Elementary School Enrollment Guidebook
for Foreign Parents and Guardians(English Edition)

Welcome to Elementary Schoolin Kawasaki

Published by Kawasaki International Association
Supported by Kawasaki City Board of Education
Published: January 27, 2024

For Parents and Guardians of Children with Foreign Connections whoPlan to Study at Japanese Schools
Japanese schools have systems, rules, and customs that differ from those of your home countries.
Even though you want your child to attend a Japanese school, it is natural to be concerned about how
things will go, and what you will be expected to do. This guide has been written in the hope that it
will dispel at least some of your unease, and help you and your child to enjoy their time at school.
[Note: This English translation uses “guardians” alone to translate the Japanese “hogosha”, which
covers both parents and other legal guardians of a child.]

The Japanese Educational System
Kindergarten/Daycare↓Children enter elementary school in the first April after
they turn 6.
The Japanese school year runs from April to March.

Compulsory
Education

Elementary School (6 yrs)↓↓Junior High School (3 yrs)↓

Children without Japanese nationality are notrequired to attend school, but they may enter
Japanese public schools if they wish.
During compulsory education, grade isdetermined entirely by age, and students neverrepeat a year. However, students must pass anentrance exam to enter high school. Study atschool is important.

↓High School (3 yrs)

Pupils must pass an exam to enter.

↓University (4 yrs)/Junior College or Vocational School (2 yrs)

Students must pass an exam toenter.

1Basic Rules of Japanese Schools☺ Money, snacks, cell phones, smartphones and toys must not be taken to school.
☺ Children may not leave school between arriving and the end of theSometimes children
may take a flask toschool.
Itmustcontain either wateror unsweetened tea.

school day.
☺ All children participate in all lessons and school events.
☺

Children walk to and from school. Guardians do not take them or pick them up by car.

☺ Communication with the school is through the Message Book. For urgent matters,
you should phone.
☺ Students go home by using the recognized routes, without dropping by other places.
At some schools, all the children go
to school in a group.

Annual Events (* indicates events in which guardians also participate)
April*Matriculation, First Semester Opening Ceremony, Health Check/Growth
Measurement, Home Visit,*Open Lessons•Guardians’ Gathering

MayPTA General Meeting•School Orientation, *Sports Day

JuneClass Trip, *Open Lessons, Swimming

1stJuly*Teacher Meetings

SemesterAugustSummer Holiday (homework is set)

September*Collection Drill, Growth Measurement, *Open Lessons & Guardians’
Gathering, *Grade Presentations

OctoberFirst Semester Closing Ceremony, Autumn Holiday, Second Semester
Opening Ceremony

November *School Presentation, *Open Week
December *Teacher Meetings

2ndWinter Holiday (homework is set)
January

Semester

Growth Measurement, *Open Lessons

February*School Orientation

MarchPTA General Meeting, Guardians’ Gathering, *Graduation, Closing
Ceremony, Spring Holiday (no homework)

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Opening Ceremony: New first graders and their guardians go to the school for thefirst time. The headteacher welcomes them, and announces their classes and teachers.
Both guardians and children dress formally (suits etc.) for matriculation, but do notwear party dresses. The children take their randsel to put their textbooks in, and anotherbag.

Growth Measurement: The changes in pupils’ height and weight
are recorded on a card. When your child brings the card home, you
should stamp it with your hanko in the appropriate place, and returnit to the school.

Home Visit: The children’s home room teachers visit their homes.
The purpose is to check where the children live, and it takes about
10 to 15 minutes. There is no need to prepare refreshments for theteacher, and the teacher does not investigate inside the home.

Getting Your Child Drill: In the event of an earthquake or other disaster, the school
must safely hand the children over to their guardians. This drill practices for such anevent, so please ensure that you go to collect your child.

Class Trip: The children go somewhere like an aquarium or park. Sometimes theywalk, other times they take the bus or train. They take their own packed lunches.

3Open Lessons and Guardians’ Gathering: Guardians go to the school to see how thechildren spend their time, and what happens in the lessons. Afterthe open lessons, the guardians stay in the classroom for agathering, at which the homeroom teacher tells them about how
the children are getting on in general, and they can talk to andget to know each other. Important announcements are sometimes
made here, so guardians should attend if at all possible.

Teacher Meetings: Guardians go to the school and talk to their child’s homeroom
teacher individually. This is an opportunity to ask about how your child is doing atschool, and to discuss any concerns with the teacher.
If you are concerned about your Japanese ability, please contact the school in advance.
It may be possible to arrange interpretation.

Sports Day: As well as competitive events, this includes dances and otherperformances. The children are split into teams and compete for a trophy. The children
start practicing for sports day several weeks in advance.

Graduation: Sixth graders and their parents attend in formal dress, and the graduating
pupils receive their graduation certificates. Fifth graders also attend as representativesof the current pupils of the school, but they need not dress formally.

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A Day In The Life of a First Grader(Some schools are slightly different)
7:00

Get Up7:15

Breakfast (Please ensure that they eat breakfast!)

7:45

Leave for School

8:30

Assembly

8:50–9:35

First Period

9:35–10:20

Second Period

10:20–10:50

Break

10:50–11:35

Third Period

11:35–12:20

Fourth Period

12:20–13:00
13:10–13:30

Lunch
Cleaning

13:35–14:20

Fifth Period(Sixth Period starts from second grade)

Class Closing Assembly
Return Home
Sleep by 21:00!

Arrive at school between 8:00 and 8:20!

The children assemble in the playground and are
addressed by the headteacher (once per week).

There is a 30 minute break between second and third
periods. The children can play in the playground.

Lunch is provided by the school, but the pupils serve
it and clear it away themselves.

Options for after-school care
⚫ Wakuwaku Plaza (advance application necessary)
From end of school to 6 pm, from 8:30 to 18:00 when there isno school.
Free of charge, although there are charges for special eventsand snacks, and insurance must be purchased.
⚫ Private sector after-school facilities.
⚫ “kodomo bunka center (children’s house)5School Goods
The child’s name should be written on everything.

Things to Prepare Before Entering School
The total cost is between 50,000 and 100,000 yen, depending on where to buy. For example, a randsel costs between
30,000 and 80,000 yen.

□Randsel□Carry bag□Indoor Shoes(Uwabaki)□Indoor ShoesBag□Pencil Case, Pencils, Erasers, Pencil Sharpener
About five 2B black pencils and one red pencil.

Sharpen the pencils at home before taking them to school.
It is useful to have a sharpener at home.

□Plastic Underlay Sheet (shitajiki)
Paper (in the stationery box: dōgubako)□PE Kit□Scissors, Glue, Colored Pencils, Origami□School Hat□Red and White Cap□PE Kit Bag□Emergency Hood(bōsai zukin)□Lunch Napkins (to spread on the desk) □Lunch Bag (for the napkin)

6□Cleaning Cloths

Items Prepared By School (Please do not prepare by youself)(These items will be paid for by direct debit from your bank account; see later)
Stationery Box (dōgubako), Japanese Exercise Book, Mathematics Exercise Book, Mathematics
Blocks, Message Bag, etc.

Things to Buy After Starting School
The school will inform you when it is time to buy these.
□Piano Harmonica□Skipping Rope

□Pool Set (Pool Bag, Swimming Costume, Swimming Cap, Towel, Beach Sandals, Goggles)□Recorder (3rd Grade)□Set Squares□Compasses□Calligraphy Set (3rd Grade)□Paints Set (2nd Grade) □Sewing Set (5th Grade)

What to buy differs depending on theschool. Please check it with your school.

7□Protractor□ChiselsSubjects Studied in First GradeJAPANESEThe children talk about their thoughts and ideas, and listen to their classmates. They begin readingand writing from the hiragana syllabary.
MATHEMATICS
Numbers are linked to everyday experience, for example by looking at pictures and answering
questions like “how many dogs are there?”.
Study starts from the numbers 1–10.
LIVING ENVIRONMENT STUDIESThe children learn about their own way of life and the local area. From third grade, this splits intoscience and social studies.
MUSICThe children enjoy singing and playing together on piano harmonicas, castanets, tambourines, and soon.
You need to buy a piano harmonica.
In later years, they use recorders.
DRAWING AND MANUAL ARTS
Drawing pictures, and craft using paper, clay, and similar materials.
PHYSICAL EDUCATIONTag, ball games, mat exercises.
In the summer, there are swimming lessons, for which you need to prepare a pool set (describedearlier). Guardians sometimes help with swimming lessons.

In higher grades…
In home economics, they do cooking practice. They need an apron, headscarf, and cloth.
Science includes experiments.
They go out to observe and experience various aspects of society.

8How to inform school about absence,lateness and going-home-early.
If your child is absent from school or late, you must inform the school by the security
app for children so-called ‘Mimamorume’.

✎How to inform your message
In JapaneseIn English

けっせきします（やすみます）

My child will be absent.

ちこくしますMy child will be late.

そうたいしますMy child will leave school early.

ねつがありますMy child has a fever.

きもちがわるい

My child feels ill.

はきけがするMy child feels sick/nauseous.

おなかが いたい

My child has a stomach ache.

あたまが いたい

My child has a headache.

せきcough

げりdiarrhea

かぜA cold

い ん ふ る え ん ざインフルエンザ

Influenza, the flu

けがを したMy child has been injured.

びょういんに いく

We will go to the hospital/clinic/doctor.

こまったことがあります

We have a problem.

In the case you are unable to inform by Mimamorume, please be sure to call school and tell the reasonof your child’s absence, delay or early-leave.

9School Lunches and Packed Lunches
School Lunches
The school provides a cooked lunch, prepared at theschool by the catering staff.
The children eat lunch in their classroom, with their teacher
and classmates. The menus are designed by nutritionists
to provide the necessary calories and nutrition to a child.
The lunch fee is about ¥4,600 per month.
If you have a restricted diet due to your religion (e.g halal) or allergy to somefoods, please consult your school beforehand. Your child can take thesubstitute food from home.
The children take turns going to fetch the food and serving it to the class. Eachchild is on duty for one week at a time. The children on duty wear a whitekappōgi overall, hat, and mask (see the picture). At the end of
their week on duty, the children take the kappōgi home, whereit should be washed and ironed before being taken back toschool the following Monday.
Packed Lunches
Packed lunches should be taken on class trips and to Sports Day. As they are
made in the morning and eaten at midday, it is best to avoid liquids and things
that go off easily. They should be homemade if at all possible, but it is notnecessary to make anything special, and there is no problem with using boughtor frozen ingredients. You can put the rice and other food in any lunch box thatyour child likes.

(Do not include snack food, sweets and cakes,
breakfast cereal, and the like.)（←←Large packed lunches for sharing between the family on Sports Day）

10Illness and Injury
It is very important to stay in touch with the school.
If your child appears to be unwell after arriving at school in the morning, the school
may contact you, so please try to be in a position to answer the phone, if possible.
There is a sick bay in the school, and if your child is injured, the school nurse will
perform basic first aid. If your child is sick, they can rest in a bed in sick bay. However,the school cannot take the child to hospital; you must do that. If it is necessary, theschool will call you. Make sure that the school has a phone number on which you canbe contacted.

Infectious Diseases
Influenza Measles German Measles Whooping CoughChicken Pox Adenovirus Infectious Mumps
If your child has, or may have, any of the diseases listed above, they cannot attend
school. Their attendance will be suspended, so they do not count as absent.
When your child has recovered and is ready to return to school, please get a “Certificateof Permission to Attend School” (tōkōkyokashōmeisho) from a doctor. The forms areavailable at clinics, and it costs about ¥500 to have one issued.
*Prevention measures against COVID-19
When you have symptoms such as coughs and fever please do not go to school.
Please take PCR test at hospital as soon as possible.

What is the “Saigaikyōsaikyūfuseido”?
This is special kind of medical insurance. Under normal circumstances, allpupils must join the system. It pays medical expenses if the child is injured
at school or on the way to or from school. However, traffic accidents andinjuries sustained off the recognized routes to school are not included.
Kawasaki City pays part of the premium, so the guardian’s contribution is ¥460 per
child per year. If the household is receiving welfare or education support (see later),
the guardian’s contribution is ¥0.

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Cost of Elementary School
At public elementary schools, there are no tuition fees and textbooks are provided freeof charge.
Guardians must pay for lunches, lesson materials, PTA membership, and special fees
for activities outside school, such as class trips and school trips. Each grade has its own
necessary school goods.
These are paid by direct debit. You must open an account at the bank and branch
specified by the school, as the fees will be taken from that account. How much andwhen to be paid differs depending on schools.

How To Open An Account and Set Up the Direct Debit
Take your inkan/hanko, proof of identity, and some cash for a deposit to the bank, andask to open an account. The school will send you a form to fill in to set up the transfers,so fill that in, take it to the bank, and give the copy that is returned to you to the school.
If you are having trouble filling in the form, come to the consultation window at theKawasaki International Center, where they will help you to complete it. Please be
notified that there is the deadline for the form to be submitted to the school.

Financial Assistance for Education
There is a system to help households who would find it difficult to pay the costs of
their children’s elementary education, such as lunch fees, purchasing school goods,school trips, and so on. You must apply to Kawasaki City board of Education to receive
this assistance. If you would like to apply, please ask for further details. You may ask
the school, or at the places below.

12Useful information about learning Japanese
For children to learn JapaneseA municipal school provides the Japanese learning support for your child.
The school teacher will teach your child Japanese or a teacher who canspeak your child’s language will come to school as a language supporter.
Many non-Japanese children find it more difficult in writing and reading
than speaking especially after they enter elementary school. For more
information about the Japanese learning support, please inquire at theschool where your child will enter.

Can request an interpreter
When you need an interpreter for the meeting with a school teacher,please consult to your school for it. The school has a translation machine.
You can request it if the topic is easy or in short conversation.

Translation apps
School sends you important messages by letters frequently. When you
think it hard to read them, please ask your friends who understandJapanese for help. Translation apps would be helpful. Please do nothesitate to ask your school teacher.

Multilingual consultation service
Please feel free to contact with us at the counselling desk if you have aproblem.
Kawasaki International Center (9:00-17:00)
TEL: 044-455-8811
e-mail: soudan39@kian.or.jp
ZOOM consultation:https://www.kian.or.jp/len/kic/onestop/frm-zoom21.shtml

Kawasaki City Board of Education
TEL: 044-200-3758

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Things To Be Able To Do Before Starting SchoolGeneral
1. Say their own name, and read it when it is written in hiragana.
2. Make standard greetings clearly.
3. Understand and clearly answer questions.
4. Clearly say what they are thinking.
5. Go to the toilet by themselves. Some schools have Japanese-style toilets.
6. Get changed by themselves.
7. Walk to school by themselves. It is a good idea to practice the route before school
starts.

Japanese LanguageChildren raised in a Japanese-language environment are expected to have the abilities
listed above when they enter school. If you are concerned about your child’s level ofJapanese ability, please consult the school. Extra support is available if necessary, andchildren who receive this support from first grade do not normally have any long-term
problems with their education in Japan. The support is available to children of any age,but it is more effective if they start at a younger age, so please do not delay sending
your child to school because of concerns about their Japanese.

Published by： Kawasaki International Association
2-2 Kizuki Gion-cho, Nakahara-ku, Kawasaki City 〒211-0033
TEL：044-435-7000
FAX：044-435-7010
URL http://www.kian.or.jp/
e-mail：kiankawasaki@kian.or.jp

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