News from Kyoto International School

Shimbun Post for Week 7

We have published a new Shimbun Post for Week 7 (October 9th, 2020) on our portal!

In this edition:

  • IMPORTANT: Verify your Emergency Info
    Please notice that an important document was sent home with each student today. There is personal and emergency contact information that needs to be confirmed. Please have this completed and returned to the school.
  • Halloween Planning by MSHS
  • Photos of Learning during Week 7
  • Next TELL/JCIS Workshop – Wellbeing in times of challenge
  • Signup for 3WC closes October 13th at 6pm
  • Update (COVID) from October 6th
    REMINDER – if any family is sick with the identified symptoms, before any students return to school (brothers and sisters) they must be clear for 48 hrs or have a doctor’s release to return to school.
  • Art exhibition by MS Wendy Carroll
  • Car Parking – Refrain from using the bank’s parking.

Key Info & Dates:

The school calendar overview can be viewed here.

Read this and other posts at https://portal.kis.ac.jp/. Please note you will need to log in. If you need an account or have issues with logging in, please complete this contact form for assistance.

Shimbun Post for Week 6 (October 2nd, 2020)

We have published a new Shimbun Post for Week 6 (October 2nd, 2020) on our portal!

In this edition:

Key Info & Dates:

The school calendar overview can be viewed here.

Read this and other posts at https://portal.kis.ac.jp/. Please note you will need to log in. If you need an account or have issues with logging in, please complete this contact form for assistance.

Wellbeing in times of challenge – a TELL/JCIS event

In conjunction with TELL counselling Japan and the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS) is presenting a number of workshops for parents.

TELL has already held sessions for school leaders and is following up with sessions for teachers.

KIS hopes you find these sessions useful.
Great initiative!

Shimbun Post – Week 4 (September 18th, 2020)

We have published a new Shimbin post on our portal!

In this edition:

Read this and other posts at https://portal.kis.ac.jp/. Please note you will need to log in. If you need an account or have issues with logging in, please complete this contact form for assistance.

Thanks & Regards,
KIS Admin

The Final KIS Shimbun of 2019/20

Thank you for a great year

As this is the last newsletter of the year, KIS would like to thank everyone for all their support and effort over the course of the year. Last night, I spoke about how people develop skills in challenging times. The adage that ‘rough seas develop skilled sailors’ is very appropriate for KIS. This has been true of our entire community. From the students who have risen to embrace a new Distance Learning world; to our parents as they have needed to go ‘back to school’ to support learning in the home; and last but not least to the resilience and adaptability of the KIS teachers who have risen to the challenge and provided quality teaching and learning experiences.

As KIS pushes toward 2020-21, we can look forward to the challenges and opportunities the next year will provide, safe in the knowledge, as a school community we cannot only ‘navigate rough seas’ but we do it well!

STAFF CHANGES

It is at this time of the year, schools go through change. Staff come and staff go. The school has been lucky to be so well served this year by the following staff and we we wish them well in their new challenges:

  • Taylor Boyd
  • Kate Boyd
  • Josh Robinson
  • Jung Sook Kim
  • Emiko Nishino
  • Debbie Sakura

At the same time as staff leaving we welcome new staff for 2020-21:

  • Sharyn Skrtic
  • Colin Gallagher
  • Chris Corrigan (returning from leave)

Welcome aboard!

Have a great summer, one and all. The entire staff look forward to seeing you back in 2020-21

Best,
Michael Taylor


UPDATE!! Yearbook 2019-20

Our PTA in response to the current year will sponsor the yearbook! All families will receive the yearbook compliments of the PTA.

A special thank you to the PTA for this support of the school community.


Get Involved in Your PTA!!!

Dear KIS community members,
Thank you again for your ongoing support to school and students as always.
We are writing to ask for your help. Despite the current difficult circumstances, the PTA has organized and supported several fun and educational activities. This would not have been possible without you. We would like to thank you for your great support, precious time, and generous donations.

We have organized:

  • the Halloween parade & café
  • the Movie night,
  • the café at the Winter Concert,
  • the uniform selling,
  • several community tours
  • the gown project to Support Horikawa hospital.

We have had discussions with the school to provide a communication platform for the KIS community in the future. In order to maintain and expand our activities, we are looking for new members of the PTA committee.

Please consider joining us!

Our monthly meetings are open to any member of the KIS community at any time and will announce the schedule at the beginning of the new academic year. You are always welcome to drop by! We need your help!
We are especially looking for a secretary and treasurer but anyone who supports PTA and our activities is most welcome!!!

Even though you have not decided yet if you join the PTA or not, just feel free to contact us and ask any questions that you may have!
pta@kis.ac.jp

Thank you again and hope to see you soon!
the PTA


Thank you message to Mr Kinoyama

Mr. Kinoyama has been working hard to keep KIS clean for many years. Thank you for your hard work.

Students on-campus for the full school day starting from Monday 15 June

On Monday 15 June, KIS students will return to a full school day on-campus. The key indicators are consistent to support a return to a full timetable. We will continue to maintain the timetable that has been used over the last three (3) weeks.

The following guidelines will be in use:

  • ALL students (EL1-G8) will commence school at 8:30 am. Students will be allowed on campus from 8:20 am
  • EL1- EL3 will be DISMISSED at 2:30 pm
  • EL1- G2 students will enter and leave the campus through the Eastern Gate (See map below)
  • G3-G8 students will enter and leave the campus through the Western Gate (See map below)
  • ALL students will continue to enter their classrooms though Entrance 1 , 2 or 3 (this will continue as per the last three weeks)
  • NOTE: The Wednesday schedule is the same as Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (See schedule below)
  • Continue to wear a face mask
  • Continue to submit the Self Screening tool
  • Continue to wash hands as often as possible
  • Continue with only drop off and pick up for all families

Blended Learning Update 3 June, 2020

At the Senior Leadership Team meeting this morning it was decided to maintain the Blended Learning model for the week of Monday 8 June to Friday 12 June. This decision was made in light of the recent increase of cases in Kitakyushu area and the increase in numbers in Tokyo. The school is also mindful that Japanese local schools open full time on Monday 15th of June. This will allow the school to monitor the outcome of their return.    

KIS now plans to return to full time classes on campus in Weeks 38 and 39.  

We appreciate that this may impact your decision to return your children to KIS under this model. We fully support your decision.  

If you have any questions or would like to discuss this further please do not hesitate to reach out. 

Summer Camp Registration 2020

Thank you for your patience regarding Summer Camp 2020 registration. KIS administration and teachers have planned for a safe and responsible re-entry to school. Feel free to review our current re-entry guidelines, summer camp specific guidelines will be shared at a later date.

Details for fees, dates, and more can be reviewed on the Summer Camp page.

Former students, Saturday School students, and Non-KIS students can use this form to register.

Registration for Summer School 2020 is now closed. Please contact the Admissions officer (admissions@kis.ac.jp) for any inquiries.

Re-Entry Guidelines


  • On Friday 22 May at 8:30 am EL1-EL3 will re-enter campus.
  • On Monday 25 May at 8:30 am EL1-G2 will re-enter campus.
  • On Monday 25 May at 12:30 pm G3-G8 will re-enter campus.

Posted Guidelines (subject to change):

We hope these documents help in the smooth Re-entry into KIS.
See you back in school!

Distance Learning Update 18 March – Re Entry to School update

Greetings everyone,

Kyoto Prefecture announces miscellaneous schools (KIS) can plan to re-enter

On Saturday 16 May Kyoto Prefecture announced miscellaneous schools could commence planning for re-entry by students into school. The expectation from local government and the Ministry of Education is that re-entry is undertaken as a phased (different grade levels at a time) approach to support social distancing.

Staff have begun planning to ensure a safe and healthy return to campus. This will include changing classroom structures; adjusting timetables; setting up cleaning zones; and putting safe classroom practices in place.  

Early Years Re-Entry to KIS 22 May

  • On Friday 22 May EL1, EL2, EL3 students will re-enter KIS from 0830-1130. More details will be sent out during the week and posted on the school website. 
  • EL1-EL3 will continue this schedule on Monday 25 May until further notice. 

Grades 1-Grade 2 Re-Entry to KIS 25 May

  • On Monday 25 May G1-G2 will re-enter KIS from 0830-1130. Students will continue this schedule until further notice.

Grades 3-Grade 8 Re-Entry to KIS 25 May

  • On Monday 25 May G3-G8 will re-enter KIS from 1230-1530. Students will continue this schedule until further notice. 

Schedule:

  • Friday 22 May: 0830-1130 EL1-EL3 
  • Monday 25 May: 0830-1130 EL1-G2
  • Monday 25 May: 1230-1530 G3-G8 

This phased return allows KIS to focus on cleaning and social distancing, at the same time as welcoming students back on campus in a safe manner.

KIS will send out a complete guide to the Re-entry to school during the week.

As a staff and community we are extremely excited by the prospect of having students back with us on campus. 

Have a great week,
Michael