Tsukuba International Preschool is currently seeking a part-time teacher to start in February 2012. The successful candidate will assist the two full-time teachers with various duties, including teaching (one-on-one practice, working with small groups and classes, team-teaching with the homeroom teacher), supervising children at play, accompanying children to the toilet, photocopying, and other duties as they come up.

Requirements

The following are non-negotiable credentials for applying for this position.

• English proficiency
• Legally eligible to work in Japan (as this is a part-time position, we cannot provide assistance with obtaining a work visa)

Preferences

We hope to find a candidate with the following range of experience.

• University or college degree, preferably in early childhood education
• Experience teaching at the early childhood level (up to age 6)
• Experience teaching at an international school, or in a multicultural environment.
• Experience teaching non-native speakers of English.
• Experience with collaborative planning and teaching.

Please note that the school is not located near a train station, so it would be preferable for the applicant to have a driver’s license and access to a vehicle.

Working Conditions

Salary: 1000 yen / hour
Days/Times: 3 half days (Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays 9:30-11:30)
Contract: February to June (5 months)

Application Process

Submit a resume outlining your education and employment history (including your current position), and either attach at least one reference letter (preferable) or list at least one reference who can be contacted (multiple references preferred, if possible). Attach a one-page cover letter stating why you are interested in this position and what you could contribute to our school. Applications can be sent by email (preferred) or postal mail. Interviews may take place in person or by web conference. If you have a web camera and a Skype account, please mention that in your cover letter.

POSTAL ADDRESS
Tsukuba International School
Attn: Ms. Shaney Crawford
Kamigo 7846-1
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JAPAN
300-2645

Please write: “Part-Time Assistant Teacher Application” on the envelope.

EMAIL ADDRESS

Please submit your documents as PDF files or in plain text. Use the subject “Part-Time Assistant Teacher: February 2012″.

Applications are due by February 15, 2012, but we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be considered as soon as they arrive and the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found. We hope to fill the position by February 24, 2012.

We apologize, but only those candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. Documents that are submitted to the school will not be returned.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Tsukuba International School (TIS) offers an international education for children in Grades 1 to 10. We are currently seeking a financial officer to join our administrative staff. This successful candidate will start in February 2012, or as soon as possible after that.

Eligibility

The following are non-negotiable credentials for applying for this position.

• Native Japanese proficiency
• High level of proficiency in English
• University degree

Range of Experience

We hope to find a candidate with the following range of experience.

• Experience working in a school or educational organization (学校法人)
• Experience working as an accountant, or managing the accounts for an organization
• Experience working in an international environment

Qualities

We hope to find a candidate with the following qualities.

• Able to work in an international environment with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures
• Able to work with confidential information with discretion

Duties

The successful candidate will be tasked with the following primary responsibilities.

• Managing the school’s finances, including invoicing, payroll, budgeting, domestic and international money transfers
• Reporting on finances to the principal, the accountant, the board of directors, the tax authorities, and other governmental entities
• Acting as a liaison between the school and the board of directors
• Acting as a liaison between the school and the local, prefectural, and national government
• Coordinating fundraising efforts and thinking of new fundraising opportunities for the school
• Responding to surveys about the school
• Attending weekly staff meetings

The successful candidate will also be asked to assist with the following secondary responsibilities.

• Helping to recruit students
• Creating content in Japanese for the school’s website and advertising campaigns
• Helping school staff with various official procedures (alien registration, immigration, rental contracts, etc.)
• Representing the school at official functions

The above lists are not comprehensive. Other duties may be assigned, based on the school’s needs and the candidate’s capabilities.

Working Conditions

Hours: 8:00am to 5:00pm
Salary: based on experience
Vacation: 10 days paid personal leave, all Japanese national holidays plus winter, spring, Golden Week, and summer vacations

Please see our page on Tsukuba to learn more about living and working in the city.

Application Process

Submit a resume outlining your education and employment history (including your current position) and attach three reference letters, preferably from your former employers. Attach a one-page cover letter stating why you are interested in this position and what you could contribute to our school. Applicants chosen for interviews will be required to submit copies of relevant degrees and certificates. Applications can be sent by email (preferred) or postal mail. Interviews may take place in person or by web conference. If you have a web camera and a Skype account, please mention that in your cover letter.

POSTAL ADDRESS
Tsukuba International School
Attn: Ms. Shaney Crawford
Kamigo 7846-1
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JAPAN
300-2645

Please write: “Financial Officer Application” on the envelope.

EMAIL ADDRESS

Please submit your documents as PDF files or in plain text. Use the subject “Financial Officer: January 2012″.

Applications are due by January 15, 2012, but we strongly encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be considered as soon as they arrive and the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found. We hope to fill the position by January 31, 2012.

We apologize, but only those candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. Documents that are submitted to the school will not be returned.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Tsukuba International School (TIS) offers an international education for children in Grades 1 to 10. The junior high school is comprised of a Grade 6 class, a split Grade 7/8 class, and a split Grade 9/10 class. We are currently seeking two certified junior high school teachers to start in September 2012. The successful candidates will teach Math or Science to the three junior high school classes. (There is a possibility for the Math teacher to start earlier. Please mention in your cover letter when you would be available to start.)

As TIS is currently a candidate school for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate, experienced MYP teachers will be given preference, although certified teachers with a strong interest in transdisciplinary studies, collaborative planning, and the MYP are encouraged to apply.

Eligibility

The following are non-negotiable credentials for applying for this position.

• Native English proficiency.
• University degree in education (preferably with secondary specialization, i.e. ages 12 to 16) from a country with an English language-based curriculum. (A degree in “Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language” is not sufficient.)
• Qualifications to teach in a jurisdiction with primarily English-based education. (This means that the candidate must be a certified teacher in a country such as Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, or the United States.)

Range of Experience

We hope to find a candidate with the following range of experience.

• Experience teaching in a junior high school.
• Experience teaching the Middle Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate.
• Experience teaching at an international school, or in a multicultural environment.
• Experience teaching non-native speakers of English.
• Experience with collaborative planning.
• Experience living in Japan, or living abroad.

Teacher Qualities

Tsukuba is an IB World School authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate. We are also a candidate school for the Middle Years Programme (MYP). (Please note that candidacy does not guarantee authorization.) As such, we hope to find teachers who strive to embody the image of the learner profile (in brackets below).

In particular, we hope to find teachers who:

Subject / Grade Level Content

• Demonstrate enhanced knowledge of subject / grade level content (learner profile: knowledgeable)
• Demonstrate their understanding of the MYP (knowledgeable)
• Demonstrate their understanding of curriculum documentation (scope and sequence) (knowledgeable)

Planning

• Demonstrate the ability to plan effectively, in line with the curriculum documentation (thinker)
• Demonstrate the ability to create both long-range (annual) and short range (weekly) plans (thinker)
• Demonstrate the ability to document planning in enough detail to be replicated easily by others (caring)

Teaching

• Demonstrate the ability to teach subject / grade level content effectively
• Demonstrate the ability to teach in a way that is in line with MYP philosophy (principled)
• Demonstrate the ability to maintain control of class, manage behavior of students
• Demonstrate the ability to differentiate content for students of various levels (communicator, caring)

Assessing

• Demonstrate the ability to keep accurate records of student progress (communicator)
• Demonstrate the ability to write meaningful, personalized comments on reports (communicator)

Beyond the Classroom

• Demonstrate the willingness to volunteer for activities outside of own classroom (caring)
• Demonstrate the initiative to find creative solutions to problems

Professional Development

• Demonstrate the willingness to inquire, read, research to improve teaching (inquirer, reflective)
• Demonstrate the ability to seek out own opportunities for professional development (reflective, open-minded)
• Demonstrate the ability to put what is learned into practice (risk-taker)

Professionalism

• Demonstrate the ability to keep deadlines (principled)
• Demonstrate the ability to prepare adequately, and in advance, for absences (principled, caring)
• Demonstrate the ability to write formally (reports, emails to parents) (communicator)
• Demonstrate the ability to keep classroom tidy and presentable (balanced)
• Demonstrate the ability to form positive working relationships with colleagues (caring)

Working Conditions

Salary: based on experience
School Year: Late August to June
Vacation: 10 days paid personal leave, all Japanese national holidays plus winter, spring, Golden Week, and summer vacations
Visa sponsorship: available
Relocation: will pay for flight to Japan (for applicants who are currently residing overseas) and assist in finding accommodations

Please see our page on Tsukuba to learn more about living and working in the city.

Application Process

Submit a resume outlining your education and employment history (including your current position) and attach three reference letters, preferably from your former employers or mentor teachers. Attach a one-page cover letter stating why you are interested in this position and what you could contribute to our school. Applicants chosen for interviews will be required to submit copies of relevant degrees and certificates. Applications can be sent by email (preferred) or postal mail. Interviews may take place in person or by web conference. If you have a web camera and a Skype account, please mention that in your cover letter.

POSTAL ADDRESS
Tsukuba International School
Attn: Ms. Shaney Crawford
Kamigo 7846-1
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, JAPAN
300-2645

Please write: “Teacher Application” on the envelope.

EMAIL ADDRESS

Please submit your documents as PDF files or in plain text. Use the subject “Junior High School Teacher: September 2012″.

Applications are due by January 15, 2012, but we encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be considered as soon as they arrive and the position will be filled as soon as a suitable candidate is found. We hope to fill the position by February 1, 2012.

Please note that Tsukuba International School is an elementary school and junior high school where all classes are taught in English, NOT a private company that teaches English conversation lessons to children and adults; therefore, we will only consider applicants who have proper teaching qualifications (i.e. a degree in education, preferably specializing in elementary or middle school education). A TESL/TEFL certificate and/or Bachelor degree in a subject other than Education would not be enough to meet these standards.

We apologize, but only those candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. Documents that are submitted to the school will not be returned.

We look forward to hearing from you.

【常陽新聞】 世界水準の教育実施校に　つくばの国際学校が認定
(Joyo Shinbun – Tsukuba’s International School Gains Authorization as a World Class School)

Click here to see other articles about TIS that have appeared in the press.

We give thoughtful consideration to our own learning and experience. We are able to assess and understand our strengths and limitations in order to support our learning and personal development.

STUDENTS

Student Enrollment
As of November 31, 2011, we had 13 students in Tsukuba International Preschool, 53 students in our Primary Years Programme, and 16 students in our Middle Years Programme for a total of 84 students. The following nationalities are currently represented in our student body: Bangladesh, China, Greece, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

Field Trips

Grade 4 visited the Meteorological Research Institute as part of their unit on “Weather”. They sent their meteorology-related questions to the institute ahead of time and Mr. Takahashi was able to answer them in detail. The students were able to simulate a tornado in a PET bottle, look at the shape of water droplets, and get a tour of the institute’s superconductor. They were also invited back to watch a weather balloon launch in the future.

Grade 8/9 visited the Edo Tokyo Museum in Tokyo as part of their humanities studies.

Grade 8/9 visited the National Institute for Environmental Studies to hear the Blue Planet Prize Lectures by Dr. Jane Lubchenco and Mr. Bunker Roy. The students learned about the oceans from Dr. Lubchenco and they learned about a unique educational organization in India from Mr. Bunker Roy. Students were very inspired by Mr. Roy’s talk. It helped them realize the importance of following your passion, regardless of what other people think about it.

Tsukuba World Futsal 2011
A number of students from Grades 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 participated in the Tsukuba World Futsal 2011 event in Tsukuba on November 19. Despite the rainy weather, they demonstrated excellent commitment and teamwork. We are hoping to participate in this event again next year as a whole school, with as many students, parents, and teachers in attendance as possible.

Health Checks
Dr. Ono from Ono Clinic in Shimana came to conduct health checks on all our students from preschool to Grade 9. Ms. Crawford and Mrs. Handa also carried out eye-sight checks for all students in Grades 3 to 9.

Spelling Bee
The class spelling bee was held on November 28. A winner and runner-up was selected from each class, and they will go on to compete in the school spelling bee in January.

Student Assessment
The first report cards for the year were sent home on November 30.

PARENTS

School Tours, Open School Day, Parent Circle
We held our School Tours (for prospective parents) on November 9 and the Open School Day and the Parent Circle (for parents of current TIS students) on November 2.

TEACHERS

Professional Development of Teaching Staff

On November 11, Ms. Skye Wheat (P2, P3) and Ms. Hiromi Yagishita (P1) attended the PYP Early Years Job-Alike at Tokyo International School.

On November 16, Mrs. Dianne Suzuki (Grade 1) and Mr. Jared Dano (Grade 6/7) attended the Tokyo English Lifeline (TELL) Suicide Prevention Workshop for teachers, in Tokyo.

On November 21 and 22, all our full-time and single subject teachers participated in our in-school PYP workshop with the theme, “Making the PYP Happen”. The course was taught by Mr. Kevin Yoshihara from K International School, in Tokyo.

Professional Networking
On November 7 and 8, Ms. Peggy Marsh (Grade 2, PYP Coordinator) attended the PYP East Asia Network (PYPEAN) Leadership Meeting in Busan, Korea.

Teaching Assistant
We hired Ms. Meirav Kallush as a part-time teaching assistant. Ms. Kallush, from Israel, was one of our Summer Camp leaders and has been in to help at TIP and TIS several times since then. From November she will be coming in 3 days per week to assist with English as a Second Language and classroom activities in all grades.

Networking with Ibaraki Schools
On November 16, twenty-two high school English teachers from Ibaraki Prefecture visited TIS to participate in a training workshop. They also had a tour of the school and met with our teachers for informal discussion on international education.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Second Board Meeting
A meeting of the board of directors was held on Saturday, November 26. Fourteen members were in attendance. Topics discussed included the school’s authorization as an IB World School, the tuition fee structure, and ways that the board can support the school.

SCHOOL

PYP Authorization
TIS became an IB World School, authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme. Please see this article for more information.

Donations
One of Mr. Kano’s former rugby students donated four computers to the school. We put them in the computer lab and they have been used heavily ever since!

COMING UP

Here is what we have in store for the future.

December

Learner Profile Focus: Knowledgeable

December 1 – Professional Development Day (Ms. Nagakura, Mr. Okyne, Mr. Breithaupt, and Mr. Dano visit K International School; Ms. Skye, Ms. Hiromi, Ms. Kono, Mrs. Suzuki, and Mrs. Sadler visit Seisen International School)
December 6 – Grade 2 Field Trip to Asakusa
December 6 – TIS Engineering Challenge with Kamiomi Elementary School
December 7 – School Tours for Prospective Parents
December 8 – Open School Day for Current Parents, Parent Circle
December 14 – Winter Festival and Winter Bazaar
December 16 – Last day of school before winter break

If you have any questions about this report, please feel free to contact us.

Being an IB World School authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme means that we are dedicated to offering a world-class education to our students. Everything we do in a day is designed to foster students who can think critically, who understand the importance of a lifelong dedication to learning, and who take the time to reflect on their actions and decisions. We bring the world into our classrooms to help the students develop appreciation and respect for people of all cultures and all walks of life.

You can learn more about what it means to be an IB PYP school on the IBO website.

We are the 12th PYP school to be authorized in Japan and the 22nd school to become an IB World School in Japan. We are the only PYP school north of Tokyo in Japan and one of two IB World Schools north of Tokyo in Japan (Gunma Kokusai Academy offers the Diploma Programme). In total, there are 3,290 IB World Schools in 141 countries. The Primary Years Programme is offered at 846 of these schools.

I would like to thank all of the staff, students, parents, board members, and other members of the TIS community who helped the school reach this pivotal day in its history. It is important to remember that on April 1, 2008 (when our former principal, Mr. Kano, took over the school), we had 8 students and the school was housed in a remodelled garage. We now have over 80 students, an impressive 10-classroom school building, we are officially recognized as an educational institution (学校法人) by the government of Ibaraki Prefecture, and now we have received authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme. We are a school with a great deal of potential and we have only just started to show the world what we can do.

It is an exciting time to be a part of Tsukuba International School and I am delighted to be sharing the journey with all of you. I strongly believe that our location here in Tsukuba Science City is a major factor in our successes. Let’s build a better Tsukuba — and a better world — together, through education.

Ms. Shaney Crawford
Principal

プレスリリース：国際バカロレア・初等教育課程実施校に認定されました。 (pdf)

At this event, we will have performances by all students in all grades. Students at Tsukuba International School study either violin or recorder, and each grade will give a performance at the Winter Festival. There will also be choral performances and short plays (each grade will give a performance based on the unit of inquiry that they are currently studying). The purpose of this event is to encourage our students to be risk takers who can perform well in front of an audience. The event is also designed to boost their confidence by having them perform and then receive praise for their performance.

About the School: Tsukuba International School is an international English-based elementary and junior high school in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. It was founded in September 1992 to provide an international education to students in the Tsukuba area. In March 2009, it became recognized as an education organization (学校法人) by Ibaraki Prefecture. The school is currently working towards becoming authorized to implement the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate.

We encourage you to visit us during the Fall Festival, come on one of our monthly school tour days, or arrange a private tour so that you can see the school in action!

プレスリリース：冬の文化祭を開催いたします。 (pdf)

We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. We take responsibility for our own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

STUDENTS

Student Enrollment
As of October 31, 2011, we had 13 students in Tsukuba International Preschool, 54 students in our Primary Years Programme, and 16 students in our Middle Years Programme for a total of 85 students. The following nationalities are currently represented in our student body: Bangladesh, China, Greece, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

PYP Units of Inquiry
The second unit (of six) started on October 14. Here are the new areas of study for each grade.

• Grade 1 – How We Express Ourselves: Celebrations and traditions are important events for many families.
• Grade 2 – How We Express Ourselves: Stories are a means of sharing people’s perspectives and understanding about the world.
• Grade 3 – How We Organize Ourselves: Throughout time humans have used different bartering systems. They have had a large impact on human society.
• Grade 4 – How the World Works: Weather patterns can change depending on the season and place. Humans have created ways of predicting these changes.
• Grade 5 – How We Express Ourselves: Civilizations are continually changing. Older civilizations may be different, but they have commonalities with our own.

Bring Your Own Laptop
As there is an overwhelming demand for the computers in the library, especially amongst the older students, we believe that it will benefit the students in Grades 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 to bring their own computers (laptops) to school. Therefore, for this academic year (2011-12), we are implementing a pilot project called “BYOL” (Bring Your Own Laptop) at TIS to test the feasibility and advantages of running a “one student, one laptop” (or 1:1) program at TIS in the future. We have asked parents of students in Grades 5 to 9 to supply their children with laptops at some point between November 1, 2011 (at the earliest) and January 5, 2012 (at the latest). After testing this program for this school year, we will make a decision about whether students will continue to bring their own laptops or if the school will need to provide laptops to the students (funded either through a “technology fee” or a separate fundraising program). We recommended that parents try to find a used/secondhand laptop for their children rather than buying a new one for this purpose. As this is a pilot project, we do not want to cause parents undue financial burden while we test out this program.

Online Learning
In addition to using the internet for inquiry and research, our students are now making use of the following three sites.
Edmodo – This is a social network for children. It allows students of a particular school to interact with each other and with teachers in a safe virtual environment.
RAZ-Kids – This site includes a huge number of books for children to listen to and read. Students can record their reading so teachers can keep track of their progress. This site is a valuable tool for students to practice their reading, speaking, and listening skills.
Mathletics – This site has a huge variety of math activities for children of all ages. Students can compete against other students from around the world at any time of the day.

Grade 2 Puppet Shows
Grade 2 students hosted a puppet show in their classroom on October 5. The topic of the show was “Conflict Resolution”. Students gave many short performances that they had written and staged individually and in pairs. They reflected on the process afterwards to decide whether they had handled conflict within their teams appropriately.

PARENTS

School Tours, Open School Day, Parent Circle
We held our School Tours (for prospective parents) on October 12 and the Open School Day and the Parent Circle (for parents of current TIS students) on October 11. At the Parent Circle, we discussed what to do about future options for our junior high school students, and the possibility of holding a Greek cooking class as a fundraiser.

TEACHERS

Professional Development of Teaching Staff
On October 1 and 2, Ms. Peggy Marsh (Grade 2, PYP Coordinator), Ms. Nagakura (Grade 3), and Mr. Okyne (Grade 4) attended the Kathy Short Workshop at Nagoya International School.

On October 8, some mentor teachers from a local international school came to our school to coach our teachers in inquiry-based learning techniques.

On October 13, our staff participated in a first aid course that focused on treating wounds and muscular-skeletal injuries. The course was taught by the Tsukuba Fire Department.

On October 14, Mrs. Dianne Suzuki (Grade 1), Ms. Rio Nagakura (Grade 3), Mr. Stephen Okyne (Grade 4), and Mr. Jordan Breithaupt (Grade 5) attended a PYP Job-Alike with a focus on teaching literacy at Seisen International School in Tokyo.

Professional Networking
On October 1, Mrs. Joanne Handa (administrator) and Ms. Shaney Crawford (Principal) attended the JCIS Business Manager’s Meeting at Nagoya International School.

On October 23, Ms. Shaney Crawford (Principal) attended a meeting about Tsukuba’s new bylaws. She participated in a group discussion about ways to make Tsukuba more international.

SCHOOL

PYP Authorization Visit
On October 20 and 21, two representatives of the International Baccalaureate Organization visited Tsukuba International School to evaluate our progress in implementing the Primary Years Programme of the IB. We should receive the report of this visit within about one month. If we are successful, we will become an IB World School authorized to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP). (We will continue to be a candidate school for the Middle Years Programme.)

Fall Festival
On October 26, we held our annual Fall Festival. The themes for the day were cooperation and creativity. We started off the day with a creative costume contest. Almost all of our students and staff came to school dressed up as something or someone else. It was a very fun day to be at school. In addition, the students created party games and activities to share with each other. Finally, in the afternoon, we held our first ever house league games. The students were divided into their houses (Archimedes, Einstein, Galileo, Newton) for the first time and competed against each other in a variety of fun events. The students will continue to compete against each other throughout the year, and the winning house will receive the Kano Cup in June.

Donations
We received a very much-need photocopier from a local business that was replacing its copier. This new (or, new to us) copier allows us to copy in colour and do double-side prints. We can also scan documents up to A3 size. This new piece of equipment is already in very heavy use.

COMING UP

Here is what we have in store for the future.

November

Learner Profile Focus: Reflective

November 2 – Open School Day, Parent Circle
November 3 – School Holiday (National Holiday)
November 21 & 22 – PYP in-School Workshop for teachers, School Holiday
November 23 – School Holiday (National Holiday)
November 28 – Classroom Spelling Bees
November 30 – First Term Ends, Report Cards

If you have any questions about this report, please feel free to contact us.

We develop our natural curiosity. We acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. We actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout our lives.

STUDENTS

Student Enrollment
As of September 30, 2011, we have 14 students in Tsukuba International Preschool, 55 students in our Primary Years Programme, and 16 students in our Middle Years Programme for a total of 85 students. The following nationalities are currently represented in our student body: Bangladesh, China, Greece, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam.

Information and Communication Technology
All students in Grade 2 to Grade 9 were given were given school accounts on our TIS Brain site. Students have access to Google Docs and Calendars through this site, so they can work collaboratively on projects and get input from their teachers online. The Grade 8 and 9 students were also given TIS Brain email accounts.

Student Council
We launched our student council this year by nominating the entire Grade 8/9 class (seven students) to be our school’s executive council. The students held a vote to elect the student council president and vice president, then they assigned roles to the other five members of the council. The student council meets with the principal on Fridays at lunch time to discuss various topics relating to students’ interests. Next month the other classes (Grades 1-7) will elect their representatives to the council.

Earthquake/Disaster Drill
On September 13, we held an earthquake/disaster drill. As this was our first drill for the year, we spent some time in class to talk about how to react to in-school emergencies. Students were advised to go under their desks or otherwise protect their heads in case of an earthquake. Then, if the school needs to be evacuated after an earthquake or due to a fire or other emergency, students were told to leave the building from the closest exit, without changing into their “outdoor shoes”. The drill was extremely smooth and none of the students panicked or ran. We were very proud of them for keeping their cool!

Soccer Coaches
Professional soccer coaches from Aseno Soccer Club in Moriya came to Tsukuba International School every Wednesday in September to give our students special soccer lessons. Our students love to play soccer during their recess breaks, so we decided to support their interest by hiring professional trainers to improve their performance. The coaches will continue to come once a month for the rest of the school year.

PARENTS

Parent Volunteers
Some of our most dedicated parent volunteers came to school on Sunday, September 4 to help maintain the school grounds. They cut the grass, dug out the weeds, watered the grounds, and did many other hard jobs. We are so lucky to have such a supportive team of parents!

School Tours, Open School Day, Parent Circle
We started off the year with School Tours (for prospective parents) on September 14 and Open School Day and the Parent Circle (for parents of current TIS students) on September 12. At the Parent Circle, we discussed various options for fundraising and other ways of supporting the school.

Parent Teacher Conferences
At the end of the month, we held parent-teacher conferences. This meeting gives parents a chance to meet their child’s teacher and ask questions about the child’s progress. The conferences are optional, but the majority of our parents take advantage of this important opportunity to connect with the teachers early in the school year.

TEACHERS

Professional Development of Teaching Staff
Mrs. Dianne Suzuki (Grade 1) and Mr. Jordan Breithaupt (Grade 5) attended The Networked Educator at Yokohama International School. The workshop was run by Chris Betcher and Kim Cofino.

We held our in-school workshop for the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) on the same weekend. Mr. Jared Dano (Grade 6/7), Dr. Clifford Kolba (Grade 8/9), Ms. Akane Kono (Japanese), and Ms. Shaney Crawford (Principal) attended. The workshop was run by Ms. Gillian Presland of Tokyo International School.

Professional Networking

On September 26, Ms. Peggy Marsh (Grade 2, PYP Coordinator) attended a meeting of curriculum coordinators from Japan Council of International School (JCIS) Schools at St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo.

On September 29, Ms. Shaney Crawford (Principal) attended a meeting for heads of International Baccalaureate schools in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan at Nagoya International School. On September 30, she attended a meeting for heads of Japan Council of International School (JCIS) Schools, also at Nagoya International School.

Team-Building
On September 15, we held our first staff dinner of the year. Two of our board members were in attendance.

SCHOOL

Donations
We received two new computers and many used computers as a part of our school drive for more IT equipment. Some of the computers were a bit slow, but we have been able to upgrade them by installing additional memory cards. Hopefully they will have many more years of service at the hands of our IT-hungry students!

COMING UP

Here is what we have in store for the future.

October

Learner Profile Focus: Principled

October 1 – Mrs. Handa, Ms. Crawford attend JCIS Business Manager’s Meeting at Nagoya International School
October 1 to 2 – Ms. Marsh, Ms. Nagakura, Mr. Okyne attend Kathy Short Workshop at Nagoya International School
October 5 – Soccer Classes
October 5 to 7 – Parent-Teacher Conferences at TIP
October 10 – School Holiday
October 11 – Open School Day, Parent Circle
October 12 – School Tours
October 13 – Staff First Aid Course
October 14 – PYP Unit 2 Begins
October 20 to 21 – PYP Authorization Visit
October 26 – Fall Festival / Volunteer Day

If you have any questions about this report, please feel free to contact us.

At this event, we will start off the day with a creative costume contest. Next, the students will create party games and activities to share with each other. Students of all ages are expected to plan, organize, and run the activities. Half of the students are running the activities while the other half are participating in the games. This part of the day encourages students to take responsibility and to participate with enthusiasm. Finally, in the afternoon, we will hold our first ever house league games. The students will be divided into their houses (Archimedes, Einstein, Galileo, Newton) for the first time and compete against each other in a variety of fun events that require cooperation and creative thinking. The students will continue to compete against each other throughout the year, and the winning house will receive the Kano Cup in June.

About the School: Tsukuba International School is an international English-based elementary and junior high school in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. It was founded in September 1992 to provide an international education to students in the Tsukuba area. In March 2009, it became recognized as an education organization (学校法人) by Ibaraki Prefecture. The school is currently working towards becoming authorized to implement the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) of the International Baccalaureate.

We encourage you to visit us during the Fall Festival, come on one of our monthly school tour days, or arrange a private tour so that you can see the school in action!

プレスリリース：秋の学園祭を開催いたします。 (pdf)