Spring Holidays

Spring vacation is here and school is out from Saturday 20th March. I’d like to wish all students, families, faculty, staff and friends of A-JIS fun times and safe journeys over the break. Tonight we’re all looking forward to the International Music Festival at the Suginami Campus, celebrating the music of Broadway. If you’re unable to join us in person, please tune into the live webcast on our website and be a part of this wonderful conclusion to this second term and kick off to the spring break. See you all for the start of school again on Thursday 1st April.

Barbara Beaufait

Thank You Alley Cats and the Family Community!

Today we had the great privilege of seeing one of the world’s most renowned a cappella groups right here on our Suginami Campus! What an amazing gift for our students to experience such international musical talent from a group that has performed for several US Presidents, up close and personal in two small audiences today in our assembly hall, as well as meet and speak with the members throughout the day and hear about their lives and experiences. Beyond the music, the Alley Cats are a great source of inspiration for our young students aspiring to the highest standards of academic achievement and the opportunities it opens in life. On behalf of the school and everyone who enjoyed today’s performance, I’d like to extend our warmest thanks to the Family Community for sponsoring this valued performance for our students. We hope we are fortunate enough to have the Yale Alley Cats back again next year.

Barbara Beaufait

This Week at A-JIS

Welcome back to a new week at A-JIS, an important one for the school, with the arrival of Ms Margaret Alvarez from the Council of International Schools and Dr. William McIntyre of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, both joining us this week for an accreditation follow-up visit. We’re looking forward to a productive series of meetings between the visiting accreditation team and a broad cross-section of the school community, an important step in our ongoing growth and advancement as a school.

On the weekend, I had the great pleasure of attending the Meguro Kindergarten 1, Tree Class Spring Concert titled “Let’s Sing and Learn”. The performance was hosted at the Suginami Campus, and it was a very special experience. It was such fun to see the little ones perform and enjoy themselves. On behalf of everyone who attended and enjoyed the show, I would like to extend thanks to the Meguro Campus Principal Ms. Liz de Souza and the team that put together the performance, Ms. Berkness, Ms. Inoue, Ms. Fujimoto and Ms. Piamonte, along with all the children who put on their very best for a delighted audience of parents and the A-JIS community. You all did a wonderful job!

Wishing everyone an enjoyable and productive week,

Barbara Beaufait

Jungle Gym Renovations

Great to see a newly renovated jungle gym in the playground at Suginami campus on beautiful, sunny day like today. Timber areas of the frame have been sanded, repaired and re-painted to ensure the ongoing safety of our children and the future longevity of this valued piece of school equipment. Big thanks to the Facilities and Maintenance staff for all their work on this. We’re looking forward to this being a popular and permanent fixture in our playground for years to come.

Barbara Beaufait

What’s happening in March

Dear A-JIS Community,

This week I sent a letter home with studnets to all families, updating you on some important upcoming events in the school. To continue to keep you informed I plan to start sending communication such as this home two times per month.This week’s update included the following items:

New space allocation

To better serve the community the former EEO office is now an additional conference room and available for larger group meetings. The space will be used for regular board and other administrative meetings. The school’s leadership team is able to reserve the room on a space available basis and when the small room in the Principals’ Office is busy. Mr. Gomez’ office has been relocated to “Admissions.”

Safety at school

General checks of the school and outdoor areas are being conducted regularly to assure safety. The Facilities and Maintenance Department is doing some sanding and repainting of the Jungle Gym. The school nurse and I met to review first aid procedures and guidelines in case of emergencies. Many school personnel hold updated First Aid/CPR certificates. An evacuation drill is planned this month.

Partners in Health, Haiti Relief Fundraiser

Thank you all for making this a successful event. The school raised a grand total of Y1,342,390 surpassing expectations of Y1,000,000. The Family Community contributed Y152,971 from the Halloween Bake, and Y122,410 from the food and book sale. Thank you all for making this a success. Students have completed 1,000 paper cranes and several posters to be mailed and displayed in clinics and hospitals to raise children’s’ spirits while being treated for injuries.

Accreditation

Dr. McIntyre (NEASC) and Ms. Alvarez (CIS) will be working with the school March 9-11. They are here for us to share improvements. Their focus will be on the two special issues, School Governance, Philosophy and Objectives.

French

Thank you for submitting surveys. Valuable information was gained, and was taken into consideration. The board voted unanimously to offer French as an “After School Club” this coming school year. Additional programs will be explored in the future.

Parent Survey

The school will send out a survey to parents in early May to provide an opportunity for constructive feedback. The staff will then study the results and use them for making improvements. Annual surveys will be forthcoming. Allow me to share a statement once made by a colleague: “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Dr. Richard E. Smith Professor of Educational Administration, Seattle Pacific University.

Consultant John Littleford

April 24-May 5; We look forward to working with Mr. Littleford who has been hired to help the school evaluate teacher salaries and benefit packages, and how to internally promote the school. Mr. Littleford will meet with staff, faculty, parents, and students through small focus groups. He is looking forward to attending the Spring Carnival. Following is some background information.

Littleford & Associates was founded by John C. Littleford in 1994. Mr. Littleford has served as head of school for 18 years, a teacher for 25 years, and a board member and chair of schools and nonprofit agencies.

He has written and spoken extensively worldwide on each area of the firm’s consulting expertise. John Littleford is the co-author, with Valerie Lee, of the book, “Faculty Salary Systems in Independent Schools“. This landmark publication on this topic was published by NAIS from 1983-94. His articles on the career ladder concept of faculty compensation are found in Larry Frase’s book, entitled “Teacher Motivation and Compensation”, published in 1992 by the Technomic Press.

Mr. Littleford has his B.A. degree from Dickinson College, Critical Language Degree from Princeton University, M.A. from Harvard University and a Certificate of Advanced Study from Harvard University.

As senior partner, Mr. Littleford conducts all workshops, on-site visits and evaluations of contracts for Heads and nonprofit CEO’s.

Having earned a reputation for excellence, Littleford & Associates has over 2,000 clients worldwide, including Canada, Southern and Central America, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Littleford & Associates has a corporate membership in the National Association of Independent Schools. The firm is listed on the NAIS website under the following service categories: Board services: board development, board/head relations, compensation and benefits, board evaluation, strategic planning, and training and retreats; Administration: head mentoring; Management: executive leadership, organizational and general consulting; Teaching: teacher compensation and evaluation.

Thank you for sharing your children with us.

Kind regards,

Barbara Beaufait

Head of School