Skips Hops, somersaults Hand and Finger Skills Copies and draws shapes Dresses and undresses Draws person with body without assistance Prints letters Uses fork, spoon and Usually cares for own toilet (sometimes) a table knife needs
Recalls part of a story
Language Tells longer stories Says name and address
Cognitive Can count and write 10 or Better understands the more objects concept of time Correctly names at least 12 Knows about things used colors every day in the home (money, food, appliances) Social Wants to please friends Likes to sing, dance and act Wants to be like her friends Shows more independence More likely to agree to rules
Aware of sexuality
Emotional Sometimes demanding, sometimes eagerly cooperative
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5 to 7 year old Academic Writing Problem Solving Uses physical objects as a Orally dictates thoughts and problem ideas on a single topic solving strategy Writes messages using Concepts of Number phonetic clues Understands basic whole Reading number relationships (orders Uses picture clues as an aid numbers up to 100) to comprehension Can count aloud from 1 to Names the letters of the 100 alphabet Can write numbers from 1 to Produces sounds for the 100 letters of the alphabet Computation Understands basics concepts Can count and write the of print number of objects (0 to 9) Shares literal retelling of Can use tally marks to count Literature objects (1 to 9) Speaking and Listening Measurement Participates in group Applies lineal measurement discussions with non standard units Follows rules of (blocks, paper clips, etc.) conversations Understands the concepts of Follows oral directions time and days of the week Plans, Animals and Habitats Geometry Knows the habitats with Uses geometric terms to living things are found describe features of shapes almost everywhere in the and objects world (rainforest/jungle, Applies the concepts of desert, ocean, forests, and spatial sense Arctic) Recognizes and identifies Knows that in order to basic shapes survive, animals need air, Data Analysis water and food: plants need Reads and interprets data air, water and light from simple graphs Algebra Understands simple patterns
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General School Procedures Attendance Tardiness Students are considered tardy if they are not in the classroom by 9:15 AM. Tardiness is considered part of the attendance record and credit for a subject may be withheld regardless of performance if a student has a poor attendance record. Absenteeism A written explanation signed by a parent or guardian must be presented to the school office when a student returns to school after an absence. If the absence is foreseeable, a note should be sent in advance. Doctor, dental, music, sports and other appointments must be scheduled after school hours Absence for reasons other than for sickness and emergency will be excused only if arrangements are made in advance. Excessive absences will inhibit the student’s progress. If a student is absent for three or more consecutive days due to illness, a doctor’s certificate must accompany the written explanation from his/her parents or guardian. The number of times a student is tardy or absent will be recorded on the student’s progress report. Exception to Attendance Policies A student will not be marked absent or tardy in the following cases: a. funeral for an immediate family member; b. train or bus strike or delay of train lines due to reasons beyond the student’s control.
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Awards Annual (long-range) awards provide added motivation for students to excel in specific areas such as academics, attendance, character, etc. The annual year-end program provides a formal platform for rewarding such achievement. Care of School Property Students are held responsible for the proper care of library books, furniture and other materials supplied by YICA. Any student who intentionally destroys or damages any school property or who defaces by cutting, painting or with writing or pictures, any building surface, furniture, book or other school property shall immediately compensate for such damage, and upon refusal, may be suspended from school until compensation has been made. Discipline Parents should understand that the stated purpose of YICA is “to assist parents in their responsibility to train their children”. Parents have the responsibility to their children and the school to contact the school at the first sign of any concern which may involve their school life. Before things build up and cause a major problem, talk to your child’s teacher first. Then, if you still feel it is necessary, bring the matter to the attention of the Principal. At YICA, a discipline is maintained which is consistent and fair. If your child comes home complaining about school life, do as follows: • Ask for details to assess the seriousness of the complaint. • Give those involved the benefit of the doubt. • Consider that the reporting may be one-sided and lacking in facts. • Realize that YICA enforces school rules with impartiality. • Refer to the School Handbook if unsure about policy details. • Call or arrange a meeting with the school authorities for all the facts if needed. Emergency Measures Emergency Telephone Chain YICA employs an Emergency Telephone Chain as a way to promptly communicate with parents in an emergency. The Emergency Telephone Chain is used to inform families of sudden schedule changes such as late school start or cancellation of classes or events due to inclement weather, or closure or early dismissal due to fire, earthquake or other emergencies. All students enrolled in YICA are included in an Emergency Telephone Chain group. Generally, each group is headed by one of the student’s teachers and the last person in the chain is a school staff member. Whenever possible, the Emergency Telephone Chain will list the family’s home phone number and the cellular phone number of a parent or guardian. The Emergency Telephone Chain is activated by the school’s administration. When you receive a call related to the Emergency Telephone Chain, please pass on the message by calling the family listed YICA School Handbook – July 2010
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under your name. If there is no answer, go on with the next family in the telephone chain to make sure that the message is passed on to every contact listed in your Emergency Telephone Chain group. To maintain the Emergency Telephone Chain updated, please report any change of address and/or telephone number to the school office immediately. Be sure to keep your Telephone Chain in a safe handy place in your home. Please, do not hesitate to contact the school office for an extra copy of the telephone chain if needed. In the Event of a Major Earthquake during School Hours Readiness All students and staff participate in an earthquake drill at least once a year. The school maintains earthquake emergency kits for every 10-12 students. Included in these emergency kits are first aid equipment, water, snacks, emergency tools and identification tags for each child.
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Evacuation Students take cover during the first few seconds of a tremor and count to 60. If the earthquake has a high magnitude and structural damage occurs, students will evacuate the building to take shelter in the Yokohama Park. Dismissal of Students Parents, guardians or adults designated on the identification tag may pick their children up at the Yokohama Park. Students will only be released to the persons named in the identification tag. Students who cannot be picked up will be taken care of by YICA’s staff and taken to the nearest Emergency Center set up by Yokohama City authorities. Communications from School After a major earthquake the Emergency Telephone Chain will be activated as soon as conditions warrant. Parents are requested not to call the school office to avoid clogging the phone lines. Please wait for school staff to contact you. In the Event of a Major Earthquake or Fire during School Hours 1. The Principal has overall control and authority. 2. Faculty will be responsible for order and control. 3. Faculty members and senior students will form rescue squads as needed. 4. First aid will be administered as needed. 5. No student will be allowed to leave the school without authorization.
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Field Trips Field trips are educational excursions designed to be enjoyed by the students, but are primarily to enrich their learning and develop discipline and self-control in a variety of social situations. You will be notified well in advance of the field trip conditions and the costs involved. Parents are required to accompany their children on field trips.
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Financial Regulations The Board of Governors of Yokohama International Christian Academy (YICA) sets all school fees and reserves the right to modify published school fees and financial regulations without prior notice. Tuition and Fees 1. Parents/guardians guarantee the payment of the school fees and other expenses related to their children’s education. 2. Students who enroll after a quarter has begun shall be billed for that quarter and the remaining quarters till the end of the academic year. 3. Attendance for a portion of an academic semester will necessitate payment for the full semester. (See Note). 4. Any additional academic support may be viewed as being complementary to YICA’s curriculum, and is subject to applicable additional fees. 5. A late fee of 2.5% per month will be added to unpaid tuition not received within thirty (30) days of the scheduled payment date. Past due tuition of more than thirty (30) days will be cause for withdrawal. 6. All tuition and fees need to be paid in full by the end of the academic year before returning students are eligible to re-enroll for subsequent terms. 7. In cases of financial delinquency, YICA policy prohibits class attendance and/or release of transcripts, report cards, diplomas, grades, test scores and any other academic records until all overdue fees are paid in full. 8. Withdrawal due to non-payment of fees does not release the parents/guardians from their financial responsibilities with YICA. Note: The school’s fiscal year is divided into 2 semesters, and each semester is composed of 2 reporting quarters. Refund Policy Refunds are calculated on semester terms. 1. No refund of Tuition and other academic fees shall apply for students who withdraw in the course of a semester. 2. Application, Registration and Maintenance fees are non-refundable. 3. The Re-enrollment Deposit is non-refundable.
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Home-School Communications We welcome your partnership in helping your child achieve success in school. By working together and communicating with each other, we can create a positive learning environment which will reflect positively on your child and the whole school. These are some ways which help us keep in touch on a regular basis:
“Open House” days Parent-Teacher Conferences (February and June) Parent Newsletter Quarterly progress reports Brown envelopes In order to increase efficiency and develop responsibility in our students, YICA uses a system of communication through messages sent home in brown envelopes. As parents receive correspondence, they should date and sign the envelope to verify receipt of the communication inside. The student is required to return the envelope to school the following school day. Parent-Teacher notes and telephone calls Please feel free to contact the main office with questions.
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Injury or Illness at Home A student with fever, nausea, vomiting, sore throat, etc. or an injury that has rendered him/her with a temporary physical disability must be kept at home. In any case, the school office should be notified. At School Parents shall be required to complete a medical emergency authorization form indicating whom to contact in an emergency involving their child. It shall be the responsibility of the parents to provide the school with updated information on the Health Record Form (included with the Application Package). When a student becomes ill or is injured at school, the student’s legal guardian will be notified by school personnel as soon as possible after school staff is aware of the incident. The school is not required to provide medical treatment of an ill or injured student; however, authorized school personnel may administer emergency or minor first aid. Injured and/or sick students will be released to their legal guardians’ custody from campus. When injury is minor, students will be treated as needed and may be sent back to their respective classes, and parents will be notified. If a student appears to be seriously ill or injured at school, YICA will take all necessary steps to secure medical attention. Attempts will be made to notify the parents and to advise them of the event and the steps proposed to be taken. If the parents cannot be located or if the emergency is such that there is not time to contact them before arranging for medical aid, a physician will be called or the child taken to the hospital as quickly as possible. YICA responsibility ends as soon as the child enters the care of a qualified doctor or a hospital and the sole remaining duty is to continue efforts to contact the parents or legal guardians if such had not been done before.
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Inclement Weather If bad weather creates hazardous driving/mass transportation conditions, YICA will close. This situation will be communicated to YICA families through the school’s Telephone Chain. Insurance It is compulsory for every student to be insured by his/her parents or guardians. YICA automatically insures every member of the student body under a coverage plan. The cost of this coverage is included in the school fees. Lost and found Students are required to have their belongings clearly and indelibly marked with their names. YICA does not assume responsibility for personal articles which students may lose. Students who find lost articles are asked to bring them to the school office, where they can be claimed by their owners within a month. Articles not claimed within a month will be disposed of. Parents are cautioned to not have students bring money or valuables to school. If this cannot be avoided, parents have the responsibility to have the money or valuables deposited for safekeeping in the school office before the first morning period. YICA will not assume responsibility for money or valuables that have not been deposited at the school office. Lunches Preschool and Kindergarten students are required to bring their lunches from home.
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Medication Whenever possible, all medicines should be administered at home. In special cases when it is necessary for medicine to be taken at school, the following steps must be followed: For any medicine it is essential that the first dose be administered at home to prevent an allergic reaction from occurring at school. No medication brought from home will be administered at school unless it is:
Clearly labeled with patient’s name Source of medication given (written) Written instruction from physician, pharmacy or parent stating the name of the medication, the dosage, and times to be administered. This includes all non-prescription and over-thecounter drugs as well. Medicine will be administered by the Teacher only.
In cases where a child takes medicine regularly for chronic illness, it is necessary to have an emergency supply kept in the school office. Please, notify the school office if your child is on medication.
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Parent Support Group (PSG) YICA’s PC is an organization of interested parents who work voluntarily to sponsor extracurricular school activities, such as field trips and the Graduation and Award Ceremony, and fund-raising projects designed to enrich the quality of the school experience for students, parents and faculty. The goal is making a great school even better. Monies raised by the PC go toward purchasing equipment, software, books, etc. All parents automatically become members of YICA’s PC. YICA’s PC is not a school board and, as such, has no authority, either individually or collectively, to control or obligate YICA for any school policy, decision, debt, etc. It is organized for the sole purpose of supporting YICA’s administration and facilitating communication between the school and students’ families. Parent Teacher Conferences Parent-Teacher conferences to discuss a student’s grades and schoolwork are scheduled at the end of the second and fourth quarters, respectively. A student’s parent and/or guardian must attend these conferences. Please note that YICA will not provide translation or interpretation services for parents/guardians during the parent-teacher conferences.
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Re-enrollment Procedures Students wishing to re-enroll in the next academic year should submit the Re-enrollment Application form to YICA’s office by the designated date. The re-enrollment application will become valid upon the payment of all current school fees and applicable Re-enrollment Deposit. (Please refer to Financial Regulations.) Progress Report The grading system is designed to give parents a true indication of the student’s progress or lack thereof. Progress Reports are produced following each nine-week (quarter) period. The Reports corresponding to the first and third quarters are sent to parents via Brown Envelopes, while teachers hand the Reports for the second and fourth quarters to parents during the Parent-Teacher Conferences. Progress Reports may also be sent at any time to parents of students who need special attention. These reports may indicate a deficiency which needs to be corrected. Progress Reports will be withheld when there are any outstanding fees or monies owed. (Please refer to Financial Regulations.)
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School Library The school library is an integral part of the school. It is an essential part, not only of the resources of the school, but also of the educational process within the school. It is essential that all members of the school community are aware of the potential of the school library. It is YICA’s policy to establish initiatives that will encourage students to make use of our library and build up resources which will make the library relevant to everyday teaching requirements. Aims To help students develop reading skills. To help students develop their abilities, interests and aptitudes. To help students develop lively and enquiring minds capable of independent thought. To help develop students’ skills in self-supported learning. To help students develop the ability to use the library so that these skills can be used in adult life. To develop an interest in reading for leisure. To develop library stock that will suit the full range of ability in the school. To ensure that library materials will be updated and reviewed annually by YICA’s administration. To ensure that the library will be accessible to all students on a regular basis. How Many Books Can I Take Out? One book per week (no magazines) Fines and Replacement Policy Students must return all borrowed books before they will be allowed to take out another After a month a book must be returned or replaced by the student. Minimum charge for lost or damaged books is ¥1,000. School Day Schedule Half-day Students: 9:00 AM to 12:00AM. Full-time Students: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
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Summer School YICA offers a Summer School program for those students needing to catch up on work or wanting to take some special courses. The Summer School program is also suitable for new students, as it offers them the chance to adjust to their new classroom environment before the beginning of the academic year. The Speaking of English Since YICA curriculum is taught in English, Japanese and/or other languages may not be spoken at any time on campus or at any school function off campus unless in such extraordinary circumstances as necessity and common sense dictate. The only exceptions to this rule are foreign language and literature classes and other classes or situations where discussion or subjects relevant to another language make use of that language’s terms advisable. In no other instance is a conversation in languages other than English among YICA students permitted. Visitors and Guests All visitors must report to the school office before going to any other area within the school. School-age visitors will not be permitted during instruction hours. 1. 2. 3. 4.
When coming to the school, visitors should come to the office first. Lunches, books, medication, homework, etc., are to be left at the school office. YICA’s staff will deliver them to the student. No lunch visitors are allowed without YICA’s administration permission. Classroom visitors should request permission at least one day before the intended visit.
YICA School Handbook – July 2010
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Withdrawal and Transfer It is necessary to write a notice of withdrawal to inform the school office of a student’s last day of attendance. The school should be notified in writing at least two (2) weeks prior to the student’s last day of school. In cases of financial delinquency, progress reports, diplomas, and other school records will be withheld until all outstanding fees or monies are paid. (Please refer to Financial Regulations.)
YICA School Handbook – July 2010
31