Category: The Crane

We had a full and productive Accreditation Week, and I want to thank everyone for your support and positivity throughout the visit. The CIS/IB team shared thoughtful feedback, and we have prepared a summary of their key findings for your review. The formal written report will be issued in the next 6 to 8 weeks. In the meantime, please feel free to reach out if you have any questions. Thank you again for everything you did to help make the week such a success. CIS Accreditation Visit: Key Takeaways Thank you to everyone who helped prepare for our CIS accreditation visit. The team shared thoughtful and positive feedback about HIS, along with helpful next steps for growth. What CIS Praised A warm, inclusive, and safe school culture Clear guiding statements…

We had a great week at HIS as we prepare for our accreditation visitors arriving next week. Classrooms have been buzzing with energy, and students are showing real growth in their Approaches to Learning skills. Ask your child to tell you what ATL stands for and how they used those skills this week. It always leads to a fun conversation. Our EC-KG students had a wonderful time exploring and creating with Magna-Tiles. They built everything from towers to imaginative structures, and it was a joy to see their collaboration and creativity shine. A huge thank you to Eriko for her work organizing the Bonfire event. Despite all the restrictions and adjustments this year, she handled everything with flexibility and a positive spirit. We are grateful for her dedication. Thank you…

What a great week it’s been, filled with beautiful weather and lots of learning! We’ve missed our 5th graders, but we know they’re having an amazing time on their camping trip. We’re now just one week away from our CIS/IB Accreditation Visit, and the excitement is building. HIS is ready! A big thank-you to Ms. Kenna’s class for hosting a wonderful assembly this week and for inviting our friends from Kurakake Elementary School to join. It was a great example of connection, learning, and community spirit. Let’s keep the positive energy going as we head into the final stretch before the visit. Thank you all for your hard work and teamwork. HIS shines because of you! Save the Date: 📆 November 14- Bonfire Night 🔥 November 16-21- Accreditation team arrives…

Wow, what a great week back from break! Students jumped right back into learning and brought incredible energy to our Halloween 🎃 👻 assembly. The 12th graders stole the show with their performance, the swim 🏊🏊‍♂️🏊‍♀️show!!!, and the 10th graders weren’t far behind, great dancing🕺!! The creativity and enthusiasm in all the costumes made the day such a joy. A big thank you 🙏 to all the parents who helped make Halloween such a success- especially Sawako Ryoko, Hisako, and Sayaka, to our teachers and STUCO for their wonderful effort in organizing the assembly, STUCO for the MYP afterschool movie, and to our volleyball team for lending a hand with childcare. It was a true community effort! Surprise Day Off! In recognition of everyone’s hard work and dedication in preparing…

We are looking forward to seeing everyone for the Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences. These meetings are a great opportunity to talk about how your child is doing and what goals they can focus on next. It’s wonderful to see so many meaningful conversations happening already. Next week is an exciting one for Secondary! Students head off on their camping 🏕️ trip on Wednesday. Our Volleyball 🏐 teams are competing in their big tournaments—boys at FIS and girls at NIS. So far, the boys remain undefeated! We’re proud of all our students for their effort and team spirit. Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences are especially valuable because they bring all three voices together—the teacher, the parent, and the student. These meetings encourage students to take ownership of their learning and reflect on their progress, strengths, and…

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…