2017–18
The American School in Japan
Early Learning Center
6-16-5 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032
Tel: 03-5771-4344
Fax: 03-5771-4341
www.asij.ac.jp
Chofu Campus
1-1-1 Nomizu, Chofu-shi, Tokyo 182-0031
Tel: 0422-34-5300
Fax: 0422-34-5303
Artwork by Koko Sohara ‘29
ELC Handbook
Contents
Mission, Vision, Values .............................................. 2
Student Learning Outcomes������������������������������������ 3
Welcome������������������������������������������������������������������ 4
2017–18 ELC School Calendar��������������������������������� 5
2017–18 ELC Faculty and Staff��������������������������������� 6
2017–18 ELC PTA Executive Board�������������������������� 6
Early Learning Philosophy and Beliefs�����������������������7
Age Level Information���������������������������������������������� 7
Nursery Program, Pre-K Program, Kindergarten
Program, Learning Support Program
Special Classes��������������������������������������������������������� 8
Music/Movement, Library, Playground
Program, After-School Classes
Japanese Culture Program��������������������������������������� 9
Special Programs and Events��������������������������������� 10
Field Trips, Petting Zoo
Parent Involvement and Communication��������������� 10
Parent-Teacher Association, Classroom Volunteers,
Substitute Teaching, Reports and PT Conferences,
Newsletters, Parent/Community Bulletin Boards,
School Directory, DVD Library, Parent Education, Parent
Education, Room Parents, PTA Back to School Dinner
Transportation�������������������������������������������������������� 11
Arrival, Dismissal, Parking, Carpooling
Policies and Procedures ���������������������������������������� 13
Student Protection, ID Badges, Classroom Placement,
Toilet Training, Schedules, Transition Schedule, School
Closure, Attendance, Parents Absence from Tokyo,
Withdrawal, Release of Child to Others, Clothing, Items
From Home, Snack and Lunch, Holidays, Birthdays
Health and Safety����������������������������������������������������18
Health Exclusion Policy, When Does a Child Need to
Stay Home, Medication Administration Procedure,
Emergency Drills, Earthquake and Disaster Preparations
Miscellany��������������������������������������������������������������� 20
What to Bring, Notes to Home, Lost and Found,
Cell Phones, After School Guidelines,
Behavioral Expectations of Children
Allergies - Nut Policy���������������������������������������������� 21
-1-
Mission, Vision, Values
Student Learning Outcomes
Mission
ASIJ educates students
to become:
Developing compassionate, inquisitive
learners prepared for global responsibility.
Environment At ASIJ we recognize
and accept our obligation to act
responsibly to protect the environment
and conserve our resources.
Vision
Honesty & Integrity At ASIJ we
promote honesty and integrity in our
interactions with one another.
To be an exemplary international
learning community that nurtures
each student’s full potential.
Vision Direction 1 Incorporate instructional
practices, programs and align our
structures so that all students embody
our mission and strategic objective(s).
Vision Direction 2 Develop the means to
continue and enhance ASIJ’s tradition of
excellence given the changing context
within Japan, in line with our Mission,
Vision and Strategic Objective(s).
Core Values
Students ASIJ prioritizes the needs of the
whole individual and promotes a balanced
education for each student. We focus on
the acquisition of high-level academic
skills and the healthy social, physical and
emotional development of our students.
Excellence At ASIJ we inspire our
students to achieve their full potential and
passionately pursue excellence in everything
they do. We actively seek out learning
experiences that develop creativity and instill
the desire to achieve personal success.
-2-
Heritage We celebrate over 100 years in
Japan and take advantage of the potential
learning opportunities beyond the classroom
in one of the world’s most dynamic
cultural, social and economic centers.
Service We develop good citizens
who contribute to the betterment of
our school, community and society.
Effective communicators who…
Express ideas, emotions, and personal
experiences clearly and creatively
through the written and spoken
word and through the arts.
Listen critically with understanding
and empathy.
Literate individuals who…
Self-directed, productive
learners who…
Seek personal excellence in intellectual,
artistic, practical and physical endeavors.
Independently pursue learning.
Set, achieve and reflect on
personal and collective goals.
Make healthy choices.
Constructive community
members who…
Integrate learning and apply it
to authentic situations.
Have a clear sense of self and
exhibit honesty and integrity.
Community Our varied backgrounds
enrich our community, and an environment
of respect and tolerance allows us to
comfortably express our views.
Read fluently with comprehension
for a variety of purposes.
Work collaboratively and
effectively with others.
Develop a strong foundation in
all academic disciplines.
Show respect for the rights and
tolerance of the values of others.
Strategic Objectives
Access, analyze, evaluate and present
information using diverse resources.
Develop an awareness and understanding
of the host culture and other cultures.
Students will become adept at
identifying problems and using
innovation and collaboration to
design and evaluate solutions.
Critical thinkers and
problem solvers who…
Students will take risks, explore passions,
develop their strengths and pursue
their personal paths with resilience.
Apply creativity and persistence,
and develop awareness of their own
thinking, in defining problems and
developing strategies to solve them.
Students will develop the capacity to
understand diverse perspectives.
Demonstrate flexibility in thinking.
Understand environmental issues and
work to preserve the environment.
Contribute their time, energy and talents
to improve the quality of life in our families,
schools, communities, nation and world.
Prepare themselves for citizenship
in a democratic society.
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Welcome
Welcome to The American School in Japan Early Learning Center. We are
looking forward to an exciting school year with you. The mix of emotions
that comes with the start of a new year at school is familiar to all of us:
a bit of worry mixed with lots of excitement about all the wondrous
possibilities that the year holds. I can promise a year of growth, friendships
and exploration all under the care of nurturing and committed teachers.
The entire staff is committed to making your child’s year at the ELC special.
I want to extend a welcome to both our new and returning families.
One of the strengths of the ELC is the community that it provides for
children, parents and teachers. Together we will be a community of
learners. I encourage parents to be directly involved in their children’s
learning by volunteering at school, joining the PTA and participating in
the many parent education programs that are offered throughout the
year. Your child’s education is a responsibility shared by you and us. You
are your child’s first and most important teacher. I would like to see a
strong partnership between home and school. Please ask your questions
and share information about your child with us. Together we can make
school a place where your child will feel secure and enjoy success.
The program at the ELC is designed to meet the needs of young learners.
Children in the age range of birth to eight acquire knowledge through
direct sensory encounters with the world as well as through teacherdirected learning. Our curriculum responds to the differing learning and
developmental needs of young children. Early childhood is a period
of rapid mental growth and development, and children seek out the
stimuli they need to nourish their developing mental abilities. Young
children need a sound base of experiences that will be essential for later
learning, a strong sense of self-esteem, and excitement and curiosity for
learning. Toward that end, our program is based on the ways children
learn. Children are encouraged to explore, manipulate, create, dismantle
and reconstruct things in their environment. The cognitive and social
development of children is best encouraged through collaboration
with others, discussion, discovering the “how” and “why” of actions,
restructuring and analyzing, and developing personal meaning by the
application of what is learned. Spontaneous play, either alone or with
other children, is a natural way for young children to learn to interact
with one another and to understand their environment; play is valued
and supported in our program. The program at the ELC provides
experiences that match children’s development and how they learn.
I am looking forward to working with all of you. Over the next 10
months, I hope that we will become partners and friends. You have
joined a program that has a long tradition of excellence. I am proud
to be a part of that and hope that you join me in that feeling.
Sincerely,
Christy Carrillo
ELC Director
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2017–18 ELC School Calendar
2017
Aug 21
Aug 28
Aug 29
Sep 4
Sept 4
Sep 7
Sep 11
Sep 12
Sep 13
Sep 20
Sep 20
Sep 22
Oct 2
Oct 5
Oct 9-10
Oct 17
Oct 18
Oct 19
Oct 20
Oct 24
Oct 25
Oct 27
Nov 1
Nov 2
Nov 8
Nov 10
Nov 14
Nov 16
Nov 20-21
Nov 22
Nov 23-24
Nov 28
Dec 6
Dec 7
Dec 12
Dec 15
Dec
18-Jan 5
2018
Mon All Faculty on Duty
Mon ELC New Parent
Orientation 9am/11am
Tue ELC Transition Schedule (until Sep 1)
Mon ELC Regular Schedule begins
Mon After School Activities start at ELC
Thurs ELC PTA Board Meeting 9am
Mon Kindergarten Coffee 9am
Tue Pre-Kindergarten Coffee 9am
Wed Nursery Coffee 9am
Wed Early Release at 1pm
Wed ELC Substitute Teachers
Workshop 9am
Fri ELC Back to School Night 6pm
Mon ELC School Pictures Taken
Thurs ELC PTA Board Meeting 9am
Mon-Tues Fall Holiday - no school
Tue ELC PTA Sponsored Parent
Education 9:00am
Wed Sweet Potato Digging Field Trip
Thurs Sweet Potato Digging Field Trip
Fri Sweet Potato Digging Field Trip
Tue Sweet Potato Digging
Field Trip (Rain date)
Wed ELC Fall Family Festival
10am - 1pm – no classes
Fri Sweet Potato Digging
Field Trip (Rain date)
Wed Sweet Potato Digging
Field Trip (Rain date)
Thurs ELC PTA Board Meeting 9am
Wed Early Release at 1pm
Fri ELC Movie Night 5pm
Tue ELC PTA Sponsored
Parent Education 9am
Thurs ELC Parent Trip to the
Chofu campus 9:30am
Mon-Tues ELC Parent Teacher
Conferences - no classes
Wed Professional Development
Day for Teachers - no classes
Thurs-Fri Thanksgiving Break - no school
Tue Tokyo Theater for Children
Performance (Pre-K & K)
Wed Early Release at 1pm
Thurs ELC PTA Board Meeting 9am
Tue ELC PTA Sponsored
Parent Education 9am
Fri No after school activities on this day
Winter Vacation begins after regular
dismissal on Fri Dec 15th
Jan 8
Jan 11
Jan 12
Jan 17
Jan 30
Feb 1
Feb 7
Feb 12
Feb 15-16
Feb 19
Feb 27
Mar 1
Mar 7
Mar 21
Mar 26Mar 30
Apr 2
Apr 5
Apr 11
Apr 11
Apr 13
Apr 17
Apr 18
Apr 24
Apr 30
May 10-11
May 15
May 23
May 24
May 25
May 28
May
28-Jun 1
May 30
Jun 8
Jun 9
Mon School Reconvenes
Thurs ELC PTA Board Meeting 9am
Fri Omochi Pounding
Wed Early Release at 1pm
Tue ELC PTA Sponsored
Parent Education 9am
Thurs ELC PTA Board Meeting 9am
Wed Early Release at 1pm
Mon Taiko Drumming Special
Schedule - no classes
Thurs-Fri Midwinter Holiday begins
after regular dismissal on Wed
Mon Professional Development
Day for Teachers– no classes
Tue ELC PTA Midwinter Coffee/ ELC
PTA Sponsored Parent Education
Thurs ELC PTA Board Meeting 9am
Wed Early Release at 1pm
Wed ELC PTA Sponsored Parent
Education 12:30pm
Mon-Fri Spring Break begins
after regular dismissal on Fri
Mon School Reconvenes
Thurs ELC PTA Board Meeting 9am
Wed Early Release at 1pm
Wed Petting Zoo
Fri ELC Movie Night 5pm
Tue ELC PTA Sponsored
Parent Education 9am
Wed Petting Zoo rain date
Tue ELC to Chofu Parent Orientation 8:45am
Mon Golden Week 1-Day
Holiday - no school
ELC Parent Teacher Conferences - no classes
Tue ELC PTA Board Changeover Event
Wed Early Release at 1pm
Thurs ELC PTA 2017-18
Board Meeting 9.am.
Fri Nursery End-of-Year Picnic
Mon Pre-Kindergarten End-of-Year Picnic
Mon-Fri **Last Week for After
School Activities**
Wed Kindergarten End-of-Year Picnic
Fri Last Day of Classes for ELC
Sat Faculty Off Duty at noon
- 5-
2017–18 Faculty/Staff
Teachers
Natalie Hundleby
Joshua Miles
Martha Mundy
Nami Kim Pettit
Wendy Rathgeber
Leila Sakagawa
Hillary Storey
Julie Zamorano
Assistant
Teachers
Masami Hatagami
Debbie Iwabuchi
Kathleen Lewis-Workman
John Morgan
Rida Sadler
Natalia Peixoto
Bushra Uetake
Music/Library Alicia Brady
Administrative Shinobu Morohoshi
Associates
Yuko Tanaka
-6-
Technology
Support
Yui Mugino
Playground
Supervisors
Carol Go
Hisako Shimizu
June Tagawa
Director
Christy Carrillo
ELC PTA/Executive Board
PositionName
President
Rangana Abdulla
VP Grants
Mamta Panda
VP Fundraising
Heidi Bloomer
Secretary
Tammy de Freitas
Treasurer
Rieko Sohara
Winterfest
Mary Koukoumelidis
Hisae Hashimoto
Chika Suzuki
N2N
Anat Feldman
Room Parent
Coordinator
Carmen Delgado
Media Services
Akiko Okazaki
Social Committee
Laura Mullette
Holly Lane
Yearbook
Yoshiko Edo
Keiko Ishido
Ayaka Tanihara
Community Services
Ayako Minorikawa
Patti Apibalsri
Parent Group
Kate Lookabill
Colleen Hadden
Enrichment
Mia Gunji
Yuriko Imai
Early Learning Philosophy and Beliefs
The Early Learning Program at ASIJ supports
children in the early years to be confident,
independent learners who can also work
well in a group. Children will be actively
engaged in their learning enabling them
to develop greater self-awareness, think
independently, embrace new challenges,
work collaboratively, build new friendships
and celebrate their successes.
We aspire to build a learning community
where passions and interests inspire growth
for all learners and a spirit of inquiry helps
individuals develop theories about the world
around them. With a focus on observation,
questioning and creativity, play will provide
innumerable opportunities for children to
learn, as they discover create, improvise
and imagine. Play provides a supportive
environment where children can ask questions
identify and solve problems and engage in
creative and critical thinking processes. Play
also provides an opportunity to build empathy
for others and to develop an understanding
for those who have perspectives that differ
from their own.
We believe that:
• Children should be nurtured to
be confident problem solvers who
will identify and design solutions
to authentic problems.
• Children will see themselves as confident
and capable and collaborative learners.
• Children will have the freedom
to be curious, to inquire and to
question the world around them.
• Children will have the opportunity to
choose how to express their learning.
• Children (and teachers) will find joy
in the pursuit of learning as they
see the value of risk taking.
• Children will be given the time and
space to explore and investigate
their interests in depth.
• Children will begin to explore their
own and others identities and
embrace (value) the similarities and
differences within their community.
• Children will build empathy
through questioning and listening,
understanding how their actions and
words have an effect on others.
• Children will develop language and
vocabulary to communicate thoughts
and ideas to share with others.
ELC General Information
The Early Learning Center has eight
classrooms for children, including two
Nursery, three Pre-K and three Kindergarten.
There are two teachers in each classroom: a
lead teacher and an assistant teacher. The
maximum class size for each Nursery class is
18, 20 for Pre-K and 22 for Kindergarten. We
strive to maintain a relative balance of girls
and boys in each class.
Age Level Information
Nursery Program
For many young children entering our Nursery
Program, this will be their first experience in a
full-day, large-group setting. Emphasis is placed
on social/emotional development and self-care
skills. Children are guided through separation
difficulties and learn a daily routine and how to
function as a responsible member of a group.
Learning to take care of one’s belongings,
constructively entering play situations, settling
disagreements with words, and learning to
share are all goals for these children. Learning
is experiential at this stage and includes
the use of a variety of manipulatives, tactile
experiences and an emphasis on developing
language. Nursery children engage in studies
that integrate art, science, social studies,
math and language throughout the year. The
children draw on many experiences to make
meaning of their world.
- 7-
Pre-K Program
The Pre-K Program takes advantage of
the rapidly developing independence and
social maturity of this age group. Learning
cooperation and developing an awareness
of one’s role in the classroom community
are major goals. Curricular areas stressed
include self-expression, social skills and
independence. Self-expression and learning
are promoted through the creative arts
and play. Children construct their own
understandings and become creative problem
solvers by experimenting with classroom
materials and interacting with their school
friends. Many opportunities to experiment
with new ideas and be creative are provided.
Teacher directed activities are mixed with
open work times which provide opportunities
for the children to pursue their own interests
and ideas. Japanese cultural experiences are
highlighted. Children learn to be independent
and responsible for their behavior and
belongings. Becoming productive members
of a classroom community is emphasized.
Kindergarten Program
The Kindergarten Program is a developmentally-based program that continues the
process of hands-on learning. Children’s
curiosity and interests in the world around
them, as well as teacher-chosen topics, are
used as the basis of study projects. Language
development, including phonemic awareness
and phonics skills, vocabulary expansion and
other pre-reading skills are incorporated
into the program. The children are
encouraged to use developmental spelling.
The math curriculum is based on common
core standards and involves the use of a
variety of manipulatives and games. Social
and emotional skills are emphasized and
supported as children become responsible
class members, risk-takers, problem solvers
and cooperative learners. Kindergarten
children do an in-depth learning group
project of some aspect of Japanese culture.
Projects previously studied are Japanese
kanji, Japanese kamishibai (storytelling),
soba, taiko drums, sumo and trains.
-8-
You will receive copies of the daily schedule
from your child’s teacher at the start of the
school year. In the course of each day, there
will be a circle/meeting time, outdoor play,
choice time, teacher directed time, activities,
rest time and story time.
Special Classes
Music/Movement
All the ELC children attend music class taught
by a trained music educator. Classes are
divided in half, allowing smaller groups of
children to receive 30-minute sessions weekly.
Music is taught through developmentally
appropriate activities that support and
respect the unique learning styles of young
children. Children are actively involved in
every session as they sing, dance, experience
creative movement, and play instruments.
Library
Every week the children at each age group
attend a library class. Each classroom is
divided in two, with one half going to the
library at a time. Children are read to and
afterward are given the opportunity to choose
a book to check out for the week. Library time
builds on literacy skills taught in the classroom
and promotes a feeling of familiarity with the
way libraries work and how to use them as a
resource for learning. The large and diverse
library collection of both fiction and nonfiction
promotes an enthusiasm for reading, which
can stay with a student all through his or her
school career and beyond.
Playground Program
Most mornings, a playground supervisor offers
a motor skills program in the Community
Room for Pre-K and Kindergarten children.
Each child has an opportunity during the week
to engage in this motor skills program or to
engage in free play on the playground. Pre-K
and Kindergarten classes take turns using
“Robot Park” during the daily play times.
After-School Classes
The ELC provides spaces within the facility,
based on the type of activity, for after school
classes. These classes are not related to the
ELC curriculum but are provided for the
convenience of interested families. The ELC
maintains the option to move a class to a
different location in the ELC in the event
that a particular space is needed for another
meeting or event.
It is important that children not be over
scheduled after school. The children have a
long day at school and many are not able to
take on after school classes. Even though there
are many offerings, parents need to evaluate
their child’s stamina and readiness to do an
after school class. Children who are resistant
or tired will not have a positive experience.
The ELC teachers and administration strongly
recommend that children participate in
classes accordingly:
Nursery children–no more
than one day a week
Pre-K and Kindergarten children–
no more than two days a week
Please see the Director if you are interested
in exceeding this recommended number of
classes per week. With you, the Director will
evaluate the appropriateness of this for your
child. We will also require that until a Nursery
child has shown a willingness to go to after
school class with ease, that a parent or helper
must arrive at school by 2:25pm to take the
child to the class. This is not necessary for
Nursery children who demonstrate this ease
or for any Pre-K or Kindergarten children who
will be escorted by a teacher.
Parents are asked to contact the instructor
directly to arrange for enrollment, fees or a
place on the waiting list. Japanese Language
and Culture, Gymnastics and Recreation,
Ballet, Hula, Drama, Karate and STEAM
Builders (robotics) may be offered. Please
check the Activities and Athletics page of
The Gate Website for the after school classes,
schedules and contact details.
Parents and younger siblings are asked to
arrive at the ELC on time for the after school
class dismissal. While after school classes
are being conducted, the ELC teachers are
engaged in collaborative planning and/or
meetings in their classrooms. For this reason,
we ask that all parents, caregivers and younger
siblings arrive close to dismissal time and wait
in the Family Room. The after school class
providers and ELC staff greatly appreciate
parents picking up their children on time and
then departing the ELC to enable our faculty,
staff and cleaners to continue their work to
prepare for the next school day. Please note
the ELC playground is closed after school for
cleaning.
Japanese Culture Program
The ELC teachers are dedicated to helping
our children experience and understand
the culture in which they are so fortunate
to live. The Japanese Culture Program runs
throughout the year. Japanese holidays
and customs provide the starting point for
activities that integrate Japanese arts and
crafts, songs, food, traditional clothing,
children’s literature, games and toys.
Do not miss the sweet potato dig in
November, kimono dressing in January or
the taiko drum performance in February
for fantastic Japanese cultural edification.
Informal instruction in Japanese language
happens all year long. Children also use
greeting and courtesy words, number
words and learn some beautiful songs in
Japanese. This is the way children learn
and remember language best because it is
regularly used in meaningful contexts. There
is a special collection of Japanese books in
each classroom. Formal Japanese language
instruction begins at ASIJ from grade one at
the Chofu campus.
- 9-
Special Programs
and Events
Field Trips
During the year, each class takes part in
off-site field trips. Buses from the Chofu
campus or private companies may be used
to transport children. Throughout the year
classes have the option to travel to different
locations that coincide with specific projects
or topics of study. Walking field trips in the
neighborhood are also part of classroom
projects. At the beginning of the school year,
parents are asked to sign a permission slip
that covers walking trips. Permission slips will
also be sent home each time students travel
away from campus by bus. It is generally
requested that a specific number of parents
accompany children on these trips.
Petting Zoo
Once a year the Petting Zoo takes over the
ELC playground. Rabbits, sheep, turtles,
dogs, guinea pigs and a variety of other
animals are available for observing and
handling. This event coincides with classroom
studies of animals. Parent volunteers act as
monitors to help children handle the animals
properly. The children love this special day!
Parent Involvement and Communication
The ELC sees parents as active participants in
their children’s education. Therefore we strive
to provide parents with the opportunity to
take an active role in their child’s education.
A variety of opportunities are made available
for parents to get involved and communicate
with the school.
Parent Involvement
and Communication
Parent-Teacher Association
The ELC PTA is a vital part of the ELC
Community. The Board consists of members
who are nominated and elected each spring
-10-
to serve through the following school year.
The Head of School, ELC Director and a
teacher representative also sit on the Board.
The Board meets nearly every month. It is
this Board that brings together the ideas,
suggestions, concerns and requests of its
peers. It is also this Board that organizes and
implements plans for our major fund-raising
events. Other activities planned by the Board
include the Welcoming Event, the Petting
Zoo, the Parent Education Series, and the
yearbook. The Board also allocates funds for
ongoing gifts and special one-time gifts to
the school.
Parent-teacher conferences are formally
scheduled three times each school year.
The first conference of the year is a “get
acquainted” conference which provides the
opportunity for parents to tell the teachers
about their child. There are scheduled
conference days in November and May
each school year. It is very common at the
ELC to have informal communications and
discussions during the year between parents
and teachers regarding a child’s school life.
Frequent and ongoing communication is
encouraged for a successful partnership
between home and school.
The ELC PTA represents the entire parent and
teacher population. Parents are encouraged
to get to know PTA Board members and to
attend the monthly meetings. Offer your
suggestions and concerns to these members
to be put before the Board. It is only in this
way that the PTA can function to best serve
everyone and continue the tradition of strong
parental involvement at the ELC.
Newsletters, Blogs, Emails
Classroom Volunteers
After an initial settling-in period for children,
parents are encouraged to volunteer in their
child’s classroom. Besides attending field
trips, parents can present an activity, take
dictation for photo albums and journals, read
a story, or share a special talent or interest.
Parents often help with special cooking or
art projects. Prior to volunteering, parents
should check with the classroom teacher on
procedures, day, time and materials needed.
Substitute Teaching
Parents who have the ability and interest to
work with large groups of young children may
sign-up to be placed on a substitute list. A
substitute training and orientation session
takes place in September.
Reports and Parent
Teacher Conferences
Written report cards
November and May.
are
provided
in
The director sends a weekly email about
school events and news. Teacher blogs are
also accessed through The Gate Website and
updated regularly. More frequent newsflashes
will be sent by teachers as needed.
Parent/Community
Bulletin Boards
There is a bulletin board displayed in the
Family Room to provide information for
parents. It contains information on school
events, community events, parenting, items
for sale and services requested. Also in the
family room are flyers and information about
special events in the community.
School Directory
The ASIJ School Directory is available for each
family. Generally it is issued by the end of
September. It contains the names, addresses,
and phone numbers of all ASIJ families. The
ELC will provide a class list with the same
information for each member of a class.
DVD Library
The PTA operates a nonprofit children’s DVD
Library. The DVD Library hours are published
each Fall. The DVD library is located for
parents’ convenience in the Family Room.
There is a drop-box located just inside the
Family Room for returning DVD’s to the Library.
Parent Education
The ELC provides parent education through
the PTA Parent Education series. Speakers
present on a variety of topics pertaining
to young children. In the past we have had
outstanding presentations by educators,
psychologists
and
speech
therapists.
Childcare for younger children is usually
offered to parents who wish to attend a parent
education session. Parents are asked to email
the parent education coordinator prior to the
session to arrange for care.
Room Parents
Generally two parents from each class are
designated to act as room parents. These
parents are recruited by the teacher. Their
function is to act as a liaison between the
teachers and other parents of the class.
Duties often include soliciting volunteers for
various class projects, outings or celebrations.
These parents sometimes help facilitate social
interaction between other parents as well.
PTA Back To School
Parent Evening
All parents of ELC children are invited to
attend the annual Friday evening potluck
in the Fall. This evening affords parents the
opportunity to meet the parents of their
child’s classmates. After beverages and dinner
are served, each teacher gathers the parents
together for introductions, an orientation to
the class room, and an overview of the year
ahead. This is an adults only event.
Transportation
Parents and other caregivers transport
children to school. Under no conditions, can
a child be sent to the ELC on his/her own.
There is no bus service to or from the ELC.
Classroom doors open at 8:25am. Parents
and children who arrive before that time are
invited to wait in the family room. Following
an announcement on the public address
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system at 8:25am, classroom doors open.
Please wait until the designated time to have
your child enter the classroom.
The playground is not open to children
before school in the mornings or after school
is dismissed. The playground is open from
8:25am – 2:25pm only. Safety checks are
conducted before 8:25am and the playground
is cleaned and readied for the next school day
from 2:25pm.
Pick-up
Some children will be picked up by car in the
car pool line at street level. Some children will
be picked up and walked home from school.
Please indicate which will be happening with
your child on any given day by displaying the
correct symbol on his or her ELC school bag.
If there is a change of plans over the course of
the day, please call the school office and the
message will be conveyed to the teachers and
your child. Our teachers are engaged with the
children during the day and are unavailable to
answer external phone calls or email.
Walkers
If you are walking and picking up your child,
please wait in the family room. We ask that
you then wait downstairs until it is time to
collect your child. All children going home
by car will be dismissed at 2:20pm, while
walkers and after school activity children
will be dismissed at 2:25pm. After you have
collected your child, please promptly exit
the building through the front door. The
playground is closed after school.
Car Riders – Morning Arrival
Parents line up single file in cars and the
playground supervisors will begin unloading
the children from cars from 8:25 – 8:40am.
There is no need for parents or drivers to
leave the car. There is no parking on the road
(not even for a short while). If you wish to walk
your child into the school, please park in a
Roppongi Hills parking lot. Parents can assist
with a speedier drop off by ensuring bags are
packed. On rainy or colder days, the child
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should be dressed with coats and/or rain gear
and ready for drop off.
Car Riders –
Afternoon Dismissal
Children who are being picked up by car will
be escorted by one of their teachers to the
pick up location at street level by 2:25pm.
Parents are asked not to arrive too early. The
street can get congested and double parking
is not allowed. If arriving before 2:25pm,
please take a loop around Roppongi Hills and
then return to the pick-up point. It is important
that we maintain a good relationship in the
neighborhood. Parents can speed up the
process by writing the child’s name on a large
piece of paper and putting it on the dash of
the car so that it can be read easily by the
teachers or playground supervisors who load
the children into cars. Parents should remain
behind the wheel and drive off as soon as the
child is secured in the car.
If it is raining, the children will come to the
car pick up area in their rain gear, so it will
be important to return it the next day for
outdoor time. Please be reminded that the
car rider line is generally longer on rainy days,
patience is required.
Parking
Parking is available in Roppongi Hills parking
lots P9, P10 and P11. Parents may purchase
discount parking tickets from the office to park
in these lots. We ask that parents not park on
the street or block driveways or entryways. It
is particularly important to remind parents not
to park in front of the church next door to the
ELC. This is to avoid being ticketed or towed.
We are doing our best to be good neighbors.
Carpooling
Parents interested in being in a carpool are
given a form to fill out at the beginning of the
year. Lists of parents interested in carpooling
are then distributed.
Policies and Procedures
In an effort to make the ELC the best school
possible we need both your involvement and
your cooperation. The following policies and
procedures have been developed so the Early
Learning Center can function effectively and
efficiently. Please read them over carefully,
and then take responsibility for yourself and
your child in following them.
Student Protection
It is the goal of the American School in Japan
to maintain a school environment for all
students free from abuse. No ASIJ employee
may engage in any activity constituting abuse.
ASIJ employees must report to the head of
school, deputy head or division principal, any
suspected abuse either in or out of school.
Abuse is described as inappropriate behavior
of an adult toward an ASIJ student. We also
recognize the possibility of abusive conduct
by one student to another, particularly where
there is a difference in power based on
age or physical/emotional capability. The
administrators of the respective divisions have
the responsibility for addressing inappropriate
conduct that may occur between students in
accordance with ASIJ’s Student Policies.
The following factors will be considered when
determining whether abuse happened or not:
1. Physical Abuse – Physical injury inflicted
by other than accidental means upon a
student by another person and includes
willful cruelty or willful infliction of pain.
2. Sexual abuse – Sexual assault
or exploitation of a student.
3. Emotional abuse – This includes the use
of threats, intimidation, acts of injustice
or indignity by verbal or physical means.
Prevention of Child Abuse
1. ASIJ will not hire staff that have a record
of abuse. Background checks will be
part of the hiring process for employees.
Applicants for ASIJ positions will agree
in writing with the terms of this policy
as part of the contracting process.
2. Abuse prevention and awareness training
is mandatory for ASIJ faculty and staff
3. ASIJ will develop and maintain
guidelines for faculty and staff to
address the prevention, reporting,
and investigation of child abuse
Discovery and reporting
1. All ASIJ community adults share
a collective responsibility for
the safety of ASIJ students.
2. All ASIJ community adults are mandated
to report suspected abuse to the head
of school, deputy head or divisional
principal. Reports should be made
as soon as possible after observing
or reasonably suspecting abuse.
Child Protection Handbook
For more information on our child protection
program, including a reporting flowchart and
form, please refer to the Child Protection
Handbook via The Gate Website, under School
Communications > School Publications.
ID Badges
All adults in the school (i.e. teachers, staff
members, substitute teachers, parents,
visitors, after school activity sponsors, etc.)
must wear an ASIJ name badge. As we
work together in our community to help
our children be safe and secure, it would be
helpful if all of us are aware that nametags
should be visible on the adult. If not, feel free
to inquire as to the individual’s purpose in the
building and refer the matter to the office.
For your convenience, name tag holders and
lanyards are available for sale in the office.
Please be reminded of the following:
Our school day begins from 8:40am. We do
ask that everyone make a concerted effort to
have your child arrive between 8:25–8:40am
each day. A child who consistently arrives
after this time, is missing out on valuable class
time. If arriving after 8:40am, please bring
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your child into the ELC and stop at the desk
to confirm attendance.
Your ID is for your personal use only.
If you have not yet submitted your photo
(submit to [email protected]), then please do
so as soon as possible.
For your convenience, you may wish to obtain
your own badge holder, but we will have a
supply for sale in the office. All badges must
be worn on the outer layer of the clothing
while in the ELC.
Caregivers will not be issued an ASIJ ID card.
If confirmed and introduced to the office staff
as a caregiver, a visitor badge will be issued
and must be worn at the ELC.
Between 8:40am and 2:15pm, the gate will
be closed. All parents must wear their ID
card to come through the gate. All visitors
will be checked by personnel to determine
the purpose for visiting the ELC. Please
understand that the administrative associate
or director will need to verify the purpose
of anyone without an ID. Therefore, there
may be a slight inconvenience of waiting at
the gate until we are free (i.e. may have a
telephone call, or someone at the desk, etc.).
Families who withdraw from ASIJ should return
ID cards to the front desk before departure.
These procedures will be reviewed to determine if changes need to be made in the future.
Thanks for your support.
Please wear your badge!
Class Placement
Children are assigned to a homeroom
classroom after a careful process of information
gathering and review. The school seeks to
create classes that are balanced with respect
to developmental ranges, ages, gender,
language background, social and behavioral
needs and a mix of new and returning children.
Several days before school begins in late
August, parents will be informed of their child’s
placement and transition schedule. In addition,
new ELC parents will receive information by
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mid-August of the scheduled date and time
for orientation. Placement for twins and other
multiples will be in separate rooms.
and articulation, on same Wednesdays
afternoons. Updates to calendar dates are
provided on News & Notes.
Toilet Training
Each classroom follows a basic daily schedule
that includes a morning activity time, a snack
time, a large group meeting time and an
outdoor period when classes at an age group
are outside together. Afternoons include a
story time, lunch, rest period, outdoor time,
an activity time and closing meeting time.
You will receive a copy of your child’s class
schedule at the beginning of the year.
All children are required to be fully toilet trained
at the Early Learning Center. Nursery parents
must sign a form stating that their child will be
toilet trained before beginning Nursery class.
It is assumed that all Pre-K and Kindergarten
children are toilet trained. A child enrolled
in the ELC who is not fully toilet trained will
need to delay his/her start date or remain at
home until the child’s training is successful. See
below for the criteria at the ELC.
Toilet trained criteria for school:
The child can go to the bathroom
independently. The child who is fully toilet
trained should be able to take care of clothing
needs to use the toilet (with the exception
of perhaps zippers, snaps, buttons, and
pulling up tight pants, etc.). The child knows
when and how to use the toilet regularly
and consistently and is not dependent on a
reminder from a teacher. While an accident
may happen occasionally for any child, a
child who is fully toilet trained should not
have regular accidents. In addition, we would
expect that the child is able to communicate
when he/she has had an accident and is
able to ask the teacher for help. If accidents
happen regularly during the week, the child is
still not fully toilet trained.
Schedules
For the most part, the ELC follows the same
yearly calendar as the Chofu campus. The
ELC, however, occasionally has dates that
do not coincide with the Chofu calendar.
All major holidays are the same. Please
refer to the ELC calendar at the front of this
handbook for those dates. At the beginning
of the year, the ASIJ Calendar is distributed
to each family. ELC events are designated
by “ELC” on the ASIJ Calendar. Included on
this calendar are PACT days that are set aside
for in-service training, program and parent
conference planning, and curriculum revision
Transition Schedule
At the beginning of the year, the first four days
of school are devoted to a transition schedule
where children can learn the daily routine
and teachers can provide more individualized
care. The first two days are half days with
half the children in attendance each day. The
following two days are full days with half the
class attending every other day.
Aug 29
Aug 30
Aug 31
Sept 1
Sept 4
A day, dismissal at 11
B day, dismissal at 11
A day, regular dismissal at 2
B day, regular dismissal at 2
Regular Schedule begins for all students
School Closure
Occasionally school may be closed due to
snow, typhoon or train strikes. Closures will
be posted on The Gate Website and an all
school email will be sent to all parents.
Attendance
Children are expected to arrive on time and
to attend school each day for the full day.
Arrival time is between 8:25-8:40am
Continued late arrivals are difficult for the
child as well as distracting for the teacher
and other children who may be engaged in
other activities. Please help your child arrive
at school timely to ensure a good start to the
day for him/her.
Dismissal for car riders is at 2:20pm
Dismissal for all others is at 2:25pm
Parents must notify the ELC office by 9am if the
child will not attend school on any given day.
Parents who intend to take their child for
extended travels during the year or before or
after a holiday are requested to contact the
Director with the dates and reason for travel.
Parents Absence from Tokyo
Please notify the school if both parents will
be out of town. When both parents are going
to be out of town, it is asked that parents
complete an online notification form. The
form can be found on The Gate Website.
Please complete the form and at least one
week prior to your planned departure from
Tokyo, if possible. One form will do for all the
children in your family.
We ask that you inform the ELC of special
pick up arrangements that have been made
for during your time away.
Withdrawal
Routine Withdrawal Please notify the school
office as early as possible if your child will be
leaving during the school year. Please send a
letter or email notifying the Director of your
child’s last day of attendance so that a Change
of Status form can be completed and tuition
refunds arranged. The office will inform the
teachers who will plan with you for your child’s
closure and sayonara activities. Students
who withdraw mid-year are invited to leave
their forwarding address and pay postage to
cover the mailing of the ELC yearbook. Such
requests must be directed to the ELC office.
Please channel all requests for recommendations, prospective school applications or
confidential school admissions forms through
the Director’s office. The forms will then be
reviewed with the head teacher, who will then
complete the form and return to the office for
mailing within a specified time period.
Withdrawal – Additional Support Needed
ASIJ’s program is designed for children
who are able to be largely successful in the
regular classroom instructional setting and
who do not require major staffing, curricular,
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behavioral or assessment modifications. If it
becomes apparent that a child’s learning or
developmental needs are beyond the scope
of ASIJ’s limited support services, or if the child
has extreme difficulty in being successful in
the program, the child may be recommended
for withdrawal from the school.
Release of Child to Others
If your child will be going home on a regular
basis with someone other than yourself (housekeeper, neighbor, carpool), written permission
must be given by filling out the release form
distributed during the beginning of school. If
your child will be going with someone else for
the occasional play date or birthday parties,
written permission must be given prior to
release. Always notify the office staff.
Clothing
Please label all of your child’s school clothing.
We suggest that all children wear Velcro or
slip-on shoes until they are able to manage
ties on their own. We ask that children not
wear sandals to school. Sandals can be
slippery and dangerous on the playground.
All children must have a complete change of
clothes at school.
Please provide rain gear and boots that can
stay at school. We go out rain or shine!
Items From Home
Children are asked not to bring toys or money
from home. For safety reasons, we also ask
that the children do not wear watches or
jewelry to school. We cannot be responsible
for lost or broken items. Occasionally teachers
will provide for sharing days and inform
parents of appropriate items to be brought
in. If a child has a particular item needed for
rest, please speak with his or her teacher.
Snack and Lunch
Snack The school provides a snack
(crackers and fresh fruit) each morning.
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Lunch and Food Guidelines All children are
required to bring a nutritious lunch from home
each day in easy-opening containers. Milk or
water is provided. Refrigeration and microwaves are not available, so insulated lunch
boxes, ice packs and thermoses are helpful. It is
important to remember that the ELC teachers
eat lunch with their students in the classroom.
Thus, having a parent who provides a healthy
lunch that includes the items the child will eat
without tears is most helpful.
A few helpful hints:
Candy, nuts, peanut butter or popcorn should
not be brought to school. In addition, hard
candy, nuts, chunks of peanut butter and
popcorn are considered choking hazards for
children. And, the ELC is a nut free school.
The American Red Cross also considers the
following items to be choking hazards for
children: hot dogs, chunks of meat or cheese,
sticky rice, and whole grapes. If you send any
of the items, please be sure to chop the hot
dogs, meat, cheese, rice and grapes.
Please pack healthy lunches that are low in
sugar and free of “junk food.” Gum, candy and
gummy fruit snacks are not allowed at school.
Milk and water are provided with lunch. Please
do not send any other beverages to school.
Children should eat a nutritious breakfast,
including protein, each morning before
coming to school.
Nutritious, balanced lunches with healthy carbohydrates, protein, fruits and vegetables are
needed for good brain function and energy.
Fresh fruit is a good dessert choice in the
packed lunch from home. Other desserts
must be small and low in sugar content.
Lunch Suggestions
Sandwiches: egg salad, tuna fish,
jelly or honey, cheese, meat,
bacon-lettuce-tomato, turkey.
Vegetables: carrots, celery, cucumbers,
peppers, broccoli, cauliflower, cherry
tomatoes. These can be raw and thinly
sliced, plain or spread thinly with or dipped
into yogurt, fruit dip or cream cheese.
Fruit (cut up slices): apples, nashi
(Japanese pears), kiwi, pineapple,
bananas, strawberries, grapes, berries, or
oranges/mikan. Applesauce or canned
fruit may be sent in a plastic container.
Dried fruit such as raisins,
apricots, banana chips.
Sliced or chopped hot dogs on a bun;
salami slices, beef jerky, sushi, fish sticks
or croquettes, scrambled eggs, quiche.
Cheese: sticks, slices, cream cheese
spread on fruit, bread or vegetables.
Wheat buns or whole wheat crackers.
Rice or pasta with chicken and/or
vegetables. Pasta with various sauces.
Hot soup, noodles may be sent in a thermos.
Many children like their favorite
foods leftover from dinner.
Optional Catered Lunch
The ELC has approved an alternative to a
packed lunch from home. Guidelines for this
program and the name of the vendor will be
shared with the parents prior to the start of
the school year. It is expected that the parent
will order directly from a specific vendor as
per the guidelines established by this vendor.
In addition, the school has established the
following guidelines:
1. The alternative lunch program
will begin only after the four-day
transition schedule has concluded
at the beginning of September.
2. Please follow guidelines established
on the vendor’s website.
3. Parents must ensure that a lunch
was either ordered from the
vendor or that a lunch has been
brought from home each day.
4. Parents who participate in the
program from the lunch vendor
should note the following:
The eating utensils and a recyclable lunch
bag must be provided from home each
day that lunch is ordered.
The child will place the vendor lunch container and his/her utensils in the recyclable
lunch bag at the end of the lunch each
day. This will be taken home for washing.
The utensils and recyclable lunch bag
must be returned to school the next day.
5. If a child is absent, it is the responsibility
of the parent to cancel lunch in a timely
manner. In the event that lunch is
delivered and the child is not present,
the lunch will be kept at the ELC for
collection by the parent. The lunch may
not be given to another individual. The
ELC will dispose of the lunch if it is kept
at the school for more than one day.
6. The school is not liable for the food
safety or quality provided by the vendor.
7. In the event that school is cancelled
for whatever reason, the school will not
be responsible for any financial loss
incurred by the parent or lunch vendor.
8. In the event that a lunch is not delivered
for a child and the parent did not pack
a lunch for the child, the parent will be
notified and asked to supply a lunch
as soon as possible for the child.
9. The school reserves the right to
ask a parent to provide a nutritious
lunch from home should the catered
program not be a successful situation
for the child or classroom.
10.Any revisions to these guidelines will
be communicated to the parents.
Holidays
Any holiday celebrations at the ELC are age
appropriate. Some classrooms may focus on
a particular holiday, yet other classrooms may
not. Individual teachers will inform you of
these celebrations. Many Japanese holidays
are celebrated as part of our Japanese
culture curriculum. Parents are encouraged
to share their cultural customs and holidays
with the children.
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Birthdays & Special Occasions
Children’s birthdays are celebrated in school.
Please note guidelines:
Parents may bring in a healthy snack (low
in processed sugar content) to share with
the children. Fruit, vegetables, muffins with
low sugar content are some of the healthier
options encouraged.
Please contact the teacher several days in
advance regarding the arrangements (i.e.
schedule, snack suggestions, and protocols)
Please do not bring birthday or holiday party
favors, gifts, or balloons to school to distribute
to the children. This is something to be done
outside of school.
Birthday invitations may not be distributed in
school, unless the whole class is invited (or all
the girls or all the boys).
Health and Safety
Health Exclusion Policy
These guidelines have been developed to
prevent spread of infectious diseases among
children. The policy aims to protect the ill as
well as the healthy child. In order to create and
promote a safe school environment, parents
are requested to keep sick children at home.
Sending an ill child to school not only creates
a major health risk to all children and teachers
but is terribly unfair to the sick child as well. Plus,
recovery time is shorter for a sick child who is
given plenty of rest and tender loving care.
When Does a Child Need to Stay Home?
In general, children should stay home when
they do not feel well enough to participate in
all of the activities of a normal day and lack
sufficient alertness to learn and play.
The following symptoms, signs or conditions
are cause for missing school:
• Temperature of 102˚F (38.9˚C) rectally,
100˚F (37.8˚C) orally or 99˚F (37.2˚C) axially
(under the arm) in the past 24 hours.
Return to school only after temperature
has been normal for 24 hours.
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• Vomiting over a 24 hour period or
being unable to tolerate normal food
and drink. Only return to school when
vomiting has stopped for a period
of 24 hours and normal appetite
and activity levels have returned.
• Diarrhea (runny, watery or bloody
stools) in the past 24 hours. Return
to school after first normal bowel
movement and when appetite and
activity return to normal levels.
• Sore throat with fever and/
or red throat patches.
• Eye discharge.
• Excessively runny nose or productive
cough, especially with yellow/
green drainage or sputum or
accompanied by a fever.
• Chickenpox––return to school after all
blisters have formed scabs or crusts
(usually 6-7 days after the onset of rash).
• Unexplained body rash or rash associated
with or preceded by a fever.
• Head lice, pink eye, scabies.
• When a child is irritable, lethargic
or continuously crying.
If unsure about any symptoms or signs, please
consult a local physician.
Parents will be contacted to pick up their
child if he/she develops any of the above
mentioned symptoms or signs during the
school day. Parent must provide a contact
person for when your child becomes sick at
school and you are unavailable. If your child
is too sick to play outside or to participate in
active play, please keep him or her at home.
Please contact the ELC when your child will
not attend school.
Please notify the school immediately should
your child become ill with any of the following
communicable
diseases:
Conjunctivitis
(pink eye), impetigo, Streptococcus throat
infection, chickenpox, measles, mumps,
rubella, scarlet fever, Fifth disease, whooping
cough, hepatitis A, pneumonia, meningitis,
encephalitis, or head lice. When a school
member is diagnosed with any of these
diseases, the Director will inform grade level
parents immediately.
In the event of a serious medical emergency,
an ambulance will be called or the child
will be transported to a nearby hospital or
clinic for treatment. Parents will be notified
immediately. It is very important that all
contact details (including cellular phone
numbers) are current. Be sure to have current
emergency contact information at the school.
Medication Administration
Procedure
Staff members will only administer medication
to a child when the following requirements
are met:
each administration of the Administration of
Medication Form. Any adverse or allergic
reactions will be recorded and acted upon.
Please do not have the first dose of a new
medication be administered at school. Parents
will be informed as to the time and dose of
medication given if anything unusual occurred.
Please notify the Director or Teacher when a
morning dose has been given at home.
Parents will be contacted to administer a dose
in person when a child refuses medication.
Medication will be kept in a safe location and
in accordance to storage requirements.
No child will receive medication that has been
prescribed for someone else.
The school has to receive written and signed
consent from the parent to administer
any medication (prescription and over the
counter). Administration of Medication forms
are given to parents at the beginning of the
school year, are available from the office and
one on The Gate Website.
Emergency, Disaster and
Evacuation Procedures
The child’s licensed physician should issue a
signed medication order for both prescription
and over the counter drugs. The label on a
prescription drug is an acceptable directive
from the physician provided it has an
appropriately recent date.
For Emergency Treatment
Prescription medication must come in the
original pharmacy labeled containers showing
the child’s name, doctor’s name, name of
medication, current and expiration dates
and administration instructions. Storage
instructions (e.g. refrigeration) should also
be provided. It may be helpful to ask the
pharmacy to provide separate containers for
home and school.
A parent or responsible adult must deliver
medication with proper measuring utensils to
the school. It can be handed to the Director
or a supervisor in the car drop off line or
handed to the teacher when a child is walked
into the school accompanied by a parent or
caregiver. No more than a thirty-day supply
should be delivered.
The ELC Director or a designated Teacher will
administer the medication and will document
Plans and procedures outlined below have
been developed by ASIJ following consultation with local authorities.
Parents will be notified immediately. Parents
may be able to pick up the child at the school
and take him/her for medical attention. If
the school is unable to reach a parent in a
medical emergency, the child will be taken
either by ambulance or car to the Red Cross
Hospital in Hiroo, the National Clinic or the
Tokyo Medical and Surgical Clinic in Shiba
Koen. The child will be accompanied by the
Director and one of the Japanese speaking
teachers. There are English speaking doctors
at the hospital and both clinics. Note, though,
if a child is transported by ambulance, the
paramedics driving the ambulance will make
the decision about the destination.
An Injury, but not an Emergency
Parents will be called and requested to take
the child to the doctor of their preference. If
circumstances do not allow this, every effort
will be made to meet the parents at the
doctor’s office.
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Emergency Evacuation
All ELC children participate in regularly
scheduled earthquake, fire or evacuation
drills. Lock down procedures are reviewed
with faculty/staff. Evacuation plans have been
established. Emergency first aid kits are kept
up to date. Evacuation will be either to the
playground, to Robot Park or to the street level
sidewalk. In the event of a strong earthquake,
Aoyama Cemetery has been identified as
our official evacuation site. Should we be
unable to remain at school or at the Robot
Park, the children and teachers will walk to
the evacuation center at the Cemetery. This is
considered quite far away for easy access and
will only be used in the event of an extreme
emergency situation.
Earthquake Assumptions
1. All or most of the teachers, staff
and children will be in school.
2. All will remain at the ELC, if possible.
3. The school will not attempt to contact
parents but will hold children until
the parent or a designation parent
representative picks up the child. *About
70% of the parents live within walking
distance of the school and others are
within easy bicycle distance. Most
children will be picked up within five
hours of a major earthquake taking place.
4. Basic emergency supplies will be
available for a day, including the
daily juice, milk and snack supplies at
school. Additional emergency food
bars and water are stored on site.
5. The school building will be usable
as a shelter. This building meets the
stringent earthquake codes in Tokyo.
6. Central heating and air will be cut
off due to lack of electric power.
7. A regular supply of fresh water
will be unavailable.
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chairs and to move away from windows as
they practice their evacuation drills. After the
earthquake, the condition of the building will
be assessed by the staff to determine whether
to remain in the building or if there is a need
to move outside. Teachers will stay with
their own students, take attendance, issue
emergency name tags, confirm attendance
with the office and administer first aid if
necessary. ELC faculty/staff will determine the
safest place and remain there until the last
child has been picked up by a parent.
In all planning, the safety and security of
students is foremost.
Earthquake and Disaster
Preparations
In the event of an earthquake or major
disaster, the ELC has enough provisions to
accommodate the children and faculty for up
to three days if necessary. Cellular satellite,
and two-way communication have been set up
and a written evacuation plan is in place. We
will always remain on site unless the condition
of the building or surrounding area warrants
otherwise. There is a public evacuation area
within walking distance of the building.
Miscellany
What to Bring
Items Your Child Will Need for School.
All new children are required to obtain
a physical exam before their first day of
attendance at the ELC.
Lunch in a small container that the child is
able to open with ease.
Resting mat, approximate size 70cm x 140cm
(30” x 60”) – something a child can fold him/
herself (i.e. blanket, towel, small quilt).
Emergency Instructions
One or two seasonal changes of clothes,
including socks and underwear. All clothing
must be labeled with the child’s name.
At the time of an earthquake, children will
be instructed to take cover under tables and
Rain boots and a raincoat that can stay at
school. Remember that we go out rain or
shine! By mid-year, some of those boots can
get a bit small – and the raincoat will need to
fit over a winter coat.
Each child will receive an ELC book bag on
his/her first day of school. The bag will be
reused each year while the child is at the ELC.
This is the only bag that the child will need
to carry to and from school each day. Please
do not bring other backpacks or big items as
there is no storage area for these items.
Notes to Home
School and classroom notes and announcements often are sent home through the
children. To ensure that notes make it to
parents, teachers use folders. Make sure your
child has his/her folder every day.
Lost and Found
Located in the Family Room, a Lost and Found
bin contains all clothing items abandoned
during the school day. It is suggested that
parents periodically check the box for missing
items, as clothing is recycled or donated at
midyear and at the end of the school year.
Cell Phones
ELC children are encouraged not to carry
cellular phones to school. Please check
with the Director if there are any questions
concerning cell phone for children at the ELC.
After School Guidelines
Playground and Robot Park
ELC Playground: Please note the playground
and bathroom is closed for cleaning after
school is dismissed each day.
Robot Park & Bathroom Needs: Parents are
kindly encouraged to escort their child to
the bathroom facilities available across from
Robot Park once the child has been dismissed
from class at the ELC at 2:25pm.
Behavioral Expectations
of Children
The ELC is committed to providing a safe,
secure, positive, and consistent environment
that fosters learning and responsible behaviors
for each child. Young children are learning to
regulate their behaviors and the teachers
reinforce positive behaviors in their classrooms.
Teachers model language and appropriate
way for children to express their feelings and
emotions. All the children are encouraged to
“use their words” to explain what they want,
what they need and how they feel.
The ELC supports a rehabilitative philosophy
toward discipline and to teach children positive
behavior. If either a parent or a child has a
concern about his/her child’s behaviors, it is
important to discuss with the teacher and or
the director. Any discipline situation will be
regarded as an opportunity for learning and
when a rule has been disregarded, the situation
will be discussed with the child. Typical
questions asked of the child may include:
What did you choose to do?
What would have been a better choice?
What will you do next time?
Biting is an age-related concern that usually
happens during the toddler years. If this
becomes a concern, the teachers will focus first
on the child who was bitten and then contact
the parent of each child. While steps are taken
to reinforce positive behaviors, a child who
repeatedly “bites” may be sent home.
Allergies - Nut Policy
The ELC is a nut free/peanut free school.
This policy includes peanut butter. I realize that
this may be difficult for you-- especially if your
child’s favorite lunch food is peanut butter,
but allergies are of a great concern for us, and
we have many children with severe allergies.
There are children in all age groups who need
to keep Epi Pens on site. Some children do
not need to ingest the food in order for there
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to be a reaction. I need to ask you to refrain
from sending nuts, peanuts, peanut butter,
nut and peanut products in your child’s lunch
or in special treats that you bring to school.
I greatly appreciate your understanding
and support in this matter. While we cannot
guarantee a peanut/nut free environment, we
want to do all that we can to avoid an allergic
reaction or a medical emergency. Safety at
school is our number one concern. Many,
many schools and centers in the United States
also prohibit nuts and peanuts.
I. ASIJ Position
ASIJ cannot guarantee a peanut/nut free
environment either with school prepared
and sold food items or with items brought
to school by students and parents. ASIJ will
however, attempt to minimize the use of
peanuts/nuts in school prepared and sold
items and request that students and parents
not bring peanut/nut items to school.
II. ASIJ Request to All Students
and Parents Regarding
Peanut/Nut Allergies
1.At the ELC, Chofu, and for ASIJ buses,
parents and students are requested not
to send or carry peanuts or other types
of nuts, peanut butter, or any product
with nuts or peanuts to campus. Please
read labels on packaged food carefully.
2. On both campuses, items for all bake
sales, birthday treats, activities, etc.,
are requested to be free of peanuts/
nuts and peanut/nut products.
one for the front of his back-pack.
4. Meet with appropriate school
personnel to devise an avoidance
plan of the allergen and the
emergency response procedures in
case of an accidental exposure.
Notes
IV. Responsibilities of
ASIJ to Parents with
Peanut/Nut Allergies
1. Consult with parents of students
with life-threatening allergies.
2. Inform the student’s teachers and
staff of his/her allergy, the student’s
specific allergen avoidance plan, and
in case of an accidental exposure, the
emergency response procedures.
3. Teach use of Epi-pens to school
personnel and bus monitors.
4. Maintain the specific avoidance
plans and, if necessary, the
emergency response procedures.
5. On the Chofu campus, avoidance
of any allergen for a student
with a life-threatening allergy is
managed on a case-by-case basis
in consultation with parents, the
student, Health Center, administrators,
teachers, and transportation.
V. Responsibilities of Student
with Peanut/Nut Allergies
1. Maintain precautions and
procedures as agreed upon by
parents, student, and ASIJ.
III. Responsibilities of Parents
with Peanut/Nut Allergies
1. Prior to your child’s first day of school at
ASIJ, inform the ELC or Health Center
of your child’s life-threatening allergy.
2. If your child is a bus rider, prior to
your child’s first bus ride, inform
the Director of Transportation.
3. Provide Epi-pens for your child as
follows: One for the ELC or Chofu Health
Center and, if the child is a bus rider,
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Notes