PTA BLOG
Contact the HJIS PTA at: HJISPTA@horizon.ac.jp
PTA Activities during the 2022-23 School Year
Below is a summary of the activities and discussions undertaken by the PTA this year.
Sports Day
Designed, created, and operated the Happy Tree
Ran a Bake Sale to raise funds for Debate Team and other student clubs
Conducted a “dot poll” to decide next school-wide PTA event
Movie Night
Organized and prepared the event
Assisted with the fundraising run by students
ICF
Food booths from more than 15 countries
Performances from 4 countries
Raffle
Cultural activities and workshops
Second-hand uniform sales
Arranged childcare for volunteers
Introduced a sustainable payment system to mitigate efforts of ticket selling and handling coins for change
Persuaded the school to enlist all teachers to help run the event next year
LINE groups
Created class LINE groups covering every grade to promote communication among parents of each grade.
Support of student teams and clubs:
Provided financial support for Debate Team to travel to international competition at Yale University
Purchased bibs for basketball team
Other activities
Created Lost & Found webpage and posted photos of items
Prom: Subsidized ticket cost for seniors and provided support for venue decorations
Class events: Multiple meetups and events were held over the year
Simplified and revised the PTA Constitution to reflect actual conditions and give future PTA Boards greater clarity and flexibility.
Health checks for students: The school introduced annual health checks for students this year, partly as a result of a request made by the PTA last year.
Attended disaster drills to observe from a parent’s perspective
Checked curriculum descriptions on school website for clarity
Proposed changes to supply list to make it easier to understand
Attended school Open Campus events and answered questions from prospective parents
Revived the PTA Blog to keep families up-to-date with events and volunteer opportunities
Issues raised with the school based on feedback from parents:
EAL: After several hours of discussions with the school, they agreed to hold an explanation session for parents and some improvement was seen in communication regarding how/why students are placed in EAL and how they can “graduate” from it. However, the system remains opaque and there is room for further improvement.
Pamoja (online DP classes): We raised concerns from parents about the cost of these classes, the lack of proper instruction and supervision, and the inadequate information about what students were signing up for.
Calendar issues: We raised issues with the timing of some events (Sports Day, ICF) and got school to commit to announcing significant events at the beginning of the school year whenever possible (class excursions, etc).
We persuaded the school to include grade parent representatives in the graduate gift selection process (from next year)
We requested improvements in the provision of uniforms for sports teams (including by offering to cover costs with PTA funds) and asked that parents be informed in advance of any additional costs.
Dental hygiene for EYP students following easing of Covid restrictions
Extended library hours for secondary: We requested that the library be kept open to allow DP students to study after school. The school agreed to extend library hours to 17:00 on Mondays, Tuesday, and Thursdays.
2022-23 finance report
Note: ICF shows expenses only.
How did we do this year?
Please take a moment to tell us how you think the PTA has performed this year by filling in this form. Your feedback will help to shape how we pass the baton to the next PTA Board and what actions are prioritized in the coming year. Thank you!
Join the PTA for the 2023-24 School Year
Dear HJIS Community,
The PTA is a vital part of our school community, supporting our students, teachers, and families in many ways. It provides opportunities for parents to get involved in school events and activities, and to have a say in decisions that affect our community.
We are now looking for volunteers to join the PTA for the 2023-24 school year. There are two types of positions available: PTA Board members and Class Representatives.
The Board is the PTA’s decision-making body. It serves as the primary liaison between the parent body and the school, and coordinates events such as the ICF and last year's Movie Night. The PTA Board consists of the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary, and the Treasurer, and is open for more positions as needed. Time-wise the only minimum commitment is a monthly meeting with school representatives..
Class Reps serve as a liaison between the parents and teachers of a particular class or grade. They keep parents informed about school news and encourage participation in school events.
If you are interested in joining the PTA for the 2023-24 academic school year, please fill out the PTA Registration Form.
Please direct any questions to the current PTA board (ptaboard@horizon.ac.jp) or our Marketing & Communications Manager (bnguyen@horizon.ac.jp).
Thank you for your continued support of our school.
THANK YOU HJIS COMMUNITY!
The PTA Board would like to thank everyone who attended the ICF last Saturday. It was wonderful to see so many visitors enjoying the foods, activities, and performances. The event raised funds for student activities, as well as for victims of the recent earthquake in Turkiye/Syria. We are especially grateful to the booth organizers, stage performers, and volunteers. We hope you had fun, made some new friends, and perhaps learned something new. Please tell us what you thought via this Feedback Form.
RAFFLE PRIZES
If you bought raffle tickets but haven't checked the winning numbers yet, you can find them on the ICF website. If you've won a prize, take your winning ticket to the school office to collect it.
LESS PLASTIC WASTE
Thank you to everyone who brought their own tupperware and eating utensils to the ICF. This was a PTA initiative to reduce plastic waste in line with the SDGs. We are confident that much less waste was generated thanks to your cooperation.
NEW PAYMENT SYSTEM
Another new initiative this year was our hybrid payment system (payment in cash, change in tickets). Thank you volunteers and visitors for cooperating with this experiment. We're happy to say: It worked! We hope this system will make planning future ICFs a little easier.
SUMO AT HORIZON
The PTA is excited to announce that the ICF on March 4th will feature a demonstration of sumo. Don't miss the chance to see this traditional Japanese form of wrestling. Students will even get the chance to challenge a rikishi (sumo wrestler) to a bout! Nokotta!
ICF Booth Previews
Malaysian Booth
At the Malaysian booth you'll be able to buy Nasi Lemak (a classic Malaysian breakfast made of rice cooked in coconut milk, spicy sambal, boiled egg, fried anchovies and cucumber), Indonesian kuih (sweet treats), and teh tarik, or tea prepared in a special way by pouring it from one cup to another creating a light and airy texture. On top of that, we have a popular cookie made with cornflakes, a must have at every ethnic celebration. Apart from all the gastronomic delights, you'll be able to channel your inner creativity by trying out a batik painting activity (a traditional way of decorating cloth by painting the patterns made of wax with vibrant colours) and weaving a ketupat vessel used for cooking rice. There’ll also be Malaysian snacks that are specially brought from Malaysia for your enjoyment. Come and share our vibrant culture.
Chinese Booth
At the Chinese booth you'll find fried prawn crackers (who doesn't love those?!), sugar-coated fruits such as strawberries and blueberries, steamed buns like the famous ones in Chinatown, and other delicious snacks. Visitors to the booth can also get their foreheads decorated with huadian, a traditional form of Chinese makeup, and have a go at traditional crafts such as paper-cut bookmarks, Chinese knots, and paper dragons.
Turkish Booth
The Turkish booth will offer a range of delicious foods, including doner kebabs in tortillas, savory stuffed buns, mercimek kofte (lentil patties), Turkish cakes, and apple cookies. You will also have the chance to try making a mosaic using colorful glass, painting your own piece of tezhip ancient book decorating, and writing with Hittite cuneiform (an ancient alphabet from 3,500 years ago) on clay.
International Booth
The International Booth will be like a mini-ICF in a single booth, featuring lots of different cultures from around the world. Culinary highlights will include fried pork & spicy pickles from Haiti, alfajores cookie sandwiches from Peru, banana turon from the Philippines, and pelmeni dumplings from Russia.
MENA (Middle East & North Africa) Booth
At the MENA booth, you'll be able to enjoy two types of coffee, one from the Middle East and one from North Africa, as well as mint tea made with Tunisian mint. You can pair your drinks with delicious traditional desserts such as Maamoul, Harissa, and Baklava. There will also be Arabic calligraphy using henna (get your name written in Arabic!), a quiz, and a traditional tent experience.
Japanese Culture Booth
At the Japanese culture booth, you'll be able to dress up in two types of traditional clothing, Kimono and Yukata, and take photos to save your memories of the day. You'll also be able to sample real matcha (powdered green tea) like in the tea ceremony.
Volunteers Wanted!
Posted December 2, 2022
The PTA is planning to hold the annual International Cultural Festival (ICF) on Saturday, March 4th, 2023. The ICF is a chance for our school community to get together and learn about the wide range of cultures represented in our school. We would like to set up booths for various countries with traditional food and drinks, as well as cultural performances and activities organized by student groups, teachers, and parents.
We are now recruiting volunteers to run booths, as well as new ideas. This is an opportunity to share your culture, and a great chance to meet other members of our community. We look forward to seeing you at the ICF!
MOVIE NIGHT: THE BAD GUYS
Updated November 25, 2022
The PTA will hold a movie night for HJIS students and families on Friday, December 9th after school in the gym. We will be screening The Bad Guys. Doors will open at 17:00. The movie will begin at 17:30 and end around 19:10.
This event is FREE. The only charge is for snacks, which will be served by the Youth For Future student club as part of their fundraising activities. Please submit this form if you plan to attend. Gym capacity is limited, so places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Please note:
Based on school policy, students in EYP-G1 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian.
This event is for HJIS families only.
If your child is a school bus rider, you will need to arrange their pick up after the movie as the school bus will be running on the regular schedule.
We will not serve drinks at the event. You are free to bring drinks with you (no soda or carbonated beverages please).
The previous Movie Night in 2020.
Curriculum night recordings
Posted October 29, 2022
Here are all the video recordings from Curriculum Night 2022 as a reference for us to imagine how our children’s learning will progress over the years at HJIS.
THANK YOU!
Posted October 23, 2022
The PTA booths at the PYP/MYP Sports Day were a resounding success. The Happy Tree has grown hundreds of leaves, and we raised nearly ¥200,000 (!!) for school clubs and teams. This includes the Debate Club, some of whom helped to run our booths.
The Happy Tree will be up a bit longer inside the 2F entrance so if you didn't have a chance to write a message on Sports Day, you're welcome to write one now.
We want to say a special thank you to these generous donors for the cookies, cakes, muffins, and other treats they contributed to our bake sale. (We're very sorry if you donated and we failed to get your name. Let us know and we'll add you to the list.)
Houda (G2 parent)
Candace (G4 parent)
Eriko (G5 parent)
Kumiko (G7 parent)
Kev (G12 parent)
Misa (G11 parent)
Shino (G6/G11 parent)
Natsuko (G6/G11 parent)
Nisha (G9 parent)
Beulah (G2 parent)
Natsuki (G2 parent)
JJ (G9 parent)
Chisa (G9 parent)
Ai (G2 parent)
Eri (G7 parent)
Rie (G9 parent)
Ayumi (G4/G6 parent)
Jane (G8 parent)
Hacer (G9 parent)
EYP Sports Day
Posted October 9, 2022
Although the PYP and MYP Sports Day was postponed, the EYP session went ahead as planned in the gym. The PTA Board set up a booth at the Media Cafe and sold drinks, homemade treats baked by our Vice-Chairperson Miho, and school goods, raising over ¥30,000 for student clubs and teams! We also set up the Happy Tree on the wall outside the gym, which is now decorated with messages of appreciation for teachers from EYP students and parents.
Next up, PYP/MYP Sports Day on October 22 (weather permitting).
The Happy Tree, made by the PTA and the Anti-Bullying Club
Sports Day plans
Updated October 7, 2022
For EYP Sports Day on Oct 8th, the PTA will be selling drinks, baked goods, and HJIS merchandise at the Media Cafe on the 1st floor. We’ll also have a “Happy Tree” for writing messages of appreciation to teachers (Thank you to the members of the Anti-Bullying Club for helping to make it!). Our goal is to raise money to support sports teams and student clubs. All our kids have missed almost 3 years of extra-curricular opportunities because of Covid, so we want to support them now more than ever!
For the postponed PYP/MYP Sports Day on Oct 22nd, we'll be doing the same again, at booths on the rooftop and at the Media Cafe. If you’re interested in donating to the bake sale or volunteering at the PTA booth on October 22nd, please contact your Class Rep.
Earthquake Drill Report
Posted September 21, 2022
Disaster preparedness is an important topic for HJIS families. Our PTA Chairperson recently attended the school's earthquake drill as an observer. Read his report here:
PTA fees are used to hold events like the International Cultural Festival (ICF).
Request for PTA fees
Note: PTA fees are not included in HJIS tuition. They are paid separately by bank transfer to the HJIS PTA account.
PTA会費は授業料に含まれていません。お手数ですが、別途PTAの口座に振り込んで頂けますようお願い申し上げます。
Thank you to everyone who has paid their 2022-23 PTA fees already. PTA fees are used to hold events, support student and teacher initiatives, and purchase gifts for graduating students. We are still collecting fees, so if you haven't paid yet, here is the information for the PTA bank account:
Yokohama Bank, Tsurumi Nishiguchi Branch / 横浜銀行 鶴見西口支店
Ordinary account, 1511708 / 普通口座：1511708
Account name: HJIS PTA (in katakana) / 口座名義：エイチジェイアイエスピーティーエー
The annual fee is ¥5,000 for the first child, and ¥2,500 for each additional child.
1 child ¥5,000
2 children ¥7,500
3 children ¥10,000
*Please state the grade(s) and name(s) of your child(ren) when you make your bank transfer so that we can make an accurate record of your payment.*
For example:
1 child: G9 FIRSTNAME SURNAME
2 children: G3 G9 SURNAME
3 children: K G3 G9 SURNAME
********
PTA会費をお支払いいただいた皆様、ありがとうございました。会費はまだ受け付けておりますので、お早めにお支払いいただけますと幸いです。以下がPTAの口座情報です:
横浜銀行 鶴見西口支店
普通口座：1511708
口座名義：エイチジェイアイエスピーティーエー
PTA年会費は、一人目のお子様が5000円、HJISに在籍するお子様が1名増えるごとに2500円が追加されます。
子供1名 5,000円
子供2名 7,500円
子供3名 10,000円
お支払いを正確に記録できるよう、銀行振込の際はお子様の学年と名前をお知らせください。
Introducing the PTA Board for 2022-23
Posted August 19, 2022
2022-23 Class representatives
Updated September 18, 2022
Class representatives support the class/grade they represent. This may include setting up a Line group for the class/grade, volunteering or finding volunteers for field trips and school/PTA events, arranging class picnics, etc. They serve as a link in communicating feedback and information between parents and the PTA. Ideally there should be one representative per class, but one per grade is also acceptable.
We still need class representatives for 2022-23 in the following grades:
PS & PK
If you wish you become a Classroom Representative for these grades, please contact the PTA at: HJISPTA@horizon.ac.jp
Announcing the PTA Board for 2022-23
As the end of the year draws to a close. We would like to take this opportunity to thank our HJIS PTA 2021-22 Board. They have done a fantastic job this year and we feel very fortunate to have such a dedicated parent community. Since April, we have held our interest sign-up forms for the current PTA to hand over swiftly to the upcoming PTA next year. This was posted via our Newsletter, The HJIS Herald, and via our Communications Dept. email to all parents. The results showed only one candidate for each role and thus, by default, they have now taken over the positions. We are very grateful for their interest and willingness to lead the way next year.
Therefore without further ado, we are proud to announce the elected officers for our new upcoming HJIS PTA 2022-23 are:
Chairperson: Mr. Sadato Kobayashi, rising G1 parent
Vice-Chairperson: Mrs. Miho Kasai, rising G1 and G8 parent
Secretary: Mr. John Senior, rising G6 parent
Treasurer: Mrs. Natsu Kinoshita, rising G4, G6 and G8 parent
Meet your NEW 2022-23 PTA Chairman: Mr. Sadato Kobayashi
- Sadato Kobayashi (people call me by my first name)
- Father of Leo Kobayashi (starting 1st grade from August)
- Half Indian, Half Japanese (Japanese nationality)
- Bilingual (English/Japanese)
- Born in India, came to Japan in ‘89
- One of the last graduates from the first international school in Japan (St. Joseph’s International School 1901-2000, Yokohama)
- Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering degree from an engineering university in Massachusetts, USA
- Currently working at a Swiss company in the 3DPrinting field
- Shy type, but like to be approached
Congratulations to those who will serve on the 2022-2023 PTA Executive Board. We are thrilled and delighted to have your commitment to the HJIS community. Another important MASSIVE thank you to our Class Reps who have decided to volunteer and serve our community. Their time, effort, and dedication is invaluable to our families, students, and staff. We are delighted to have you all on board. Please join us in welcoming everyone, and we look forward to a fantastic and productive year together!
International Culture Festival 2021-22
A huge thanks to each and every one of the amazing ICF 2022 booth organizers, volunteers, and attendees! ICF was a huge success this year and we hope to learn from our experience this year to make next year even better, hopefully opening it up to the entire community.
Please find the report on the ICF below - we are sharing this to acknowledge the hard work of our volunteers and so that all families and staff can understand where part of the PTA dues were spent this year.
Acknowledgements:
Booth Organizers:
Drinks / ドリンク
Organized by Ms. Sayuri Hisatomi, G10B Class Representative
Nail art and henna
Organized by Ms. Candace Emi Himeji, PTA Active Board Member
Clothing sale / 服販売
Organized by Ms. Joanne Hagiwara
Indian sari photo / インドのサリーで写真
Organized by Ms. Shefali Arora and Ms. Shilpa Godghate
Japanese yukata photo / 浴衣で写真
Organized by Ms. Keiko Gardiner
Middle Eastern dress (Abaya) photo booth / アバヤ（アラブ民族衣装）で写真
Organized by Ms. Houda Sellami, G3 Class Representative and Ms. Ayumi Enari
Turkish country booth / トルコブース
Organized by Ms. Rie Komuro, HJIS Board of Directors
Mongolian country booth / モンゴルブース
Organized by Mr. Aman and Ms. Khundyz Bey
Chinese country booth / 中国ブース
Organized by Ms. Zen Yanping
Middle Eastern booth / 中東ブース
Organized by Ms. Houda Sellami, G3 Class Representative
Bangladeshi country booth / バングラデシュブース
Organized by Ms. Sirajum and Mr. Rejwanur Kabir
Indonesian/Malaysian country booth / インドネシア・マレーシアブース
Organized by Ms. Asmawati Daud, G4 Class Representative
Korean country booth / 韓国ブース
Organized by Ms. MinJung Kim
Hungarian country booth / ハンガリーブース
Organized by Ms. Edit Dezso
Ikebana workshop / 生け花ワークショップ
Organized by Ms. Ryei Sato-Manni
International Book Fair / 国際ブックフェア
Organized by Ms. Anna Adachi, G5B Class Representative
Stamp Rally
Organized by Ms. Natsu Kinoshita
Student Booths:
Haunted House & Photogenic Booths
Organized by Haru Suzuki, Marine Club
Friendship Bracelets
Organized by Kathryn Sifton
ICF Video:
Footage filmed and edited by Mr. Moto Yasumi
Performance Organizers:
Wadaiko Performance
Organized by Mr. Sadato Kobayashi
Qanun and Darbuka Performance
Organized by Ms. Rie Komuro, HJIS Board of Directors
Indian Classical Music (Tabla & Sitar; Vocal Performance)
Organized by Ms. Nisha Pillai, PTA Secretary
Chinese Bian Lian Face Mask Changing Performance
Organized by Ms. Zen Yanping
ICF Event Organizers:
Ms. Stephanie Napier, PTA Chairperson
Ms. Nisha Pillai, PTA Secretary
Ms. Kumiko Kayama, G6 Class Representative
Ms. Yildiz Khan, G11 Class Representative
School Assistance:
Mr. Ali Kara, Head of School
Mr. Christopher Hepburn, Secondary School Principal
Mr. Recep Doymaz, Primary School Principal
Ms. Heather-Hope Joseph, Director of Marketing and Communications
Mr. Yusuf Turan, Facility & Resources Specialist
Mr. Nurbek Saliev, DP Design Technology Teacher
Ms. Mimi Takase, Student Affairs
Ms. Kasumi Kondo, Admissions Officer
Thank you again to each and every person who made the ICF possible!
Best regards,
Stephanie Napier
HJIS PTA Chair, 2021-22