Preparing to enter school!

No.38
Sep.2013
Published by the Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau (STIB)International Exchange Center

Preparing to Enter
Elementary School!に ほ ん ごはな

日本語を話

How should we apply?
Does

mychild

need

perfect writing or reading
skills?

Can children enter elementary
school even if they can’t speakJapanese?

What should my child wear
to the entrance ceremony?
Should both parents attend?

What am I expected to do if
we receive a gift (“Oiwai”)?

Parents and their children are equally happy when the time comes for the little ones tobegin elementary school, but concerns and questions also abound. The elementary school
system is different to that of kindergarten or nursery school. In elementary school, ourchildren will learn the first steps towards an independent life.
This issue of Purara provides information about the necessary preparations to enter
elementary school. As the elementary school system in Japan is most probably different to thatof your own countries, we would like to provide as much information as possible to help you
secure a healthy, happy and successful school life for both children and parents.

What does the application process entail?
Schedule of a Saitama Municipal Elementary School.
Children can enter elementary school next April if they are SIX years old.
October.

You will receive a letter requesting
medical check-up for school children

This letter explains that your child needs
to complete a medical check-up to enterschool.

Oct-Nov.

Scheduled school children medicalcheckup

To check your child’s health condition.

Jan.

Admission document

Jan-Feb.

Entrance Orientation Meeting

You will receive details of what to prepare
and other important information.

Apr.

Entrance Ceremony

A Ceremony to mark the beginning of theschool year.

Once the school has been chosen, you will
receive a letter of admission.

*Both the letter requesting a medical check-up and the admission letter will be sent to your registered resident
address.
*If you have any of the problems listed below (or other issues), please call 048-829-1648 (Japanese language only!）↓・You haven’t received the letter of admission.
・Your children will enter an international (private) school.
・Your children will enter a school other than a Saitama Municipal Elementary School.
・You can’t register as a local resident because you don’t have the required“Special Permanent (or Long Term) Residence Certification” or a “Resident Card”

What basic knowledge is required of children entering
Elementary School?
・They should be able to count from number one (1) to ten (10).
・They should be able to read and write their name in Hiragana.
・They are expected to know how to greet friends and teachers, and listen to their teacher’s instructions in theclassroom. They are expected to learn about study methods and get used to school life before they use
textbooks.
・Children are expected to complete their own tasks by themselves.
・They are expected to have breakfast in the morning and perform their main toilet needs before they leave forschool.
*If your child can’t read Japanese characters, don’t worry about it. The Japanese elementary school systemdoes not refuse entry to children who do not have Japanese language skills.

Can children who do not speak Japanese be accepted in a Municipal Elementary School?
Children can learn Japanese as they attend school if they can’t speak beforehand.
Please inform the school if you would like to receive support. (Free)
As time goes by, most children learn Japanese as they attend school and make friends with Japanese children.
Sharing a learning environment will help your children to improve their language skills.

Domestic Financial Problems【Cost Free!】
Entrance fees, tuition fees, and textbooks are free of cost in Public Schools【Monthly fee】
Fees to cover school lunch, PTA (Parent –Teacher Association) fee, class’s materials, etc, should be expected.
*Costs vary from school to school.
・A financial support system exists if you find yourself having difficulties to pay these fees.
You can discuss your situation with the school teachers or contact the Saitama School Board (phone048-829-1647)

Necessary preparations for school life
Before the Entrance Ceremony that marks the beginning of the school year, there will be anorientation/guidance meeting. In this meeting, you will receive information regarding necessary preparations.
E.g.: knapsack (rando-seru), classroom shoes, sportswear, gym shoes, stationary, and other items.

Entrance ceremony attire
There are no strict rules regarding the attire. However, there may be little differences depending on your areaof residency. Make sure to check with the school!
Below are examples of the most popular attires:
Moms → Bright color suits are popular,Wearing a flower corsage and jewelry are also ways to look festive.
Girls→ Not casual wear, but a little formal.
E.g.: Jacket on a blouse with a skirt. These items are also useful in daily life.
Boys→ White or blue shirt on a jacket with half-length pants.

Shoes → many children wear sneakers.

Should both parents attend the Entrance Ceremony?
In many cases both of parents do attend the entrance ceremony.
Make sure to check with the school!

What am I expected to do if we receive a gift (“Oiwai”)?
What is the Congratulatory Gift known as “go shu gi” or “oiwai”?
This is a tradition in Japanese culture. When we take part in specially happy events, such as enteringschool, a wedding, child birth, etc., people normally give the family a gift of money, or a tip (Go shu gi,Oiwai).
If you find yourself in such a situation, don’t refuse the gift, as this is considered bad manners. Afterthe events, you have to give a gift (uchi iwai ) to the people you received the O-Iwai from. You are
expected to choose a gift that costs about half of the gift-money you received, and attach a decorative
red and white folded paper with the words “uchi iwai” written on it. The white and red paper is called“noshi,” and most stores provide “noshi” wrapping service.

Manners when visiting a friend’s home
Most of our children like to play with their friends after school. In such case, basic manners should beobserved.
【Children】
・Do not wear your school satchel (rando- seru).
・Tell your mom/dad where you are going, who with, and when you will be back home.
・When you visit a friend’s house, you are expected to greet your friend’s family members.

【Moms & Dads】
・If your children are planning on going to their friends’ house,please make sure that you check with their parents first.
・Sometimes children bring snacks or sweets to share during playtime.
You can provide some for your child to bring along (check with theこんにちは おじゃましますparents!).
ありがとう
さようなら
・When you meet the parents of your children’s friend, greet them andmention how much your children like playing together.
You can also thank them for allowing their friendship.
・Children receive many letters from school. If you don’t understand what the letters say, you can
ask the parents of your children’s friend, or visit one of our many volunteer Japanese language
classes.

Volunteer Japanese language support courses for children in Saitama CityName

Ward

Nihongo no heyaChildren’s course

Tabunka kyosei
hirobaUrawa

Omiya

Location

AccessScheduleContactComunale 9F (Parco)
International
Exchange center

Urawa,
East gate

Friday18:00～20:00*except for the 5th
Friday of the month

Saitama University
satellite class(Omiya sonic 5F)

Omiya,(5 min walk)

Tuesday
17:30～19:30

048-813-8500
Saitama Tourism andInternational Relations
Bureau (STIB)International Exchange
Center (IEC)090-2431-1520
IshidoToro (Utsunomiyaline)orOmiya koen
(Tobu noda line)(8min walk)2nd & 4th
Saturday
13:30～15:00(Study)15:00～16:00(Activities: games,experiments)

090-8804-4249
Takayanagi

1st, 3rd & 5th Monday
10:30～14:00

080-6123-0175
Inoue080-6123-0175
Haga

Chikyu-ko club
2000
(Parents andChildren’s class)

Tabunkakosodate no kai
Coconico（forparents onchildren careduty）

Kita

Uetake kominkan

Saitama Coop
Coop Plaza Urawa
MinamiMinami Urawa,(5 min walk)*If you have questions regarding the child-care systems or need further information, please contact
Child-care support: 048-829-1943 (Only Japanese!)
You can also request your Child-care Support Handbook at the welfare support section of any ward office, publichealth centers, child-care support centers, Nobi-nobi rooms, etc. URL: http://www.city.saitama.jp【Publisher’s information】
The Saitama Tourism and International Relations Bureau(STIB) International Exchange Center(IEC)
Place：9th floor of the Comunale Complex, Higashi Takasago-cho 11-1, Urawa-ku, Saitama City
TEL：048-813-8500
Fax:048-887-1505
E-mail : iec@stib.jp
URL : http://www.stib.jp/kokusai