The omet

The New sletter of K. International School Tokyo
Volume 23 | Issue 4 | June 2020

In this issue...
03...Wall of Honor 2019–20
04…PYP News
04...Parenting Tips
05...Early Childhood News
06...Elementary ELS
07...KIPS News

09...Science Department News
11...Responsible Decision Making
12...KIST Social Media Accounts
14...Secondary SRC
15...Nurse’s Notes
16...University Guidance News

From the Head of School

Dates to Remember

Equitable access to technology

Back in January and February of this year, as the COVID-19 pandemic situation worsened, we began to plan forthe possibility of a school closure. In the event that a school closure became
necessary, we developed our Distance Learning Plan in an effort to ensure
continuous learning. When we announced that a school closure would benecessary, the initial closure was to last for two weeks. At the time, although
uncertain, I was optimistic that we would return to normal classes on March 16.
Even so, we worked as a team to provide distance learning using the tools wealready had in place.
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific andCultural Organization, or UNESCO for short, 1.2 billion students
across the planet have been affected by school and university
closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak. As a school, I believe
we have been fortunate to have the technology resources tocontinue with distance learning in a meaningful manner.

June 2020

15-17 (S) Student grade level
visits15 (K1-G11) Semester 2 reports
issued17 Last day of school for students
18-Jul 26 Office open

July 2020

1-27 School closed
28-Aug 13 Summer review
programAugust 2020

Never before have we witnessed educational
disruption at this scale.”—UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay

The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is
a community of global educators who believe in the power oftechnology to transform teaching and learning and solve toughproblems in education. The closure of thousands of schools
worldwide qualifies as a tough problem for educators. Equitable access is
included in the essential conditions the ISTE lists as necessary for the effective
utilization of technology for learning. Equitable access refers to reliable accessto technology and digital resources, with connectivity for all students, teachersand staff.
At KIST, we are fortunate that all of our students and staff have dependable
access to technology. Long before this outbreak we had already implemented
the use of Moodle, PowerSchool Learning, and the Office 365 apps. While
there were many other skills to learn, at the very least we had a reliable
platform in which to build our Distance Learning Plan. Most of our families haveaccess to laptops, tablets and smartphones that can be used for theirchildren’s learning. And our staff are all provided with high-spec laptops andguidance on how to utilize the various online learning
Continued on next page
platforms.
KIST Learning for Life KIST Learning for Life KIST Learning for Life

20 (K1/K2/K3) Parent welcomenight
24 First day of school for all
students
24 (K2-G3) After care begins thisweek
25 (G1-G10) Mathematics
diagnostic testing
25-27 (G12) DP diagnostic exams
26 (G1-G5) Parent welcome night
28 (G6-G12) Parent welcome night
28 (G12) University informationnight
29 SAT@KIST

September 2020

7 (K1) After care begins this week
8 (G1-G12) Semester 1 clubs
program begins
9-11 (G11) Camp (*Tentative)
10 (K1-G11) Student health checks

PYP | MYP | DP2

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“ T h e Co m e t ”

Continued from previous pageNot all students in Japan and abroad are so fortunate.
Not all schools can afford the hardware, software andpersonnel required to utilize technology for learning on
the scale required during this pandemic. Not all
families can afford the technology necessary to allow
their children to learn remotely. Not all communities
have the internet bandwidth to support the millions ofstudents affected by school closures. Along withresponding to educational disruptions, UNESCO’s
Global Education Coalition provides valuable
resources to support education and make it accessible
worldwide. If you and your organization would like tosupport the global coalition and take action, more
information can be found on their website.

b
Web

UNESCO Global Education Coalition

As we close out the 2019–2020 school year, I would
like to wish you all a relaxing and enjoyable summer
vacation. Please stay safe and I look forward towelcoming you all back to school in August!
Kevin Yoshihara
Head of School

Elementary School News
Finding happiness
Eventful. This is one word I will use to describe the 2019–2020 school year. I would
not say that the whole year has been particularly enjoyable or pleasant, but it has
been eventful. The COVID-19 pandemic, as explained by the United Nations, is “aglobal health crisis unlike any in the 75-year history of the United Nations”. It is much more than just a healthcrisis, they explain, it is a human, economic and social crisis.
While it is easy to surrender to the fear, worry and stress that often accompany threats such as this pandemic,
ensuring we look after one another, and support one another, can have a positive effect on our happiness andwell-being.
I would like to share a short story that is circulating around social media. It describes the difference between
personal happiness and group happiness. Whether this story is true or not, I think it demonstrates well the positiveeffect that working together can have on everyone.

Ateacher brought a bag of balloons to school and asked the children toblow them all up and then each write their names on their balloon. They
tossed all the balloons into the hall while the teacher mixed them from one
end to the other. The teacher then gave the students five minutes to find theballoon with their name on it.
The children ran around, frantically searching for their balloons, but as thetime ran out, nobody had found their own balloon. Then the teacher told themto pick up the balloon closest to them and give it to the person whose name was on it. In lessthan 2 minutes everyone had their own balloon.
Finally, the teacher said, “Balloons are like happiness. No one will find it looking for theirs only.
Instead, if everyone cares about each other’s, they will find theirs as quickly as possible.”

As Robert Louis Stevenson, once said, “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds that you
plant”. Planting the seeds of happiness for others will, in turn, bring about our own happiness.
As we move into the summer vacation, I encourage all of our students and their families continue to spreadhappiness throughout their families and communities. As they say, it is about “we”, not just about“me.”
Have a wonderful summer and I look forward to welcoming you all back to school in August!
Kevin Yoshihara
Elementary School Principal

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Appreciation and Hope
Considering the events of the past few months, 2020
has shown itself to be filled with challenges for the way
we go about our day-to-day lives. Issues of political
upheaval, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic
have forced us to take stock of our lives. It has
demanded that we search for answers in places that
we might never have imagined looking had we beenleft on our regular course of living in the world as itexisted before. I would like to take a moment toconsider some of the amazing things that I have run
across in working with the KIST community since wealtered our programs back in late February due to thecoronavirus.
Teachers, parents, students, staff and administrators
alike went through some drastic changes to makesense of studying in an upside-down environment.
Teachers learned new technologies to provide students
with meaningful lessons without skipping a beat in theroutine. On the receiving end, parents learned these
new skills and helped their children access thecurriculum and digest its meaning, all the while acting
as teaching assistants. Students pressed themselves
into action and learned responsibility for their studies
as they did not have the benefit of the classroom
teacher, classmates or resources readily at hand toprovide support. Administrators too, learned new ways
to communicate, support, inspire and empathize with adistant and separated community. No one was left
unaffected by the lockdown and growing uncertainty.
No one will come out the other side of this situation

untouched by the distance andadjustments we were all forced tomake.
As we slowly move toward more
freedom of movement and areopening of the communities inwhich we live, I have been
touched by the kindness thatpeople easily exhibit in their interactions. Due toperiods of isolation, we all long to be part of acommunal environment in which we can again toucheach other’s lives through a closeness and proximitythat we once took for granted. I hope that this yearningfor community will be accompanied with a more gentle
and genuine understanding that we are all in this world
together and that we all matter.
I would like to express my personal gratitude to all ofus, as only together will we be able to pick up thepieces of this world and hopefully put them together ina way that benefits us all as a community. We alldeserve that.
I look forward to meeting each of you when we can all
safely reassemble, and I know that yoursmiles and energy will be the catalyst
that will transform us all.
Clay M. Bradley
Elementary School Vice Principal

Wall of Honor 2019–20

YixuanEvery semester, we recognize students in Grade 6–8 for beingrole models in their class in line with the IB Learner Profile. Our
second semester looked very different this year and many of thestudent nominations reflected the extreme changes and the waythat our students have risen to the occasion.

Jessica
Alexandra

Common themes this semester were students who made the time
to reach out to friends during our social distancing, interacted
often and with detail on our online learning platform, and theirability to rise to the occasion and show resilience.
Congratulations to the winners of the Wall of Honor placements
for the 2019–20 school year in Semester 2!
Anna Holdaway
Student Care
Coordinator (G6–
G8)

G6A
G6A
G6B
G6B
G7A
G7A
G7B
G7B
G8A
G8A
G8B
G8B

YixuanAlexandraEri (Jessica)
Sasha
Wenhui (Fumie)
Pranav
Mano
Isseh
HarutoNishkaShreyaHina

Communicator
Principled
Reflective
CaringKnowledgeable
Principled
Balanced
CaringThinker
Principled
CaringCommunicator

Sasha

Mano

Fumie

PranavHarutoIsseh
ShreyaHina

Nishka3

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PYP News
Education outside of the classroom
First of all, I really do need to say a huge “thank you” toeverybody who has been involved in our distancelearning plan this year; from the teachers, to theadministration teams and other school staff, thestudents and, of course, all the parents and carers.
Everyone has really come together to ensure that ourstudents are receiving the best possible education.
When the school closed for an initial two weeks, I neverimagined that I would be writing this having barely seen
any of you face-to-face for over two months! These are
strange times indeed and I truly hope that you are all
doing well and that your families, wherever they may
be, are safe and sound.
We are fast approaching the summer break and you
can finally close those laptops and switch off those
iPads and enjoy a well-deserved rest; however, thelearning doesn’t have to stop. It’s important toremember that education is everywhere. It isn’t only to
be found in a textbook or through an instructional videoor educational game, there are opportunities to learn
wherever you are. Get outside with friends and family
and open your minds to your surroundings or do things
indoors with your family instead of hiding in your room.
Here are some ways that you can continue yourlearning journey over the summer months:• Taking part in sports develops teamwork andleadership skills.

• Taking walks in parks and woods candevelop a deeper appreciation for nature.
• There are educational apps for phones and tabletsthat can take you on virtual museum tours or even toother planets.
• Reading to one another improves fluency, and you
can also learn many things. It is also a great way toslow things down before bedtime.
• Don’t forget the importance of just playing outside.
Get some fresh air and exercise.
• Visit your grandparents or talk with them on thephone…even write them a letter. Ask themquestions about their lives. They will have so many
interesting things to say if you just ask them.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges
and hardships, but I hope that we can soon return tosome kind of normality. Please look after
one another, and I’m looking forward toseeing everyone as soon as possible.
Oliver Sullivan
PYP Coordinator
For more information about the above article, including
many links to useful websites, visit:https://www.mykidstime.com/school/b
Webinteresting-ways-to-educate-children-outsideof-the-classroom/

Parenting Tips for Children’s Mental Wellbeing
Science fiction films, books and cartoons have long
been trying to predict the future of humankind, andmany of us have been inspired by these fantasies.
Although many of the ideas may have sounded likenothing more than dreams when they were first
conceived, over the past decades, scientists andengineers have made incredible innovations, some ofwhich are now reality. One such futuristic fantasy
suddenly came true a few months ago when students
around the world in mainstream schools began toaccess education online full-time. According to anarticle on the World Economic Forum, more than 1.2
billion children in 186 countries have been affected byschool closures due to COVID-19 and as a result,education has shifted onto digital platforms. Manyinternational schools in Japan, including KIST, havealso started a distance learning programme inresponse to the request from Prime Minister Abe toclose schools in early March.

and feelings in order for healthy mental
growth, which allows them to select theresources they need from a wealth of information andmake the right decisions for their mental health.
Nevertheless, while technology might be able toreplace some of our educational needs, these skills
cannot be taught by computers. It is therefore importantthat you explain to your child about the current situation
face to face using appropriate words for their age. It isalso necessary to explain that the invisible virus that is
causing the pandemic is no one's fault. You may wish
to consider limiting access to television and social
networking sites to avoid your child becoming confusedand distressed by rumours and lies. Maintaining their
daily routines is also important. Hold discussions withyour child to create rules, build in regular times for workand breaks, and set times for physical activities. Givethem the opportunity to talk to you and listen to theirconcerns regularly.

Since our lifestyles have changed under the criticalconditions of this pandemic, you may find your childfacing various social, emotional and mental challenges.
When children are under stress, they might show somephysical and behavioural symptoms such as
headaches, stomach aches, sleeplessness,
restlessness, a poor appetite, not wanting to leave you
alone, and becoming selfish. It is important thatchildren develop an understanding of their own moods

For more information, visit:https://www.unicef.org/coronavirus/covid-19b
Webparenting-tips (English)
https://www.ncchd.go.jp/bWebnews/2020/20200410.html(Japanese)
Kana Furnival
Elementary Student Care Coordinator“ T h e Co m et ”

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5

Early Childhood News
Hello, ECE families! I hope you are all staying safe andhealthy at home. It is hard to believe that it has been
more than three months since we began distancelearning! As I live within walking distance from theschool, I have been coming in to my classroom every
day to maintain a normal routine. The physicalclassroom is the same, but without any of the students
filling the room, it feels very different. It reminds me of
the challenges we faced as we shifted from our normalclassroom environment to distance learning. Thistransition was especially difficult for the ECE children,
who learn best by interacting with their peers andteachers through fun and educational activities. I knowthat it must also have been challenging for families tosupport their children in completing the assigned tasks
at home.
Parental support is always important in children’s
education and development, but it has become all themore necessary during distance learning. We could nothave carried out the distance learning curriculum
without your support, and we really appreciate having
you as our “teaching assistants” during this long periodof time. Although we regularly invite you to school
events and post about what the children are doing in
the classroom to Moodle and PSL, we are pleased tohave had this opportunity to share with you moreclosely how children learn at KIST. It has also provided
an important reminder that parents are children’s bestteachers from the day they are born, whether they areat school or not. Thank you again for your continued
support, whether in the classroom or through distancelearning. Please see some of the learning activities wehave been doing in each class below!
While we are all still anxious about what may be
coming next, I hope that the summer holidays will bringsome well-deserved time for rest and relaxation withyour children. Now that parents and guardians are
finally freed of the obligation to help with distancelearning at home, I hope that you find some time to try
our new and fun activities. I would like to recommend
kendama, a traditional Japanese toy that has become
popular around the world. The students in K1B havealready had a chance to try it. Please check out the
kendama videos at the QR code links below.
I am very much looking forward towelcoming you all back to school after
the summer holidays!
Eri Ozawa
Early Childhood Coordinator (K1ꟷK3)/
K1B Teacher

K1B

K1A

Making pancakes formathematics.

K2A

Building yurts for the Homes
unit.

Making houses for theHomes unit.

Our special hats.

K2B

Sharing knowledge and ideas
about living things using Padlet.

Extended patterns

Experimenting about living
things with soil and non-soil.

Morning Live sessions throughdistance learning.

K3A
K3B

Goemonfuro meat tray print.

Thatched shoes made fromrecycled paper and paper clay.

Reading homemade “Earth”
books during Friday Live.

Ms Eridemonstrating
kendama

A famouskendamagroup

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Elementary ELS

G2ꟷG5English language support during
distance learning
Thanks to our IT Department (as for everything during
the school closure), English Language Support staff
from K3 to G5 have been able to continue 1-to-1 andsmall group language support as part of the KIST
Distance Learning Program. Focusing on speaking
skills and writing skills, we have used Teams for live
lessons twice a week with our students.

K3 and G1
K3 and G1 English Language Support staff
have been making lessons to support
vocabulary development and speaking skills.
Speaking activities have included:• games like hangman, memory games andspot the difference• discussions based on crafts, drawing andstories• presentation activities like show and tell
These speaking lessons have also been achance for the students to share the work they
have been doing in the main classroom throughPowerSchool Learning, and for ELS staff tocontinue to help students develop a stronger
understanding of the main lessons.
What some of our younger students say about
their online lessons:

For G2–G5, the focus has been on writing
skills. ELS staff have been helping students
with numerous writing traits: the ideas andorganization skills needed to make a goodnarrative; sentence fluency (how to use
different kinds of sentence patterns); and word
choice (how to find more accurate andinteresting vocabulary to express students’ideas). Activities have included:• writing short paragraphs on a topic• making story mountains then using them towrite a story• writing diary entries• writing letters• learning more about how to use figurative
language
One-to-one follow-up lessons have been key tohelping the students revise their first drafts andreflect on what they have learned about writing
skills through that process.
Quote from Kokona (G5A):…I learned that you should use different
kinds of transition language instead of‘firstly’. It makes the writing moreinteresting to use different types oftransition language. [My next step is to]practice writing sentences with transition
words that I haven’t used before.”

I like chatting and it’s relaxing.”
Sion (G1A)

Thank you, IT Department, formaking this all possible!

I like it because it’s fun and I can do it
from home without going to school.”
Reika (G1A)

Rachel Parkinson
ELS Coordinator (Elementary)/
G5 ELS Instructor

I like playing games with you like I Spy
and What Is It?”
Mingzhe (G1B)

Yaojia (K3A) explains the drawing she
made with Ms Wang during one of her
online speaking lessons.
You Yu (K3A) plays a guessing game with Ms
Wang during one of their online speaking lessons.

Masayuki (K3B)
plays an interactive
game during his
online lesson with
Ms Joanna.

From a G5 online writing lesson, thisshows the rubric Yuma (G5B) was using toassess the first draft of his paragraph for
the writing trait of “organization”. He next
wrote his second draft and assessed his
paragraph again at the end of the lesson
to see his improvement.

This screenshot fromanother G5 writing lessonshows Alvin (G5B)
reflecting on what helearned about sentence
patterns from doing theactivity.

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KIPS News
From the P1 classroom...
This month, I would like to share with you how the P1 families and teachers have worked
together to support each other while staying home during the coronavirus outbreak.
In an effort to support families who needed childcare, KIPS remained open until thesecond week of April for a small number of children, but from April 13, all daycare
centers in Koto Ward were asked to close by the government. From that week, we
prepared materials to support families at home, and started sending a video each weekconsisting of our usual morning circle routine and two activities which could be done athome with family participation. Some examples included songs and dances, stories, andarts and crafts. Additionally, we took the opportunity to include parents and siblings in theactivities to bring families together and help them stay connected to their children’s
schooling. We were delighted to receive feedback that the students were responding
positively to the songs we use in our regular routine at KIPS. One parent shared with usthat her child carefully watched the dance videos to make sure they were doing thecorrect movements, while another commented that her child continued to sing the songs
throughout the day.
We have also been video calling each family weekly; it has been great to see how thechildren smile and even act a little silly when they talk to us. It has also been wonderful tohear from the parents about their children’s progress at home, from toilet training
experiences to an increase in their usage of English vocabulary. Thank you to theparents for sharing their experiences with us during this difficult time.
Although the school year ended differently than planned, we are relievedthat everyone is safe and the children are still smiling at home with theirfamilies.
Ma. Cielito Bautista
P1 Teacher

From the P2 classroom...
Thank you to all KIPS parents/guardians in helping us prevent the spread of COVID-19
through thorough handwashing and disinfecting of hands and belongings, staying home,
and temperature checks. On behalf of all KIPS staff, thank you also for cooperating with
our emergency closure which started on April 13. Before the closure, all children
practiced proper hand-washing techniques and were carefully supervised to make surethey washed/disinfected their hands frequently. We also put several preventative
measures into place, such as creating more space between the children’s chairs andfrequently disinfecting all toys and other items the children touched, taking great care toensure these measures were practiced regularly to protect our community members. We
will continue to ensure the safety of children when we reopen, and look forward to seeing
everyone again.
But despite the current situation, the children have impressed us with their growth andpositive attitudes. During Term 5, they learned about various animals and the noises they
make. Thanks to the help of our parents/guardians, we enjoyed studying the different
animals native to Australia. In Term 6, we studied body parts through fun activities,
including body painting, singing and dancing, and playing pretend. Thank you also to theparents/guardians for their cooperation with distance learning, which has been a first at
KIPS. Everyone’s kind words during our weekly phone check-ins really make us smile.
Sadly, it will soon be time for goodbyes. The children, who were still so small at the
beginning of the year, have grown so much both physically and mentally. Not only are
they now able to do things for themselves, but they eagerly offer to help the adults andother children around them. We are so proud to see how much they’vegrown! We’re sad that we won’t be able to see them every day anymore,
but we’re also excited to see them take the next step and wish them all
the best in K1!
Nobuko Matsumura
P2 Teacher“ T h e Co m et ”

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MYP News
Taking lessons from distance learning
The changes to regular school caused by the
response to the COVID-19 were clearly disruptive.
Teachers, students and families were all forced to
drastically change their routines in order to findopportunities to learn.
Now as the school year comes to its end, we have agood opportunity to examine the distance learning
plan and reflect on its implications. What are thelessons we can take from the experience?

G6 students reflect on ways to cope with distance learning.

ways to make connections among isolated people
unable to travel allowed for us to modify our system tomake real, meaningful opportunities to learn remotely.

Approaches to learning skills equip us totake on challenges

Live lessons on Microsoft Teams allowed connections at a distance.

Global contexts shape our understanding
At the heart of learning in the MYP are ‘global
contexts.’ These six ways of viewing the world arelarger than individual subject areas. In the MYP, weseek opportunities for students to make connections
beyond their individual lessons. The imposition of
distance learning provides a vivid reminder for all of
us that we live in a complex, interconnected world.
Recognizing these connections and their ability toaffect others is crucial in developing a deeper
understanding.

Learning in the MYP includes cultivating importantgroups of skills that will benefit students beyond theiryears in the programme. In a wide variety of areas—
communicating, thinking, researching—students andteachers work to improve their skills in ways that are
lasting. Distance learning provided a concentrated,
intense opportunity to improve a crucial skill—theability to “collaborate with peers and experts in avariety of digital environments and media.” Students
and teachers were thrown into a situation that
required them to consider the best ways tocommunicate in difficult situations. Each step in theprocess involved finding the best way to tackle
gaining access to information and to process that
information in ways that were clear and effective.

Knowing key concepts allows us tounderstand why change happens

The MYP emphasizes large, overarching concepts.
Among the MYP key concepts is ‘systems.’ In theirwork in many subjects, students explore the nature ofsystems. These can be large and complex or smalland selfcontained but
recognizing therelationshipamong theelements of asystem provides
insight into why
things work or
why they don’t.
The emergency
that resulted in
the distancelearning forced
all of us toconsider thesystems weused to facilitate
Students and teachers found new ways tolearning.
Finding
share their learning.

PowerSchool Learning was at the heart of the distance learning plan.

All in all, students should be proud of their ability todemonstrate flexibility and resilience. While no one
wants to undergo such dramatic change imposed byoutside forces, KIST students showed themselves tobe dedicated to learning despite thechallenges of this crisis.
Robert WhiteMYP Coordinator“ T h e Co m et ”

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Science Department News
Include Science in your plans this summer
If you’re feeling down at the prospect of facing a boring summer trapped inside the house, don’t
worry! To encourage students to pursue life-long learning experiences in engaging digital spaces,
the Science Team met online to choose some of the best, most interesting resources to share with you in eachsubject area. We hope you enjoy discovering something new with these fascinating science-related links.

For MYP Science students
I hope you have enjoyed our Earth and Space units
through distance learning. The study of Earth and Space
Science allows us to think about future possibilities,
perhaps even for a vacation to a distant location.
Whether you still have some unanswered questions
about the world around us or just want to learn more
about Earth and Space Science, here are somewebsites you might find enjoyable during the summer!
1. Virtual Field Trips: This links to many virtual
field trips you can take around the world andbeyond!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/
e/2PACX-1vTbUBsKt4U5tReXC8b2bogrvjrVlEBl8OJIesNPw6b7BRScYRuyXIaSAVIcl_q52BI4SqrK4_HVQCw/pub
2. Ever wondered what happens at theInternational Space Station? Take a guided
tour with astronauts at the Nasa website.
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/
station/main/suni_iss_tour.html
3. Nova is full of tons of videos and information.
Something will surely catch your attention!
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/

For IGCSE Physics students
Physics digital classrooms have multiple learningspaces for you to have fun exploring all yourastrophysics queries this summer. Here are my top
three sites:
1. Nasa’s website is incredibly rich in resourcesthat compress millions of light-years into a
few centimeters between you and thecomputer screen. Don’t miss out on diving
into its fantastic content.
https://www.nasa.gov
2. An astronomy crash course on YouTube
with 47 videos, each around 12 minutes
long. This free series responds to all yourquintessential questions about our universe.
It’s a supernova of fascinating information.
https://youtu.be/0rHUDWjR5gg
3. Mr. Neil deGrasse Tyson invites you to aworld where science and pop culture collide
in his STARTALK podcast. It’s an invitation
hard to refuse!
https://www.startalkradio.net
Mr. Cely
Physics Teacher

Ms. Ramos
Science Teacher

For Chemistry students
For IGCSE and DP Biology students
The following links have been useful during distancelearning. Feel free to explore them further during thevacation!
1. Find a variety of 3D models to interact with at
this link.
https://www.biozone.com.au/weblink/au113dmodels/?playlist=ha
2. Pearson has a wide variety of interactive step-by-step simulations for MYP and IGCSE labs
on their website.
http://www.phschool.com/science/
biology_place/labbench/index.html
3. They also offer much more advanced step bystep interactive virtual labs for DP level andabove.
http://www.classzone.com/cz/books/
bio_12_fl/resources/htmls/virtual_labs/
virtualLabs.html
And an extra…great for basics of Biology!
http://www.kscience.co.uk/animations/anim_1.htm
Mr. Dayaram
Biology Teacher

It was such a shame that the year was cut short, leaving
you all without the chance to explore various labs andexperiments at school. Check out these sites to further
explore Chemistry from the comfort of your own home!
1. This PHET simulator is extremely helpful inunderstanding (by observing) the relationshipbetween volume, temperature and gas
particle pressure.
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gasproperties/latest/gas-properties_en.html
2. Knowing about laboratory safety proceduresis essential, but with the state of emergency,
it is not possible to be physically present in
the laboratory. This website has several
simulators to explore, without having to be in an
actual laboratory. The simulator is a paid service, but
the page about safety is free.
https://www.labster.com/try/
3. What better way to develop a deeper
understanding of DP Chemistry thanwatching simplified guided videos andtutorials? Richard Thornley has compiled
video tutorials into a playlist to support learning.
https://www.youtube.com/user/richthornley/playlists

Mr. Jamal
Chemistry Teacher

910V ol u me 23 | I s s ue 4 | J u ne 2 02 0

“ T h e Co m e t ”

Secondary ELSEnglish language support in the time of COVID-19
This is not the 2020 we had imagined.
Few people, even with the rosy glasses of nostalgia, will look back and say that this was a great time. As a schoolcommunity, we all have people we are missing, homes we may be far from (that seem even further away right now)and have had to accept an ever-evolving new normal.
If there is a silver lining to this situation, it has given us pause to reflect on our values within ourselves and those ofsociety. It has pressed us to think outside of ourselves and outside of the box. For KIST, such thinking has resulted
in us creating new opportunities for course delivery and engagement through various online platforms: anopportunity that we may not have been able to fully explore otherwise.
For the ELS department, this has included using PowerSchool Learning to continue courses in Academic Writing
and Intensive English. We have also been able continue to support students in live lessons on Teams. While wewould choose being together in a physical classroom over not, the virtual classroom has been invaluable incontinuing our curriculum and our connection to each other at a time in which many of us havenever needed it more.
Till we meet again, wash your hands, and stay safe.
Jade Bonus
Secondary ELS Coordinator

Keeping your language fresh during summer vacation

Summer vacation: long days of leisure, languid repose and…language learning? Draaaaaag. But it
doesn’t have to be! We are all aware that while time away is brilliant relaxation for the body and mind,
not being as exposed to English can make that first week back in August a little challenging. But witha little help from your friends (and some books…mostly books) you can slide into the new year like amelting ice lolly on hot pavement. Cool.

Keep in contact withfriends

Given our lack of proximitywith each other, even outsideof social distancing, summer vacation canbe a time where we don’t get to see ourschool friends. Be sure to stay in contact (inEnglish!) via phone, email, snail mail,soliloquy, improvised beat poem etc. It willkeep you connected, and your language
skills will stay on point.

Cross purposes

Who doesn’t enjoy a crossword puzzle? I
was enjoying one myself recently when I
realized what a brilliant tool crosswords
are for building vocabulary. Fromlearning synonyms to decoding clues
and helping us get a greater
understanding for the different parts oflanguage, crosswords are a worthy way
to while away your free time this summer
vacation. You canfind crossword books
in a range ofdifficulties and I am
certain there areapps for that.

Go with your interests

I know this is not the first time I havesaid this, but I will say it again: read,
watch and listen to texts in English thatare within your interests. Forcing
yourself to study English that is completely
irrelevant to your life is demotivating at best andtorturous at worst; don’t do it.

Double down

Do you have a favourite book in yourhome language? Do they publish thatbook in an English translation too?
Brilliant! Have you ever consideredreading them both AT THE SAME
TIME? I suggest this because I recently
started this project myself and it has
been fascinating! See, the trick about languages isthat no two can be translated word for word andkeep their original meaning. This is because
language isn’t just about words, it’s about thoughts
and concepts and societal values and beauty…andI am rambling. Apologies. But by seeing how
creative works are translated, we can get a greater
insight into the language as a part of the culture itis from rather than just a mechanism. Try it, beamazed. It will help get your own creative ideas
across better in English too. Trust me.

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V o l u me 2 3 | I s s u e 4 | J u n e 2 0 2 0

11

Responsible Decision Making© Cartoonist GroupI sincerely hope we don’t make important decisions or
those that may affect others like the grandfatherfeatured in the above comic strip! At KIST this past
year, you would have experienced a range ofAdvisory lessons targeted at developing social andemotional competencies linked to Self or Others.
Eventually, we aim to imbue responsible decisionmaking skills in our students, so they would leadfulfilling lives and generate positive outcomes in theirspheres of influence.
Are you consciously working towards acquiring an
ability to make constructive choices about personal
behavior and social interactions based on ethicalstandards, safety concerns and social norms(definition of responsible decision making fromCASEL organization)? Do you desire an improvement
in your decision-making process? Consider thefollowing steps (“Core SEL Competencies”, 2020)
each time you have to make a key decision. Practiceand incorporate them into your life and reap the
benefits of responsible decision making.
1. Try to fully understand the problem but
consider the amount of time you have to
make a decision.
2. List possible outcomes. Get advice fromwise peers/trusted adults.
3. Weigh possible outcomes: What are thepros and cons of a particular outcome?
Who would it affect?
4. Consider your values: Will the decision
keep to your values and the values of yourfamily/community?
5. Decide and act, bearing in mind there is noperfect or guaranteed outcomes. Evaluate
and reflect on the result of the decision.

With our world now more virtual than ever, it is also
important to be responsible digital citizens! Before you
post or respond to anything online, it may be useful to

run through the following questions in your mind
(Education World, 2011). As you weigh the possible
outcomes of your view becoming public, do aim toreflect a more positive image and be considerate ofothers with your posts.

•

Is this kind and respectful to others?

•

How would I feel if someone did or said
the same thing to me or to my best friend?
What would my parent or other trusted
adult think or do?
Would I violate any agreements, rules orlaws?
How would I feel if my actions werereported on the front page of anewspaper?

•
•
•

•
•

What would happen if everybody did this?
Would it be okay if I did this in real life?

•

How would this reflect on me?

For the keen amongst you, here is an additional 4minute video resource that you can check out:b
Web

Responsible decision making

Evelyn Pang
Student Care Coordinator (G9–12)
References:• Casel [ThinkTVPBS] (2019, June 27). Responsible Decision
Making [Online video]. In YouTube, Retrieved on May 26, 2020,
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=yWSSPnTB6OY&list=PLEL_0dbGD94bhASi25UydgqyVY
3zZnuAX&index=3• Core SEL Competencies (2020) Retrieved on May 26, 2020,
from https://casel.org/core-competencies/• Education World (2011) Retrieved on May 26, 2020 fromhttps://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/
willard/willard003.shtml

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V ol u me 23 | I s s ue 4 | J u ne 2 02 0

KIST Social Media Accounts
Want to follow KIST on social media but don’t use Facebook?
Good news—KIST now has official Twitter and Instagram
accounts! Like the Facebook page, these feeds will showcase
student experiences and successes, both academic andextracurricular. Currently, they’re also a great way to get a
glimpse into ways students have been staying engaged
through distance learning! Please keep in mind, however, that
official school announcements and event information willcontinue to be released primarily through E-Communications.
Links to the feeds are as follows:

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/KIST1997

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/k.international.school.tokyo/
We would like to invite members of the KIST community to “follow” our feeds to stay up to date on the new andexciting things that happen at KIST each week. Please feel free to use the buttons as shown in the below images.
Don’t forget to “like” and “follow” us on Facebook, as well! As announced in the previous issue of The Comet, ourFacebook page can be found here:

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/k.internationalschooltokyo
If you have any questions about the KIST social media accounts, please don’t hesitate to contact us
at info@kist.ed.jp. We are looking forward to sharing more of our community through social media
in the future!
Miranda Liu
Social Media Administrator

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V o l u me 2 3 | I s s u e 4 | J u n e 2 0 2 013

Library News
Elementary library anddistance learning

To enable elementary students toenjoy listening to books during the
distance learning program, Ms
Shannon and Mr Tim have been
makingstorytime
videos and Shii-chan helping
order new libraryaudio files, books.
with thehelp of some of their special
friends. All the videos areavailable to see on the
Storytime tab on the KIST
Mii-chan helping Ms
Shannon with a reading of Libraries PowerSchool page, so“My name is Musky”.
you can watch them anytime!

LEADERS ARE READERS. This is afriendly reminder to keep on reading
and log in for a wonderful summer.
Here are a few ideas andrecommendations to help you keep the reading
momentum going all summer long:“Harness” the power of choice!
Try to pick books yourself—so visit a local library orbookstore and choose a book to read. But sometimes
you may need help finding books you like. Don’t
hesitate to seek help.
Ultimate reading goal
Set a goal and see how many books you can read in
one summer—Be a reading role model every day witha favourite picture book, comic book or even a
newspaper article. Everything counts. There are many
places to help you discover new books. The mostpopular ways to help children aged 6–17 with theirreading over the summer include:> Visit a library with parents/siblings> Picking books from the local library or book fair
> Taking books on trips and vacations
Scholastic summer reading recommendations
https://www.scholastic.com/parents/booksb
and-reading/book-lists-and-recommendations/Websummer-young-adult-books.html
Happy summer reading!
Kathy Kenny is an American actress and professional
storyteller who is famous for her inspirational literature
for women: “Queen of your own life” and “101 jolts ofinspiration.” She brings classic children’s stories to life
as “Mrs. P.” You can find online learning lessons andmany interesting activities here.
b
Web

Holiday borrowing and reading

Normally during summer holidays, KIST students canborrow 10 books to read over the holidays, and we
encourage students to read as much as they canduring summer. To minimize the risk of COVID-19
spread, KIST libraries will not be able to lend out books
for summer reading this year. We sincerely apologise
for any inconvenience this may cause for KIST families.
You may be able to borrow English language books toread over summer at many public libraries in Tokyo.
The Koto-ku public library has a small collection ofEnglish language books, you can search on thelibrary’s website here (open from June 1):bWeb

https://www.koto-lib.tokyo.jp/

LMC news

Did you know that when kids read over the summer,
they are more likely to leap ahead when they return toschool? This is often called the “summer leap,” andwe’ve made it a priority to keep your skills sharp byencouraging Summer Reading Challenge. ALL

http://mrsp.com/

Open Library is an open, editable library catalogue,building towards a web page for every book everpublished. Read, borrow and discover a wide range ofcollections and more...Just one click here:bWebhttps://openlibrary.org/

The Professor Garfield Foundation is a non-profit
Educational learning content with a primary emphasison children's literacy and creative expression. It is aplace where kids like to play—on the Internet—
supplemented with standards-based resources forteachers, parents and mentors.
bWeb

http://www.professorgarfield.org/
pgf_home.html

KIST Library
Team

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V ol u me 23 | I s s ue 4 | J u ne 2 02 0

“ T h e Co m e t ”

Staff 10!
In this month’s Staff 10!, weare pleased to present
Bartholomew (Bart) Miller
who joined us in August
2015 as a Grade 4 teacher
in the Elementary School.
1) Tell us somethinginteresting about yourhometown.
Mr Miller enjoying a
Camarillo, California is the
fishy meal.
site of the former Camarillo
State Hospital, also known as ‘Hotel California’, but it
has been converted and is now California State
University Channel Islands. I attended some of myeducation training courses there.
2) What is your favorite place in the world?
I took a trip with my father, his friend who is anarchaeologist, and my brother to Bahia de Los
Angeles in Baja California, Mexico. Early in themorning, you can watch pelicans dive into the middleof the bay over a kilometer away. There is no noise
pollution, so you can hear a faint splash a few seconds
after you see the pelican hit the water.
3) Who would you like to meet if you had thechance and why?
I would like to meet Duke Ellington to listen to him tellstories about jazz in New York City in the
1920sꟷ1970s.
4) Do you have any special skills or talents?
I can recognize the make and model of most cars,
sometimes even only from seeing the shape of its
taillights or fenders.
5) Please share a little-known fact about yourself.
I spent my first semester of college studying abroad in
Nepal. The furthest I have ever been from home was
Muktinath, the northernmost and one of the highest
elevation Hindu shrines in the world.
6) What is your most prized possession?
My most prized possession is a Fender Rhodes Mark
1 Stage 73 electric piano. I played it for years in a
rocky funk band but now it is safe in storage.
7) Which IB learner profile attribute do you mostclosely identify with and why?
Principled. It’s difficult for me to overlook dishonesty.
When I am in a situation in which truth and integrity
are not upheld, I feel it necessary to stand up for myvalues or leave.
8) If you could live your life again, would you doanything differently?
If I could live my life again, I would study more
seriously and try to complete my formal education as
quickly as possible. It’s important to create a firm goal
as a teenager for college, but it’s not necessary for theplan to be perfect.
9) Is there anything you are trying to learn/improveabout yourself at the moment?
I have many independent projects underway, likewriting a book and designing a smartphone app, so I
am trying to improve my discipline to get more creative
work done in my free time.

10) Do you have any special message for yourfans?
I would like to see the world become more cooperativeand less competitive, so instead of looking for ways to
defeat or overcome others, look for ways to grow andsucceed together.

Secondary SRC
While the school closure has notprevented us from continuing to learn
from home, it has resulted in a complete halt to school
clubs and extracurricular activities. Well…an almost
complete halt. Over the last two months, the SRC
Executive has been working on a special project,
aimed at engaging the student body despite the school
closure. After several Teams meetings and countless e-mails, we are excited to finally announce the start an
official SRC Instagram page!
The page is aimed at being a less formal and moreengaging channel through which students can interact
with the SRC and each other. Since the page is public,
it can be viewed by all students, even those who do
not have Instagram accounts. The page will host virtual
activities, in the form of photo contests, as well as
showcase highlights of students at sports matches,musical performances and many more. We also planon having a Q&A section, as students are more
comfortable communicating on a platform like
Instagram than sending e-mails. We are particularly
looking forward to starting a ‘Class of 2020’ Honor
series, which will showcase the graduating seniors andtheir future plans, as away to congratulate themand for students to learn
more about them. Onceschool resumes, thepage will also promote
SRC and school events,
including fundraisers or
activities led by otherstudent clubs and service
groups.
We would like to invite allmembers of the KIST
community to access the
SRC Instagram page andstay up-to-date on all theactivities and events wehave planned! We lookforward to engaging withthe students even during
these uncertain times.
You can find the page at the link below:
https://www.instagram.com/src_kist/
Riya (G11A)
SRC President

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V o l u me 2 3 | I s s u e 4 | J u n e 2 0 2 0

Nurse’s Notes
Tips to prepare for returning to school
Many children and families have likely experienced
some stress from the disruption to daily routines whilestaying home during the state of emergency declared
due to the growing spread of COVID-19 in April. Whilefacing the unknown can be scary and stressful, it isimportant to stay calm and focus on what we havecontrol over in our lives. One of the best ways to fightoff the anxiety and uncertainty of being stuck at home
and adapt to a new lifestyle is to stay physically andmentally healthy. Here are some ways you can get
started today.

Keep or establish a healthy daily routine
before school begins
Sleep well

Try to keep bedtime and morning wake up times thesame as your regular school schedule to stabilize
your body clock. Stop using your smartphone, laptop
and other electronic devices before going to bed.

Eat three meals a day

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part ofmaintaining good health and helps bring out your best
performance. In particular, eating breakfast can help
improve your energy levels, metabolism, memory andconcentration.

Prevent dehydration

It is especially important to be mindful of heat stroke
during early summer; encourage your child to drink
plenty of fluids even before he/she feels thirsty.

Spend time outdoors each day

Spending only 10–15 minutes absorbing sunlight canhelp your body get vitamin D to boost your immune
system.

Get regular exercise or physical activity
Staying active helps boost your energy levels andreduce your stress levels.

Maintain personal hygiene

Personal hygiene is one of the most important waysof maintaining good health and protecting yourself
from infections. Make sure to wash your hands
thoroughly, keep your nails tidy, brush your teeth, andbathe daily even while staying home.

Improve bowel movements

Eating a diet rich in fiber to maintain normal bowel
movements can help to strengthen your immune
system.

Reduce your stress levels
Watching the news can be helpful to stay informed

but excessive exposure tonews and media can also lead to feelings of anxiety
and negative thinking. Different forms of stress relief
work best for everyone, so I would like to share
several relief techniques that you can try out at homeand find the right method for you.

Spending time with family

Taking the time to reconnect with your family can be agreat way to relieve stress. Fun family activities likecooking a meal and then eating it together or chattingwith one another can help you feel better.

Stay connected

Sharing your thoughts and feelings with friends orothers can make them easier to deal with and also
allow your friends to help you think of solutions.

Engage in self-care each day by doing
things you enjoy

For example, take a hot bath, try out a new recipe,
read a book with coffee, or stream your favorite music
while you work. These are quick fixes to bring you
comfort and boost positive emotions. If you cannot go
outside, sitting by a window and letting the sun shine
on you may help you feel calm.

Be kind to yourself and others

If you force yourself to work too hard or have too highexpectations of others while already in this stressful
situation, it can cause anxieties and tensions to rise.
Instead, focus on being kind to yourself and others.

Discuss returning to school with yourchild

Ask your child how he/she feels about going back toschool and any concerns or expectations he/shemight have. Simply expressing their feelings andfeeling heard can allow children to feel better when
they are anxious and stressed. Listen to your childwithout needing to answer or offer advice; instead, try
to understand their emotions. Try to talk positively atleast in front of your child even if you feel worried
yourself.
It is normal to be a little anxious, but if you and/or yourchild feel overwhelmingly stressed, anxious or
depressed, seek professional support.
Overall, our mental well-being plays a huge role in ourhealth. It is important to prioritize reducing stressduring these difficult times. Please staysafe and healthy, and I look forward toseeing you next year.
Yukiko Yamazaki
School Nurse

References:• Managing stress during the COVID-19 outbreak. University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. Retrieved May 23, 2020, fromhttps://uichildrens.org/health-library/managing-stress-during-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak• Deanna Spoto, Psy.D. (April 21, 2020). Establishing a Self-Care Routine During the COVID-19 Pandemic. CompTIA.
https://www.comptia.org/blog/establishing-a-self-care-routine-during-the-covid-19-pandemic

15

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University Guidance News
What to do with my summer?
During these unprecedented times, there is the worry
that we may get “stuck in time” and when everything
returns to normal, we may have fallen behind ourpeers, whether at home, or abroad. In order to makesure we are all on track, our office has put together asmall guide of what we think are the best ways you cankeep yourself focused on your future, even if you arestuck at home. All these suggestions are designed to
not only make you more aware of what is out there if
completed, but also aims to provide benefits for youruniversity applications in the future.

Participate in online university fairs, tours
and meetings

We have had two successful university fairs throughour partners at Cialfo this semester. Although we plan
to have more scheduled next semester, there aremany others that have been planned over the summer
months, depending on your interests. You can search
online for ‘online university fair’ or directly contact theuniversities you are interested in to see what events
they have coming up soon.

United States. If you have that interest, this summer
may be a perfect time to do preparations. The Khan
Academy, as one example, offers Official SAT
practice that can be done a few minutes each day togive you a boost in your score.
*Tip: Many U.S. universities are moving to a“test-optional” application, acknowledging it may
be difficult to take an SAT/ACT currently.
However, it is still our opinion that if you can
submit a good score to these schools, it would
still benefit your application.

Do an online English test/interview (G11students)

For those of you who will be in Grade 12 from August
and will be applying to universities next year,
submitting an online English test/interview may be abeneficial way to set yourself apart from others andshow off your personality as you cannot visit schools inperson this summer. Tests like the Duolingo English
Test can be sent to many institutions worldwide andcan include a small video interview and writing sample
that universities can view to learn more about you.

Join an online class or summer program

Many students plan to go to summer programs eachyear. This year, although many programs have beencancelled because of travel restrictions, others have
moved online. These provide ways to still interact withstudents, having live conversations from around theworld, but in a virtual way.
Universities are also opening more online classes
through their extension programs, where students cantake certificate courses (many of which have been
made free because of COVID-19) over the summer tonot only enhance their interests, but also give them ahead-start on college level studying.
*Tip: We suggest looking into summer
programs/classes offered from the university
directly for the best experience. For example,
U.S. universities will have a “.edu” web address
for their official websites.

Begin studies for standardized tests (SAT/ACT)
For most KIST students, considering an SAT/ACT isonly important for those considering applying to theInterviews conducted by other companies such as
InitialView and Vericant can be more in depth andcan be sent to partnered universities in the UnitedStates in order to show off your conversation skills andgive you a chance to introduce yourself. Some
universities may even offer free interviews via Skype or
Zoom. Contact universities you are interested in to see
what they accept for their applications.

Summary

There are many ways to keep busy this summer. At
the university guidance office, we are keeping
ourselves available throughout the coming months if
there are any questions that arise. Please send an email to keiko.okude@kist.ed.jp orthomas.waterfall@kist.ed.jp and/or schedule a virtual
meeting through Cialfo (G9 to G11 students/parents).
Keiko Okude andThomas Waterfall
University GuidanceCounselors