Student Support Services
We understand that each of our students each have unique profiles and that they will experience the teaching and learning process through the lens of those unique profiles.
We are fortunate to have a low student to teacher ratio with small class sizes. This allows us to pay attention to individual differences in learning. We also have dedicated professionals who work with teachers and students to provide support for students who may need some adaptation of the teaching and learning process in order to develop or extend their understanding. These professionals collaborate with the teachers and our families to develop the right strategy and approach to get the best out of each student.
English Language Learners
Within the Elementary School, the Language Development program consists of teacher support for small groups and individuals as well as co-planning, and for some classes co-teaching, with a language specialist in the context of the PYP units of inquiry.
The Language Development team will support teachers in providing a program to help English language learners build their proficiency in the language for academic success and for social interaction so as to enable them to successfully access the curriculum in all subject areas.
All English Language Learners will be assessed by the WIDA assessment once a year in order to help teachers and language specialists understand their language growth and profiles and ensure that lessons are planned and differentiated based on their individual needs.
In addition to our Language Development program, additional after school English classes are also offered at an additional cost to families through Fukuoka International Community School. These additional classes may, in some cases, be recommended to families based on students' language profiles; decision about attendance is a family choice. More information on Fukuoka International Community School (FICS) can be found here.
Learning Differences
At FIS, we understand that each learner is unique. As an inclusive school, our objective is to ensure that every student we admit is set up for success and that we have the right structures and support systems in place to ensure this success, within the resources available in our setting. If a student presents a learning difference that may affect their ability to be successful at FIS, we might ask for additional information during the admissions process. We expect families to share all the information that they have so we can reach the right decision together.
Within the Elementary School, Student Support is based on individual students' needs and may consist of individual or small group sessions with a learning specialist to meet the needs of the student and/or co-planning with homeroom teachers in the context of the PYP units of inquiry. Support plans are reviewed with learning specialists and homeroom teachers every six weeks during Student Review Team meetings and changes to support structures resulting from those meetings are communicated to parents.
Social & Emotional Support
We have a full time counselor on-site during school hours to provide emotional and social support to our students. Counseling services are easily accessible to our students; support is always within reach and the door is always open. Students can make appointment bookings through our online booking form, or they can simply stop by the counseling office and request to have a confidential talk. Each student at FIS also takes part in our Advisory program where they attend regular lessons throughout the year that are specifically designed to equip them with the skills necessary to become self-empowered, socially-adaptable, responsible decision-makers.
Health Office
Our onsite School Nurse caters to the daily medical needs of our student and faculty. Below is information that might help answer any questions you may have regarding the procedure of your child's health issues.
❖ Stay Home (Please inform us)
1. A temperature reading of above 37.5°C in the past 24 hours. (Student needs to be fever-free for 24 hours before going back to school without fever-reducing medication)
2. Bad cold, with a runny nose or a bad cough, especially if it has kept the student awake at night.
3. A rash where the cause is unknown
4. Suspected conjunctivitis (Pink Eye). Visit a physician to get a proper diagnosis before sending student to school
5. Vomiting/Diarrhea in the past 24 hours.
6. Covid 19: Positive results
7. Communicable Disease
8. Other contagious diseases or conditions diagnosed by a doctor to stay home.
❖ Sick child’s siblings
As long as siblings are not having symptoms and have good hand hygiene, they can generally go to school.
If any exceptions, school nurse will contact due to the cause of the sick child.
❖ Nut Free School
The safety of our students with allergies is a priority. For this reason, all classrooms at FIS will be nut-free. Please be sure all snacks sent in for your child are nut-free.
❖ Special conditions such as Allergies, Asthma, Diabetes
The Nurse will contact you to request more information once you have informed us of specific medical conditions such as allergies, including the use of an Epipen, asthma or diabetes. In Japan, epinephrine is never given without a doctor's prescription. If you would like your child to have an Epipen, please ask your child’s doctor.
❖ Medication at school:
Please inform the school nurse if your child needs to have medication
Prescription medicines:
➔ Whenever possible, administer medicine before or after school instead of during school (when 3 times a day dosing is recommended, these can be given before & after school and at bedtime)
➔ If your child needs to be medicated at school, please contact the school nurse.
Non-prescription medicines (Over the counter drugs)
➔ Sharing the medicine with other students is not allowed.
➔ As per the Japanese School Health Law, the Health Office cannot give any medications.
The Health Office keeps some painkillers in case of emergency, in which case parents will be contacted by the Nurse.