Author: nigel

Happy Rainy ☔ Friday! Thank you to everyone who joined the Parent Coffees this week. It was wonderful to see such active learning and engagement from both parents and students. Looking ahead, Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences are scheduled for next week. Sign-up information will be shared in a separate message. Interim reports will be sent out today via Toddle, so please keep an eye out for those. Finally, the Weekly Crane will now move to a monthly edition, with separate updates sent as needed in between. What is a PDP? In the IB context, PDP stands for Programme Development Plan. This is a document each school creates to guide the continuous improvement of its IB programs. Unlike an “action plan,” which is simply a checklist of required compliance tasks, the PDP reflects…

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…

We have had a wonderful four-day week, and it feels like autumn might finally be arriving with a break from the heat and humidity. We are excited to share that HIS has partnered with Shudo University. Over the next 10 weeks, some of their students will join us every Friday to learn what it takes to be a teacher. We are happy to welcome them into our community. A quick reminder about drop-off and pick-up: please be mindful of the buses during these busy times. They need full access, so please make sure that the cones and front entrance are not blocked. Feel free to pull up, and we will assist the students exiting the vehicle. Upcoming Parent Coffees: ☕ Wednesday, September 24, 7:00 pm G11 Parent Coffee, DPC and…

The third week of school has brought focus and excitement as students continue to settle into their routines and dive deeper into their learning. Teachers are guiding students into rich activities that spark curiosity and encourage collaboration. Students are building strong habits, forming connections, and enjoying their classes as they engage more deeply with their studies and develop a sense of momentum for the year ahead. Parent Information Evening We truly enjoyed Parent Night and seeing so many of you on campus. Thank you for filling out the surveys and sharing your thoughts. Your feedback helps guide us as we continue to grow and improve. Inclement Weather Update⚡☂️ We also want to thank you for your patience and flexibility in switching to online learning today due to the storm. The…

The second week of school has been filled with energy💥 and focus as students settle into their routines and dive deeper into their learning. Classes are moving beyond introductions into meaningful work, and students are starting to develop the habits and connections that will guide them through a successful year. We were also fortunate that the recent typhoon🌀 was not very strong💪. As we move through the year, please review the school’s inclement weather notice to familiarize yourself with our procedures. Parent Information Evening Thank you to all who are attending Parent Night. It will be wonderful to see everyone and to share more about the year ahead. We appreciate your support and look forward to working together to make this a great school year for your children. What to…

In the Blink of an eye 👁️, the year is over!As we close out the school year, I want to say, what an incredible final week it has been! And a great first year as your principal! We started strong with the unforgettable HIS Idol, where students lit up the stage with talent and courage. Then came Action Week, filled with energy, purpose, and creativity. Students gave back through community outreach, added beauty to our spaces with gardening and campus beautification, and expressed their voices through Art for Peace. The buzz of woodworking projects and hands-on learning was a great reminder of how powerful experiential learning can be. We also celebrated important milestones. Our Kindergarteners officially moved up to Grade 1, full of pride and potential. And our 5th graders…

We had an amazing graduation🎓 ceremony last weekend! A big congratulations🎉 to our seniors — we’re proud of you and wish you all the best as you begin your next chapter. Our Peace Riders🚲 return today after covering many miles, and they’re not coming back alone — they’ve rescued five kittens 🐈along the way! We’re looking forward to welcoming them back and hearing about their journey.🗺️ Next week is Assessment Week 📝 for Grades 6–11. Best of luck to all students as they show what they’ve learned! The final week of school is Action Week, 💚 a time to give back to our school and community. We’re excited to see everyone’s efforts in making a difference. We’ll also be celebrating our Kindergarten and Grade 5 Move-Up Ceremonies 🎈— milestones worth…

What a week! From the fantastic music concert to celebrating our seniors’ last day of school and wrapping it all up with an action-packed Sports Day! It’s been a full and joyful week. It was wonderful to see such strong teamwork and enthusiastic cheering throughout the day. Great sportsmanship all around! Congratulations to Yellow Team for taking home the trophy this year! 🏆Red and Green, it’s never too early to start training for next year… Enjoy a well-earned rest this weekend—you’ve all earned it! 👏 Congratulations to Hinano in Grade 10 for being featured on NHK World Japan News! Counselor’s Corner Update! This week, we officially kicked off our Inside Out SEL Film Series! Students in Grades 3-6 began watching Inside Out 1, while students in Grades 7-11 started Inside…

What a fantastic week it’s been—and the next five weeks are shaping up to be just as exciting! We can’t wait for the Spring Concert tomorrow and Sports Day next Friday. We’d also love to hear from you! When you are here on Saturday, please share your thoughts on what you value in high-quality teaching and learning at HIS by adding your ideas to the board in the Genkan. Feel free to write in any language you’re most comfortable with—your voice matters! Stay tuned for all the fun ahead! We had a wonderful Principal for Day - Raphael! Principal Raphael After being Principal for the day I have been able to make some school decisions. When I found out I would be principal I felt excited and throughout the day…

Can you believe Golden Week is already here? We hope you enjoy this well-deserved break with your family—rest, recharge, and take in the beauty of spring! 🌸 As we pause, let’s also keep our incredible Grade 12 students in our thoughts. Many of them are currently taking their DP exams, and we are so proud of the focus and determination they’ve shown. We’re cheering them on every step of the way! Wishing you all a safe, relaxing, and joyful Golden Week! Counselor’s Corner Update! 🌟 This week, Grades 6-11 did a fantastic job showcasing their Empathy and Kindness Campaign projects in a student-led assembly! From videos and posters to interactive initiatives that encouraged compassion, inclusion, and everyday acts of kindness. Be sure to ask your child about the assembly and…