Welcome to our school

International class is set-aside for children who have returned from overseas, or who have recently arrived in Japan, and wish to improve their Japanese. Apart from Japanese, other supplementary lessens are decided upon discussion with the homeroom teacher. The grade level of the child is also a factor in deciding the number of lessens per week.

Education system in Japan and support for international children

Children enter elementary school in the April following their 6th birthday and study there for six years. After graduating from elementary school, students attend junior high school for three years. After graduating junior high school, students have completed their compulsory education. They may then enter senior high school, where they will normally study for an additional three years.Tuition is free in public elementary and junior high schools, as well as at the elementary and lower secondary levels in schools for the deaf, blind, or special needs.

School Subjects

In elementary school, students study Japanese (kokugo), social studies (shakai), arithmetic (sansuu), science (rika), life studies (seikatsu), music (ongaku), drawing and crafts (zuga kousaku), home economics (katei), physical education (taiiku) and English language. English became a required standard course for all elementary schools. Other subjects such as moral education (doutoku), special activities and integrated studies are also taught. In junior high school, students study Japanese (kokugo), social studies (shakai), mathematics (suugaku), science (rika), music (ongaku), art (bijutsu), physical education (taiiku), technical arts, home economics (gijutsu katei) and foreign languages (gaikokugo–usually English), etc. Students also study moral education, special activities, and integrated studies.
※Classes are taught in Japanese.

Textbooks & Classification system

Textbooks used in elementary and junior high schools are free of charge. Textbooks are also free for children with disabilities. There is no system for skipping grades during the compulsory education period. A student advances from one grade to the next based on their age. Children who are born from April 2nd to April 1st of the following year will be in the same grade. A student’s Japanese grade might be different from their grade in a country where grade advancement is based on abilities. In Japan, student abilities are tested through entrance examinations for senior high schools.

Procedures

Parents need to go to the City Hall or the Ward Office to register as foreign residents. Parents should also inform this office of their desire for their child to attend a Japanese public school. After doing so, they will receive some forms and should fill out these forms and submit them. After that, they will be told the name of the school their child should attend and where it is located.
However, when a child’s Japanese language ability is low, there is the possibility in some areas for the child to attend another school that has more Japanese language assistance for non-native speakers. Parents should consult the Board of Education for more information about such matters. Please remember, in Sendai, Kunimi and Hachiman elementary schools have classes for international students now.
Generally speaking, we teachers who teach at the elementary, junior or senior high school level are educated at higher education institutions. Therefore, teachers have completed the curriculum for teacher training and become certified as teachers prior to teaching in public schools. But always we need the support of some specialists, like a keyboard player, a conductor for a brass band, a native English speaker, and those who teach us. And we are still given opportunities to enhance our teaching skills.
The number of classes students have and the time they leave school each day vary according to the day of the week and the grade. In 6th grade, usually five or six classes are held a day; one class is usually 45 minutes in elementary schools and 50 minutes in junior high schools. There are no classes on Saturdays and Sundays.
In elementary school, the class’s homeroom teacher teaches most regular education subjects and other teachers may take over teaching for specialized subjects.
For children who cannot understand Japanese, there is an international class where a teacher or volunteers assist them with Japanese and other subjects in some schools like Kunimi and Hachiman. The homeroom teacher will discuss the frequency and duration of the assistance needed depending on the ability of the child. Teachers are always keeping an eye on the children and trying to encourage them.
Fortunately children begin to understand many Japanese words soon.

Cleaning Hour

In Japanese schools, students share responsibilities for cleaning the classrooms, school grounds, etc. Some foreigners might be surprised at this, but most foreign students try to work well with Japanese students. Therefore, thanks to Cleaning Hour, they have a big chance to get to know each other without needing the same language.

Lunch Hour (Kyuushoku jikan)

In elementary and junior high schools, school lunch is provided as a part of the educational activities. School lunches are planned so that students will learn the proper way of eating and suitable or good human relationships. This is done through students serving the food, cleaning up afterwards, and eating a well-balanced diet while having fun together. In this way, students can learn to live healthily.Spoons and chopsticks are to be brought from home daily and dirty utensils are to be washed at home.
Parents/guardians pay for the cost of the ingredients of school lunches, and the amount is about 5,000 yen a month.

School life

Japanese schools start in April and end in March of the following year. The school year is usually divided into two or three terms. In Sendai, we have 1st term and 2nd term, so it is a 2-term/semester system. The type of activities and school events and how and when they are carried out vary from school to school.We introduce you to several school lives here.

A Finnish girl(got understood Hiragana after only one month”). Classmates supported her in natural interaction. They communicated in Japanese and English.In April, she studied beginning Japanese in the international classroom with 5 classes per week. But in July, she only needed 2 classes per week.

An Egyptian boy, is reading Japanese handouts with his friends. He speaks and read Japanese well, so he had stayed entirely in his classroom except during their welcome activities.

In spring, many parents came and enjoyed the Sports day. Depending on grade level, there are various kinds of events, including dances.

This is an excursion to Mt. Izumigadake. These 5th grade students stayed overnight at mountain lodge.

School fees & Financial assistance

Financial assistance can be received from the Board of Education of Sendai city for school supplies and school lunches (if it is determined that there is a need for this). Please consult the school staff who is in charge of financial assistance and review the application form. In Japan, education prices are high, and many families apply for assistance (even those who might not consider applying because they are rich in their home country).

School Rules

Please come to and from school via the pre-determined route on foot.
Please change your shoes in the school building.
Please contact the school before classes or morning events begin in case Absences, Tardiness, early dismissal, etc.
We are looking forward to seeing you at our school.
Thank you.

School Info.