Osaka Prefecture Authorized Supplementary Material for Distance Education

School Newsletter
Important information about school life.

The other day, we held a welcome party for the new students and transfer students who entered theschool this spring.
With no entering ceremony or homeroom due to the coronavirus crisis and no chance to adjust to thedistance education system or the school in general, they were first required to stay home from school
and then plunged into separate attendance; we held the party so that we staff members could express
to them our feelings of congratulations and appreciation that they have come to us. The party wasattended by about 50 people in person and 10 online.
My message for the students was that while everyone has different abilities, skills, and personalities,
we care most that you exist, that you are alive. In response, one student told me that they had often
wanted to die when at their previous school, but had decided to give YMCA Gakuin a try.
Students often say "I don't deserve to be alive," or "I worry about what people think of me." I haveoften wondered where these feelings come from. They tend to be caused by hearing "You're no good" overand over while growing up, having trouble with other people, struggling academically, hitting thewall...it is a familiar picture.
To tell our students "You're fine the way you are" and "There's something only you can do," YMCA
Gakuin faces them squarely, worries and struggles along with them, and keeps on with our educational
activities through trial and error.
From 2022 on, the MEXT Courses of Study will call for, in addition to the improvement of existing
numerically measurable "knowledge and skill" abilities, the cultivation of abilities which cannot benumerically measured, such as "expressive ability/judgment/thought" and "ability to approachlearning/humanity." High schools and universities are looking for ways to handle this major
governmental revision.
YMCA Gakuin has been working on this approach since well before this new revision. I believe that
we have been able to stick to our path through educational activities focused around the "respect forlife" bestowed on us by God. Our staff works daily to build relationships with students, walking besidethem as they come to feel that they are "all right the way they are.""Follow God's example, as His dearly beloved children."(Ephesians 5:1)

Requested Anti-Infection Measures
To prevent infection with the novel coronavirus, the most important thing is to take care of your own
health. Because we gather in groups at school, please be considerate of others as well.
Please continue to observe the items below.
1. Take your temperature at home and fill in the temperature sheet before comingto school.
The school will not be taking everyone's temperature. Please be sure to do it at home before attending
school.
If you forget, check in on the first floor to have your temperature taken.
If you have a temperature of 37.5 degrees or above, stay at home.
If you feel even a little unwell, contact your homeroom teacher and rest at home. Your homeroom teacher
will let you know what to do when you miss school.
*The temperature sheet has been mailed on October 19 (Monday).
2. Always wear a mask.
Do not dispose of your mask at school.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly. (Use hand sanitizer when entering the school and after using thebathroom.)
4. Desks and chairs are sterilized every morning, but feel free to use the sanitizer and paper towels in everyclassroom whenever necessary.
5. Avoid touching other people, and keep a set distance whenever possible.
6. Use the stairs. Only four people at a time should use the elevator.
7. Between classes, speak in a normal tone of voice and do not shout.
8. When eating in the school, do not face other people and eat quietly.

Academic Affairs
Mailing of Reports/Timetables/Textbooks□ Based on second-term course registration, a set containing reports, individual timetables, bar code
stickers, and reply envelopes will be mailed to the address registered.
*Textbooks will be shipped from Kyohan Co. for package delivery.
[Points to Confirm](1) Check that the textbooks and reports are right for the courses you registered for.
(2) Check that the set is complete.
□ If anything is wrong or missing, contact the school. The school will provide the missing or correctmaterials.
*Even if your reports and/or textbooks have not been delivered for some reason, be sure to attend
schooling for the courses you registered for. Some textbooks can be lent out by the school.

Report submission□ Stick a bar code on each report form (check the report number and be sure not to make mistakes) andsubmit the reports on time. The report cannot be returned if you forget to adhere the bar code sticker.
□ For many courses, the report due date is about a week after the relevant day of schooling. If you handin your reports late, your grade will go down.
□ Final submission deadline: 17:00, December 24, 2020 (Thursday) (postmarked by this day)Schooling Alternative Assignments (some courses only) and their Bar Code Stickers□ Each course has "schooling alternative assignments" available; if you have too many absences fromschooling, you can make up your missed classes by submitting these assignments and receiving apassing grade.
□ The "schooling alternative assignments" for each course are printed on cream-colored paper and sentalong with the reports.
□ Among the bar code stickers, the ones for courses with schooling alternative assignments are printedwith "● Alternative Assignment 1" and so on. Be careful to use the right stickers.
□ If you misapply or lose your bar code stickers, ask at the staffroom for reissued stickers (100 yen persheet).

MyPage Function
Using this system, you can check your schooling attendance and report submission status from acomputer or smartphone. One important objective is to be able to create an environment where you cancontrol your schooling attendance and report submission yourself, rather than always trying to catch up,
so that you can run your school life on your own terms. Do make use of the system.

Career/College Support
Third-year students, how are your post-graduation plans progressing? With regard to further education,
applications for school recommendation selection entrance exams have begun in October at many colleges,
junior colleges, and vocational schools. If you are struggling with how to write your application, how to
prepare for interviews, and so on, consult with your homeroom teacher or guidance counselor. With regard
to employment, recruitment has begun in October. Ask your homeroom teacher or guidance counselor if
you are interested in the want ads.
This is the time for first- and second-year students who are thinking of further study to begin gathering
information about what you want to do after high school. Some of the open campuses currently taking place
are open to first- and second-year students as well. Many schools are offering briefings online this year aswell, so we encourage you to look at any that interest you. Help yourself to the information booklets andpamphlets in the Future Paths areas on the 1st and 5th floors of the school.

Issuance of Reports and Recommendations□ Reports issued by the high school are required when applying to universities, junior colleges, andvocational schools.
Confirm the required documents and the deadline for each school, and be sure to apply through yourhomeroom teacher in advance if you need a report (it takes about a week from application throughissuance).
□ You must notify the school about the report content by two weeks in advance of the day you want thereport issued. (See the SakuraNet notice of August 17. If you are not sure, check with your homeroom
teacher in good time.)□ Reports including grades from the first term of 2020 will be issued from October 1 (Thursday) on.
□ If you need a recommendation, ask your homeroom teacher with plenty of time to spare, as it may takea week or more to prepare.

Open Recommendation Exams (see "A Future for Everyone" p.4)
□ Open recommendation exams are those not restricted to specific high schools. This is a recommendation
exam system open to anyone who meets the application requirements and this school's recommendation
requirements.
□ The criterion for recommendation at our school is to have completed 54 credits or more by the end of thefirst term of the year of graduation.
□ The selection process varies by school, so make sure to check the exam requirements for your school.

Career Guidance for Parents/Guardians□ Career Guidance will be held for the parents/guardians of first- and second-year students on the schedule
below. We will explain the process and current situation of universities (in particular), junior colleges,
vocational schools, and employment (at the same time, Career Guidance for Medical/Nursing/Psychology
Studies will be held for students). We hope this will be a chance to consider how to handle future career
paths. Applications for attendance will be sent on SakuraNet later on.
Date: December 12 (Saturday)
Time: 11:00 - 12:40 (reception begins at 10:00)

Career Guidance for Medical/Nursing/Psychology Studies (first- and second-year students)□ We will explain how medical and nursing entrance exams work; representatives from various schools willtalk about the educational content in detail.
Applications for attendance will be sent on SakuraNet later on.
Date: December 12 (Saturday)
Time: 11:00 - 12:40
Special activities credit: 2 hour

Employment <3rd-year students>
Because of the novel coronavirus recession this year, employment opportunities are expected to decreasein some industries, creating a very difficult environment. You will need to have a clearer motivation for
employment than ever.

<Employment upon School Introduction>□ Want ads have been available for viewing from July 1st (Monday) on. Ask your homeroom teacher orguidance counselor at the staffroom. They will distribute the necessary documents for job searching. If
you are interested in a particular company, attend a pre-application tour of their premises.
□ The first round of selection has begun, from October 16 (Friday) on. You cannot apply to two or morecompanies at once. A report must be issued to apply. Ask with plenty of time to spare, as it will take aweek to issue. Because the economy is struggling this year due to the novel coronavirus, the second roundfrom November on is likely to have a higher ratio of applicants to jobs. Be ready to move quickly.
□ Once you receive a formal notice of hiring, you cannot reject it. Think carefully when applying.

Special Activities□ Graduation requirements include 30 or more hours of participation in special activities.
We will keep you posted via SakuraNet about online and small-group special activities, which you canchoose to take part in. University/junior college/vocational school open campuses and companies' hiring
briefings also count as special activities (including online versions). Application forms are available inthe staffroom.
□ "Time for Film and Art: Off-Campus Art and Cinema Appreciation" (two credit hours for each movie orexhibit, up to 18 hours): View the movies and exhibits listed under "Special Activities (Off-campus artand cinema appreciation)" on the school website, and go through the procedure to receive credit for
special activities. Movies seen in the past will also be accepted. Application forms are available in thestaffroom.
★ August Special Activities (Off-campus art and cinema appreciation) are here
https://www.ymcagakuin.ac.jp/upload/39ddb4c2302db84c34c24ebd4a9f0c2af3e1de90.pdf★ July Special Activities (Off-campus art and cinema appreciation) are here
https://www.ymcagakuin.ac.jp/upload/51f5a0377721118a9f7af72639dc2a656f622a54.pdf★ June Special Activities (Off-campus art and cinema appreciation) are here
https://www.ymcagakuin.ac.jp/upload/4adcb692d3db3ae8f0bc918dd3407210a137a9f7.pdf

Student SupportCounseling□ Counseling is available at the following times. Parents and guardians are also welcome to makeappointments for themselves as needed.
〇 Schedule: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays through December 21〇 Time: 14:00 to 16:50 (50-minute sessions)〇 Supervisor: 石倉篤 (ISHIKURA, Atsushi)〇 Counselors: Monday: 川野敬子 (KAWANO, Keiko); Wednesday: 小野真由子 (ONO, Mayuko)
Friday: 道嶋公子 (MICHIJIMA, Satoko)

Administrative Matters
Payment of 2020 Second Term Tuition□ A guide to payment of 2020 second-term tuition is to be sent by post on October 26 (Monday).
□ Payment deadline: November 11 (Wed.)□ For details of the proceedings to extend the tuition payment deadline or to request split payments, see
the payment guide.