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CONTENTS
1. Elementary School and Junior High School
2. High School and University
3. Foreign students entering Japanese schools 1. Grade 2. Class and Homeroom teacher 3. Students with Special Needs 1. How to Register 2. 1st Grade Enrollment Formalities 1. Changing Schools within Sagamihara 2. Moving outside of Sagamihara city 3. Moving overseas 1. Itinerant Japanese Teachers 2. Cooperation Systern 3. Japanese class at the school 1. School Year 2. School Week 3. National Holidays and Festival Days 4. Other Holidays 1. Entrance Ceremony and Graduation Ceremony 2. Opening and Closing Ceremonies 3. School Excursions 4. The Sports Festival 5. Other events 1. Staff at the school 2. PTA (Parents and Teachers Association) 1. Going to school 2. Absence and Tardiness 3. After school 1. Morning Meetings 2. Recess 3. Cleaning time 4. Rules of Conduct 1. Lunch 2. Lunch Prep and Clean-up Rotation 3. School lunch fee collection 1. Academic subjects 2. Moral Education 3. Extra curricular and Club Activities 4. Comprehensive studies "Sohgoh" 1. Textbooks 2. The timetable 3. Student Evaluation 1. School Supplies to be bought outside of school 2. School Supplies that can be bought through the school 3. Supplies that are provided by the school free of Charge 4. Free Distribution 1. Expenses for School Events 2. Other Expenses 1. Parent - Teacher Meetings (1) Home Visits (2) Classroom Meetings (3) Individual Interviews (4)Open Class Days 2. School Notices 1. Homeroom teacher and School Nurse check at school 2. The School Doctor's Medical Examination 3. Professional Examinations outside of school XII School Health Information 1. Minor Injuries and Sickness 2. Major lnjuries and Sickness 3. Class Closures 4. Allergies 5. Others XIII The health management 1. When health examination has problematic results 2. Health lnformation Questionnaire 3. Heart Health Questionnaire XIV Contagious Diseases at school 1. Contagious Diseases at School 2. Absence due to lnfectious Illness XV Education at home (for Foreign Students) 1. Education at Home 2. Illegal activities for minors in Japan 3. Religion XVI Social Education 1. City Facilities 2. After school care facilities 3. Children's Association 4. Community Center I Foreigners entering schools in Japan  In Japan, children enter Elementary School from the age of 6. Elementary school is 6 years in duration after which students then go to Junior High School, where they study for 3 more years. It is the obligation of the parent or guardian of a child with Japanese citizenship to ensure that the child attend both elementary school and junior high school. Most of the Elelnentary Schools in Sagamihara City are public schools, therefore there are no entrance examinations. There are 76 Elementary schools and 37 Junior High Schools in Sagamihara City. The school your child enters is decided by your address within the city. Children are called "jidoh (the child) " at Elementary School, and "seito (a student) at Junior High School. 2. High School and university A student who has graduated from junior High School may continue on and attend High School for another 3 years. After high school graduation, the student may then enter either a 2 year or 4 year university program. However,if a student wishes to attend University they must take the entrance examination for that University. 3. Foreign students entering Japanese schools The guardians of foreign students are not obliged to send the students to attend Elementary School and Junior High School. When wishing to have a child enter public school, when the child is of school age, the parents should first consult with the Sagamihara City Board of Education. The treatment of a foreign child in the school is the same as that of the Japanese children. There are no fees for attending classes, and the textbooks are free and will be provided as required.  II The grade and the class At Elementary School and junior high school in Japan, the children of the same age are placed in the same grade. However, when placing a foreign student in a grade level, the student may be placed at a lower grade level because of their inability to understand Japanese. Once the grade level has been decided, changing grades or skipping grades is not usually done until after graduation from Junior High School. 2. Class and Homeroom teacher At Elementary schools and Junior High Schools, classroom size has a maximum of 40 students per class. Almost all lessons are given in the homeroom classroom. Homeroom Changes every year at almost all Elementary School and Junior High School. There is a homeroom teacher for every class. Because the homeroom teacher is the guiding force in a students school life, if there are any problems, the student should first consult with their homeroom teacher. 3. Students with Special Needs Special education is available. There is a prefectural school for students with special needs, as well as special needs class at specific Elementary and Junior High schools throughout the city. When you wish to register a child for Special Needs Education, please contact the number below. III The procedure of Enrolling in Schools Parents wishing to register their children should present their proof of Foreign residency when applying at the student enrollment section of the school board. Sometimes it is easier to have someone who speaks Japanese with you at this time. Also if you have a name seal "Hanko",please bring it with you. Parents will then discuss with a city officer the grade level that the child will join. After registration, parents should then go with their child to the school and find out any special requirements the school may have (school rules, school supplies) from the principal and the homeroom teacher. 2. 1st Grade Enrollment Formalities If you would like your child to enter school from April, the school board will mail notification to all families whose children will turn 6 years old. It will be mailed in October of the preceding year, Please bring this notice to the Enrollment Section. Schools have a medical check in November for all new entrants. In February, there is a meeting with parents about entrance preparations. Notification of acceptance to the lst grade (based on health check) will be sent by the school board around January 22 of the year the child will begin school. Please keep this notice in a safe place as it will be collected by the school on the first day. Before school starts, please buy the necessary school supplies for students (e.g. gym uniform, indoor shoes, notebooks, etc. ). The New Entrants Ceremony is usually on April 5th. If April 5th falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the ceremony will be held on Monday, April 6th or 7th. There is a meeting with parents about the Entrance procedures in February. Changing Schools 1. Changing Schools within Sagamihara When your address changes, it may be necessary to transfer schools. When moving, please inform the homeroom teacher of the last day that the child will be attending school. The school will issue a proof of attendance certificate on the last day the child attends that school. When you visit the city office to advise them of your change of address ( for census purposes) , please present the proof of Attendance to the Student Enrollment section, along with your new address, and a new school will be determined. 2. Moving outside of Sagamihara City As with moving within the city, a proof of attendance certificate will be issued on the last day of school. When registering for school in the new city, please present the certificate to the school board, and they will determine the new school. 3. Moving overseas When moving outside of Japan, please notify your child's homeroom teacher when you are leaving.
Assistance for students learning Japanese Because all lessons are taught in Japanese, it is essential for students to learn the language. Sagamihara has an itinerant language program for learning Japanese. These teachers visit schools throughout the city and are not based at any particular school. We encourage students to study harrd and learn through this system. 2. Cooperation System When foreigners first come to Japan and hardly speak Japanese, the City can supply a translator to help the student. Presently there are translators in the city to aid residents who speak Spanish, Portuguese, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Laotian, Korean and Chinese. It is beneficial in cases when parents wish to discuss problems or concerns about their child's education. PLEASE NOTE: There are no ENGLISH translators. If you would like to use this system, please ask your child's homeroom teacher or Sagamihara Board of Education. 3. International class at the school There is International class in Sagamidai Elementary School, because over 10 foreign students are enrolled in our school. One or Two Japanese teacher(s) teach (es) Japanese separately. Students having I, 2 (I or 2) systems also can learn. It depends on the student how many times a week and what they want / need to lean . School Calendar 1. School Year School year in Japan begins in April and ends in March of the following year. The year is then divided into three semesters each with breaks in between.
2. School Week School is session Monday through Friday each week. Every Saturday and Sunday are school holidays. 3. National Holidays and Festival Days
School is closed on holidays and festival days. If a holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday becomes a school holiday. Therefore, school is closed. 4. Other Holidays May lst School's Foundation Day IV School Events There is an Entrance Ceremony to welcome all first graders at the beginning of April. Students hear a congratulatory speech from the principal and from their upper-class student. At the end of the year there is a Graduation Cerernony for 6th grade students. During this ceremony,congratulatory speeches are given and the sixth grade class bids farewell to the school. Parents are welcorne to attend the Entrance Ceremony and the Graduation Ceremony. 2. Opening and Closing Ceremonies On the first day of each semester, an opening ceremony is held. Likewise, on the last day of the semester, a closing ceremony is held. Each grade students complete their course on the third semester. The semester is officially concluded with a short speech given by the prircipal. 3. School Excursions Usually, in the first (or second) semester there is a school excursion. In some cases, school excursions are overnight. Students travel by train, bus, or on foot, The purpose for school excursions is for students to learn more about the nature and culture of Japan Excursions are scheduled as followed.
4 .The Sports Festival The Sports Festival take place in autumn. Students, teachers, and parents participate in various events. Students from Arnn School at the Sagami Housing Area and people within community are invited to attend. It is usually on the last Saturday, in September depending on the weather. If a holiday falls on a Saturday, the following Monday becomes a holiday. 5. Other Events There are many events such as class observation, music appreciation concerts, swimming competition, and skating lessons. When we have events, we usually inform parents. Please read the letter. Events at each school vary so please ask for details at your school. V School Staff All teachers are formally called "Sensei ". The Principal is formally called ''Kohchoh sensei'' and the Vice Principal is formally called "Kyohtoh sensei". The School Staff also includes the homeroom teachers and the school nurse. Support staff at the school includes the secretary, the custodian, the school nutritionist, and the school cooks, All members of the staff cooperate to guide the children in healthy, happy lives. 2. PTA (Parents and Teachers Association) At most schools in the city, there is a PTA organization. The PTA works together with parents and teachers to promote the sound growth of the students. Every parent with a child enrolled in school may become a member of the PTA. Please make a point of participating in school activities as much as possible. It is also very important for fellow parents to become familiar with each other through their children so that they may communicate openly about their children's education.
VI School Life 1 1. Going to school Each school plans a route for children to walk to school. It is called "tsuugakuro". The safest possible route is chosen. Parents are requested to walk this route at least once with their children. When you do so, please take notice of the traffic conditions along this route and advise the school if you have any concerns. Children walk to school in a group which helps to protect them from traffic accidents or any other dangers. Children who live near each other meet each morning and walk together. The meeting place and time varies according to each group, so children should ask their upper-class students where to meet each morning. The group is called "tohkoh-han" 2. Absence and Tardiness Parents are encouraged to write a note for the homeroom teacher and send it to school via a friend who lives nearby if their child will be late or absent. In an emergency, please telephone the school directly. 3. After School After school, depending on their age, students are encouraged to return home with friends on the school route so they can take care of each other. School Life 2 1. Morning Meetings Once a week, usually every Monday, the students gather for a school assembly. The principal and the teachers advise the children of upcoming events and other information necessary for school life. Sometimes, the Monday morning meeting includes congratulations to students who have made special achievements in the past weeks. 2. Recess There are some recesses between each lesson. (for 5, 20 and 25 minutes) At these time,children may move freely but leaving the school grounds is not permitted. Snacks are not allowed during recess time. Should there be a special occasion when children need to bring a snack, the parents will be notified in advance. 3. Cleaning time At schools in Japan, students tidy their classroom to help them learn to work together in all aspects of their daily lives. Each classroom, the corridors,stairwells and school grounds are cleaned by classroom groups which are determined by a rotation system. ("Souji-touban") Therefore, the homeroom teacher will collect 1 or 2 dustcloths from each student at the beginning of the semester. The teacher will then distribute the dustcloths to the children when needed. 4. Rules or Conduct In order to promote a safe and healthy environment for all the students, the children make a promise in their class to fallow a "Kimari", or a rule of class conduct. Students should refrain from wearing personal ormaments, such as jewelry or earrings. Also, dyed hair or outrageous hairstyles are unacceptable. school lunch Usually, at Elementary school, students receive a prepared lunch, On days when students have field trips or on the day of the Sports Festival, there is no lunch provided. Then you,ll receive an information from the school. If there are any foods that your chld cannot eat due to allergies or religious beliefs, please notify the homerbom teacher and a special menu can be adopted for the child. 2. Lunch Prep and Clean-up Rotation Children do school lunch preparation and clean up according to a rotation schedule. Students change into their lunch prep coat (cap and mask) when serving lunch. Parents must purchase the lunch prep coat for children to bring to school. At the end of the rotation, the coat should be brought home and washed. 3. School lunch fee collection The PTA collects the fee for school lunch, usually about mid-month. The fee is \4000. Please try to have the fee in by the due date and advise your child to submit to the PTA who collects the payment as soon as they get to school.  VII School Curriculum 1. Academic Subjects 9 subjects are studied at the elementary level. Japanese, arithmetic, music, a drawing and manual art and P.E. Social Studies and Science begins in the 3rd grade. Home economics is studied in 5th and 6th grades.
2. Moral Education(Compulsory) Moral Education is time to nourish the heart, to live better as a human being, and give life guidance. 3. Extra curricular and Club Activities There are special activities in addition to academic subjects and Moral Education. They include: class activities, child meeting activities, various school committees, club activities, school events and so on. Membership to school committees is for 5th and 6th graders. Club activities are for students in the 4 grade and over. These activities help to promote discussion and co-operation among students and therefore serve to enrich their school life. lt also helps students to grow and mature. 4. Comprehensive studies -"Sohgoh" This is a special activity for getting the power of living. Students find some problems in their life and solve them. However they use the knowledge and skills, they try to learn through researching and interviewing. School System Textbooks are handed down from one grade to the next Sometimes it wll be necessary to purchase additional books or material. Parents or guardians are responsible for those expenses 2. The Timetable Each period is 45 minutes in length. There are anywhere from 4 to 6 periods each day. Each class has a weekly study plan. lt is called the "Jikan wari". Students prepare the textbooks, notebooks, pencil-case and supplies according to the "Jikan wari" 3. Student Evaluation Academic achievement and school participation are recorded on an "Ayumi". Students are given this report to bring home at the end of each semester. Please praise your child for their achievements as well as encourage them to improve their weak areas.
VIII School Supplies School bag, pencil case, celluloid sheet, pencils, erasers, pencil crayons, glue, scissors, 1 notebook for each subject, painting set, Japanese calligraphy set, indoor shoes, gym uniform and hat, swimming uniform and cap, lunch preparation uniform, desk box. Please find out from your school what the required gym uniform looks like before purchasing. 2. School Supplies that can be bought through the school Art Supplies, Science kits, etc. These items will usually be purchased by the teacher who will then collect payment from the students, or teachers will send home a letter detailimg what is needed and the cost of each item. 3. Supplies that are provided by the school free of charge Textbooks and sub-textbooks are provided. These include gym texts, Social Studies texts, Sagamihara and Kanagawa specific texts 4. Free Distribution Textbooks and additional books. IX The payment to the school Thls is for school excursions, music concerts and other activities. Students will receive a letter from the school outlining the costs. Please return the fees by the date stated on the letter. 2. 0ther Expenses School lunch fee is 4000 yen per month. The PTA charges 250 yen per family, per month. lt is collected each semester. There is also a yearbook and memory book for the 6th grade students. Like the expenses for school events, the fee collection arrangements may differ by grade and class X Parent-Teacher Meetings Parents will have an opportunity to speak with their child's teacher on 4 occasions. Parents are advised through our annual plan and school grade news when these meeting days are. (1) Home visits - May Your child's homeroom teacher will arrange a convenient time to visit your home. This usually happens in May. (2) Classroom Meetings - Several times Parents are invited to visit the school to meet with the homeroom teacher. This is not a one-on-one meeting, it is for all parents to attend and hear the homeroom teachers objectives for the class. (3) The lndividual Interviews - November This is an individual meeting for parents and teachers, one-on-one, Please call the school if you wish to arrange a meeting with the homeroom teacher. (lf parents have any special concems that may be diffcult to express in either Japanese or English,it is beneficial to obtain an interpreter for the meeting.) (4)Open Class Days This happens several times throughout the year. Parents are invited to watch their child's lessons and see what they are studying, how they are doing, and to observe life at a Japanese school. lf you wish to speak to the homeroom teacher on this day, please arrange to do so in advance. lf you have any problems, please consult the teacher directly. 2. School Notices Students will receive many letters about the happenings in the school. For example: school news, grade news, class news, PTA news, school lunch news, health news and so on. The informaion in these letters is very valuable, so we urge parents to read them, New studcnts receive a "Students lnformation Card". Parents should fill it out and return it to the homeroom teacher. lf you have difficulty understanding this card, please ask the homeroom teacher, a neighbor, or a Japanese friend.  XI School Health Examination Once a year, students have a health examination which includes the following things. Parents will be advised of the health check dates and times well in advance of the actual day of the examination 1. Homeroom teacher and School Nurse will check at school:
3. ProfessionaI Examinations outside of school Tuberculosis You will receive a Tuberculosis Questionnaire. Depending on the result, your child might need to take Tuberculosis examination or X-rays, Urine Analysis Protein and sugar levels are checkcd as well as blood in urine. Pinworm Examination Examination for intestinal parasites. electrocardiogram (ECG)  XII School Health lnfomlation 1. Minor lnjuries and Sickness lf a child has a minor injury or is sick the homeroom teacher or the school nurse will call the parents and may request that the child be picked up from school. After that, parents can have the child examined at a clinic or hospital. 2. Major lnjuries or Sickness lf a child is seriously injured or sick, the school nurse will call the parents at home or the office to inform them that the child needs to be taken to emergency care. lf the parent cannot be reached when the child is in serious condition, the school staff will take the child to the nearest hospital or clinic. ln extreme cases, an ambulance may be called to transport the child to the hospital. Please be advised that undergoing an examination at a hospital in Japan can be quite expensive because foreigners usually do not have Japanese Health insurance cards. 3. Class Closures ln Japan, lnfluenza is common during the winter months. Sometimes, a class may be closed down when there are many children who are absent due to suffering from inflenza to prevent any further spread. The principal consults with the school doctor and decides which classes should be closed. lf a class is closed due to influenza, even students who are not suffering from the flu do not attend school. Class closures usually last for about 4 days. 4. AIlergies lf your child has allergies to any foods, medicines,animals,etc. please inform the homeroom teacher and the school nurse of the allergies and the symptoms which accompany an allergic reaction. 5. Others * Medicine is not kept in the nurses office at school. Therefore,children cannot be given medicine. *lf your child suffers from any chronic illness, please inform the homeroom teacher and the school nurse.  XIII Health Management 1. When health examination has problematic results lf there are problems with results from the health examination, it is important to see your family doctor as quickly as possible. When there is a need for a second examination, especially in the case of heart diseases, kidney diseases, obesity,and tuberculosis, Sagamihara City will pay for the cost of further testing provided that the examination is conducted by a doctor within Sagamihara(or Zama). For further details, please ask the homeroom teacher or the school nurse. 2. Health lnformation Questionnaire Every year in April, parents are requested to complete a health information questionnaire and return it to the homeroom teacher. This information is used as a reference throughout the year to monitor the child's health. We appreciate your cooperation in completing the Health Information Questionnaire.(Student Info P.26- 29 reference) 3. Heart Health Questionnaire Every year in April, parents are requested to complete a heart health questionnaire for lst grade students and transfer students and return it to the homeroom teacher. We appreciate your cooperation in completing the Heart Health Questionnaire. (Student lnfo P.30~3 1 reference) XIV Contagious Diseases at School 1. Contagious Diseases at Schoo1 Because contagious diseases are prevalent at school they need serious attention.
2. Absence due to lnfectious lllness (Student info P.46 reference) lf your child is suffering from an infectious illness, please telephone the homeroom teacher. Please request a note from your doctor outlining the length of time that the child will be absent from school. Upon recovery, please get a doctor's certificate to prove that the child is in good health and present it to the school when the child returns.  XV Education at home(for Foreign Students) 1. Education at home As chiidren grow,home education and school education are important, like both wheels of a bicycle ! As for home education, parents have responsibility to be concerned about their child's education, including Japanese language study. Please speak to your children about their school life and if they have any problems or concerns, please give them sound advice. Sometimes children receive homework. Homework is important, so please help your children when you are able to. 2. Illegal activities for minors in Japan lt is illegal for children to smoke or drink alcohol before the age of 20 Also, children are not allowed to drive a car or a motorcycle until the age of 18. It is illegal for children to work before the age of 15. 3. Religion it is the parents responsibility to teach religion at home, as it is not taught at schools in Japan. The fostering of religious faith is entrusted to parents as part of a child's education at home. XVI Social Education 1. City Facilities Sagamihara city has 2 centers for social education
There are facilities to care for students from 1st to 3rd grades after school when parents are busy or at work. At these centers, children play games, do crafts and sing songs. lf you require this service, please ask your homeroom teacher. (Students Club at the Children's Center) You need to pay. 3. Children's Association This organization is run by the PTA at a school. lt promotes communication and friendship amongst students, lf you are interested in this club, please ask parents of students who attend this activity for details.While there is a Children's Association at Sagamidai, there may not be one at all the elementary schools in Sagamihara. 4. Community Center Sagamihara City has 22 Community centers to promote communication and learning through cultural activities, sports and recreation activities. Everyone can use the community center, from young children to the elderly. 
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