Another great 4-day week!
This week, a few of our teachers partnered with teachers from Seisen International School for job-alike sessions. It was wonderful to learn from and share ideas with colleagues from other international schools in Japan.
What are ATL skills?
ATL stands for Approaches to Learning. These are the key skills students develop across all grade levels in the IB programmes. They include:
Thinking skills 🤔(critical, creative, and reflective thinking)
Communication skills🗨️ (exchanging thoughts, messages, and information effectively)
Social skills👭👬 (working well with others, building relationships, resolving conflict)
Self-management skills 🗂️(organization, time management, emotional regulation)
Research skills ℹ️ (finding, evaluating, and using information)
These skills help students become independent, confident, and lifelong learners. Start having the conversation at home by asking your child which ATL skills they used in class this week.
Upcoming Parent Coffees: ☕
- Wednesday, October 1, 8:45 am: Coffee with the Principal, in person
Who it is for: All parents and guardians
Focus: School updates, accreditation timeline, events this term, open Q&A
Location: Library
Prep: Questions – fill out this form.
- Thursday, October 2, 8:45 am: MYP Math with Taylor and Ralph- in person
Who it is for: Grades 6 to 10 families
Focus: What to expect in MYP math, placement and pathways, homework and study routines, how to help at home
Location: Library
Prep: Questions- fill out this form.
- Thursday, October 2, 7:00pm: PYP with SEL Counselor online
Who it is for: EC to Grade 5 families
Focus: Building routines, friendship skills, emotional regulation, how SEL looks in the classroom and at home
Location: Google Meet
Prep: Think of one home routine you want to strengthen
- Friday, October 3, 8:45 am: PYP with SEL Counselor, in person
Who it is for: EC to Grade 5 families
Focus: Building routines, friendship skills, emotional regulation, how SEL looks in the classroom and at home
Location: Library
Prep: Think of one home routine you want to strengthen
What to Look Out For
Sign up for conferences coming out the week of September 29. All Secondary students are required to attend the conferences with their parents.
Accreditation
HIS will host a CIS/IB accreditation visit from November 15–25. Ten visitors will spend time with us to see what makes HIS unique. Parents and students will play an important role during this process, and we will share more information soon on how you can get involved.
Programme Updates
DP (Diploma Programme)
A heartfelt thank you to all parents who joined our recent Coffee Meeting. It was a pleasure to come together and strengthen the partnership that supports our learners in the Diploma Programme.
Our Grade 12 students are now approaching an important milestone with the submission of their Extended Essay draft, a significant step in their academic journey. At the same time, our Grade 11 students are beginning their first summative assessments as they settle into the demands of the programme. These moments can be both exciting and challenging, and the encouragement and support from home makes a real difference.
We look forward to continuing these conversations at future gatherings and encourage you to stay connected, share your questions, and join us as we walk alongside our students in this important stage of their learning.
MYP (Middle Years Programme)
Many thanks to the MYP parents who joined our online Parent coffee explaining the Personal Project last night and today’s Coffee Morning, providing an overview of the MYP. A special thank you to parents who filled in their survey, which helped to shape our planning and scheduling throughout the year. As we settle into the new school year, parents will be informed about their child’s Self-Management skills in the interim report. We look forward to meeting with you and your child during the Parent-Student-Teacher conferences in early October. Thank you for your continued support in shaping your child’s academic, social, and emotional skills during their time in the MYP.
Student Highlights
Volleyball tournament this weekend in Osaka!
Counseling Corner
Kindness and compassion often seem simple, but they raise deeper questions about intention. Is kindness genuine when it comes from the heart, or does it still matter if it’s done for recognition or reward? These are valuable reflections for our students as they navigate friendships and community life. A short video you might enjoy watching together at home is The Science of Kindness, highlighting how kindness affects both our brains and bodies.
College & Career Counseling Update
For our senior families, please continue encouraging your children to complete their recommendation letter requests, as these are a key step as application deadlines draw closer.
I also encourage parents to sit down with their children and explore BridgeU, our university guidance platform. Each grade 12 student is registered and has access to the platform. It is an excellent way to open conversations about students’ intentions and progress in the application process.
💛
Save the Date: 📆
- October 10 and 13- Parent Teacher Conferences
- October 15-17- Secondary Camp
- October 20-24- October Break
- October 31- Halloween🎃
- November 14- Bonfire Night 🔥
- November 15- Accreditation team arrives
PTA Wolfpack
We are excited to share some upcoming community events!
Halloween (October 31)👻
Halloween will be led by Millay’s mom (G.3), Sawako, and Ryoko. We will send out information next week if you have any questions.
- 3:30–5:30 pm: STUCO will host a movie afternoon for Secondary students.
- 5:00–5:30 pm: Primary students will enjoy games in the gym, led by Middle School students and Shudo interns.
- 5:00–6:30 pm: Trunk Trick or Treat for all.
- 5:30–6:30 pm: Trick or Treating begins.
Bonfire Night (November 14)🔥
We are looking for parents to take the lead in organizing this event. If you are interested, please get in touch with Sayaka or Ryoko.
PTA Updateℹ️
We will be sending out an email soon with details about an upcoming PTA meeting. At this meeting, we will discuss how to get involved and opportunities for parents to take on leadership roles. I appreciate your patience as we continue to rebuild and shape the PTA together.