Energetic voices from students echo throughout the school

The long summer vacation has finally ended. Today is the start of the second trimester here at JSLP. Even though we borrow the Friendﾕs Central School facilities just on the weekend, children really shine in this environment. Maybe itﾕs just me, but a school without lots of children just appears as a boring container. Today was a wonderful day, as it has been a while since I have heard all the exciting and enthusiastic commotion from the students.

Summer is over – Time to focus

Summer vacation ended yesterday.
I would like students reflect on their past 62 days of summer vacation. In doing so, there will be students who felt satisfied, while some might regret the way they had spent their summer. I encourage those students who had a regrettable experience to make use of those negative feelings in a constructive way for the future.
The kanji symbol for ﾒriceﾓ represents the number ﾒ88ﾓ. It is thought that this is because farmers diligently perform 88 steps in making rice. The word ﾒnae-han-sakuﾓ means that 50% of the rice making process is completed when the planting and rooting of the rice is finished. At school, I feel that the 50% mark comes at the end of the 1st trimester.
The quality of rice depends on the 50% of work that comes after the rooting of rice. Similarly, the outcome of the school year depends on how the students spend the next two trimesters of school. For those students who were unable to obtain good grades in the 1st trimester, I urge them to try harder. There is still time for a turn-around. I look forward to a great comeback effort!

Event schedule for the remainder of the school year

Today, we distributed a handout outlining changes and additions to the event schedule for the remainder of the school year.
Changes
*Elementary Social Studies 5/27 -7 sessions total
*Elementary Calligraphy 9/9 – 10 sessions total
*Education Seminar 9/9 Sunday

Reading Award [Yokozuna] Announcement

Congratulations on achieving the Yokozuna Award!
I am sure that the many books have enriched the hearts of the awardees. I commend those with the words ﾓCongratulations! Great Job!ﾓ

Kindergarten(*achieved before summer)
K1 Erin Barnhart
K1 Tomoka Yoshikawa
K2 Keiju Abe

Goals have been selected!

– Starting from the 2nd trimester –

We solicited ﾒgoalsﾓ from students (3rd grade and above) to make their educational experience at JLSP more fulfilling. We have voted and selected 9 of these submissions. I look forward to seeing students accomplish these goals.

Top Selections(*Please note that some have been edited)

Work on homework night and day. It will pay off when we are adults.
(by Naohiro Okita 4th grade)
We learn with many people at JLSP as if it were Japan in America.
(by Karamel Bolden 4th grade)
Continuing to study leads to strength.
(by Noah Yost 4th grade)
Adhere to using Japanese as a rule at JLSP.
(by Yuya Toida 5th grade)
Learning Kanji is like magic that allows me to read more books and manga!
(by Kaya Namura 5th grade)
Little by little, working on homework everyday.
(by Mirai Inaoka 11th grade)
Keeping the school doubly clean to express our gratitude to the FC school.
(by Shoryu Aoyama 11th grade)
Read, listen, and speak to learn Japanese.
(by Tenn Dayton Keisho 4)
Letﾕs meet every Saturday in ﾒLittle Japan.ﾓ
(by Jiri Kalabis Adult 2)

Information Corner

Tuition payment for the 2nd trimester
1. We will send an invoice on 8/19 (Sat) to your registered E-mail address.
2. The deadline for payment is in 2 weeks (9/2, Sat).
3. If you don not receive an invoice by 8/19, please contact our administrative offices at accounting@jlsp.us.
*Please read your classroom E-mail for other information and details specific to your class.