Nishimachi International School

Elementary School - Educational Program

• ENGLISH
• MATHEMATICS
• SCIENCE
• SOCIAL STUDIES
• HEALTH/WELLNESS
• ART
• MUSIC
• PHYSICAL EDUCATION
• SPORTS AND FINE ARTS PROGRAM (SAFA)
• INFORMATION LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGY
• ES APPROACHES TO LEARNING, ASSESSMENT, AND REPORTING
• HOMEWORK
• COMMUNITY SERVICE
• STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES
• STUDENT WELFARE
• STUDENT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
• CULTURAL LIFE
• SCHOOL TRIPS
• ERB TESTS
• JAPANESE NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT TEST (NAT)

Elementary School - Educational Program

Each class in the elementary school has a "home-base" teacher and the class maximum is twenty students.  For each of the three kindergarten classes, there is also a bilingual classroom assistant. Grades one and two each have one assistant who supports the team of teachers. Additionally, one Japanese teacher is assigned to each grade level, and the faculty meet, in teams, to discuss curriculum needs, student welfare, and integration of Japanese language and culture into the students’ daily learning experiences. We are committed to professional excellence and to achieve this teachers meet regularly to plan and organize the implementation of the educational program.

Our School Wide Learning expectations (SLE’s) are at the center of our daily work and they are embedded in all curriculum areas. We value the SLE’s so highly that each is assessed and reported on by all teachers three times a year.
The total ES enrollment number is approximately 360 students.

ENGLISH

The goal of English education at Nishimachi International School is to facilitate the students’ ability to communicate: to read, write, listen, and speak – in order to further their learning, enhance and enrich the human spirit, and become responsible global citizens. We believe that students must read and write in a variety of genres to become competent, enthusiastic life-long readers and writers, and to develop and share perspectives on issues that concern mankind. Furthermore, we believe that students must develop competent listening and speaking skills, since the ability to impart information accurately, express ideas and thoughts succinctly, and construct compelling arguments are all critical life skills in the twenty-first century.

MATHEMATICS

The goal of the Nishimachi International School mathematics program is to provide students with the knowledge and understanding of the mathematics necessary to function in a world dependent upon the application of mathematics. Stated differently, the goal is for all students to achieve mathematical proficiency by developing both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency. The end result is the ability to think and reason mathematically and use mathematics to solve problems in authentic contexts. As a corollary to this goal, students will:

• appreciate mathematics as an essential and relevant part of life
• show interest and enjoyment in inquiry and the pursuit of mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding
• demonstrate confidence in applying mathematical knowledge, skills and understanding to everyday situations and the solution of everyday problems
• develop and demonstrate perseverance in undertaking mathematical challenges
• recognize that mathematics has been developed in many cultures in response to human needs.

SCIENCE

The Nishimachi science program gives students the opportunity to appreciate science through experience. Science is taught with hands on/ minds on learning experiences. A connection to the wider world and other subjects is built through the study of science at Nishimachi. The subject is explored through an inquiry approach through first hand experience to learning that allows ongoing authentic assessment. Problem solving is an important skill which is needed at all levels. The program encourages students to make predictions and construct their own means of testing and evaluating their predictions.
Fundamental to the science curriculum are the school-wide learning expectations. In their science learning experience, students are becoming communicators, thinkers, responsible learners, collaborative workers, developers of quality work, and global ambassadors.

The curriculum encourages the development of deeper universal concepts. The students are given the opportunity and encouraged to see the way materials, the earth, people, life and space are interconnected. Science is a dynamic subject, it allows the students to participate in current, topical conversations about issues that matter to us.

SOCIAL STUDIES

Social studies curriculum emphasizes a responsibility to help students understand the world in which they live. The curriculum is not bound by subject barriers but is integrated into other areas of the school-wide curriculum. Students are actively engaged in meaningful units of study that encourages discussion, fosters respect for self and others, while promoting global perspectives and social responsibility. The curriculum also emphasizes a deeper knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Japan in keeping with the founder’s vision and our philosophy.

Students are encouraged to be conscious of and reflect upon the past, present and future. Social studies is taught through content topics, enduring understandings and essential questions. These promote the achievement of the school-wide Student Learning Expectations. Every unit includes an SLE which needs to be taught and assessed.

The curriculum continues to cultivate cultural sensitivity and give relevant opportunities for students to broaden their perspectives. The program is more than the teaching of facts. It furthers an understanding of world cultures, an ability to interpret historical and contemporary events, and the confidence to shape the future. Through meaningful units, students will consider people's actions and reactions through the filters of time, culture, environment, events and interaction with others.

HEALTH/WELLNESS

Nishimachi International School recognizes its responsibility to provide students with information and opportunities to develop skills and attitudes that will enable them to obtain and interpret information, make informed choices, solve problems, and cultivate a healthy lifestyle. We appreciate that the family is the primary source of establishing a child’s sense of values, and strongly believe that positive developmental growth is enhanced when home and school are working together.

The Nishimachi health and wellness curriculum is a sequential program. that is embedded in the curriculum and has stand alone units. The health and wellness curriculum is developmentally appropriate, yet flexibly implemented in order to meet the needs of the students as they grow and change. It provides students with knowledge and skills that can lead to obtaining lifelong positive attitudes and behaviors that encourage health, wellness, and personal success. Students are encouraged to develop a sense of responsibility for their own physical, emotional, mental, and social health, as well as respect for others and to appreciate the importance of accepting differences within our community and in the world.

ART

The goal of the elementary school art program is to develop students’ skills and understandings in four major areas:

• Communicating visual arts ideas
• Skills, techniques and processes related to the arts
• Responding to, reflecting on and evaluating the visual arts
• Linking arts to wider society

In doing so we recognize that kindergarten through to grade five is an excellent time to develop the natural expressiveness and uninhibited creativity that very young children often display. The art department recognizes that exploration and understanding of the arts are accomplished through the medium of play. It is crucial, therefore that engagement in the arts for this age group be exploratory and playful.

The elementary art program at Nishimachi allows children to play with ideas and concepts, solve problems with skill and imagination, discover new questions and produce new ideas and objects. All art projects also encourage other important life skills: such as organization, curiosity and persistence, personal and social responsibility and the respect for creativity in others.

MUSIC

The aim of the elementary music program at Nishimachi is to have students participate actively in sequentially based music activities that will not only increase their knowledge of music, but also further develop an appreciation for music, leading toward a life-long enjoyment of music.

Music education in the elementary general music program at Nishimachi is focused on involving the whole child and explores numerous musical elements, actively engaging each individual student. The emphasis is on process rather than performance, on participation by all, on the cultivation of skills for creating and developing musical ideas, and is based on the Orff-Schülwerk approach.

The unique characteristics of this approach include a foundation in speech play, a special group of pitched percussion instruments designed for children, a variety of unpitched percussion instruments and an emphasis on improvisation and movement. At each step of the process, students move from imitation to creation, from part to whole, from simple to complex, from individual to ensemble. Through the process, students learn the musical elements of melody, rhythm, harmony, form and timbre. They develop their vocal quality and learn musical notation. Music from many cultures is introduced for children to listen to, sing, and play. The process also involves the students in cooperative work when students prepare ensemble pieces in the classroom, as well as for public performance.

Students also have opportunities to participate in various performing ensembles, including beginning/intermediate and elementary chorus. Nishimachi music students participate in a music festival, International schools chorus as well as perform out in the community for special charity events.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION

The physical education program focuses on educating the mental, physical and social well being of the individual. This provides opportunities for all students to gain knowledge, skills and values, which will enhance their self-esteem and sense of well being. In addition, the values of teamwork, sportsmanship, tolerance, respect and honesty are fostered within a balance of competitive and cooperative sports based experiences.

Through active participation in a variety of group and individual activities, students will acquire a knowledge of game rules and strategies, develop fine and gross motor skills, endurance, aesthetic appreciation, as well as leadership and decision making skills.

The ultimate objective of the physical education program is to promote an appreciation of physical fitness through life long participation in a variety of physical activities, consequently developing active, productive adults who can meaningfully contribute to society while living a positive, healthy life.

SPORTS AND FINE ARTS PROGRAM (SAFA)

In addition to the weekly art, music and physical education lessons our students receive an additional weekly lesson to develop their artistic, musical, physical and dramatic skills. This very popular program is called SAFA. In mixed grade level groups of approximately fifteen, the students participate each week for a seven-week period. Throughout the year, students will have participated in all activities for their grade level. Activities vary from grade to grade: examples are improvisation using puppets for drama, koto a tradtional Japanese musical instrument, hand pottery for art and judo for physical education. SAFA is a popular time of the day for ES students.

In addition grade five students participate in a variety of educational and cultural activities, such as rice planting with students at our sister school in Kurohone.

INFORMATION LITERACY AND TECHNOLOGY

At Nishimachi we believe that information literacy and technology are lifelong tools for learning, creating, expressing and communicating. The meaningful use of information resources facilitates and enhances the development of individual thinkers, collaborative workers, quality producers and global ambassadors - the core goals of the Nishimachi philosophy. Through the library and school wide information technology (IT) resources, we strive to ensure that students and staff become lifelong learners and effective users of ideas and information. Use of information resources is a fundamental component of learning, hence its integration within all curricular areas is essential to ensure that our students acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to function effectively in a global society, now and in the future.

ES APPROACHES TO LEARNING, ASSESSMENT, AND REPORTING

Assessment at Nishimachi is guided by the school’s philosophy and goals. Student growth and learning is assessed on an ongoing basis using approaches that are thoughtful, connected to the learning goals, and improve student learning. Using data collected from assessment, we evaluate students on their individual growth and on learning expectations articulated in the curriculum. Additionally, we guide students in reflecting upon their own learning and assessing their progress as learners. Feedback is fundamental to effective learning.

Approaches to learning vary within each grade level and include individual and pair work, small group work, whole class teaching, literature circles, one-on-one teaching, projects, and writing.  Assessment of student learning is conducted using a variety of activities: teacher observation; accumulative records (in reading); reading assessments; self-assessment; tests and quizzes (beginning in grade one).

Standardized tests (ERBs) are administered in grades three, four and five. Teachers use the results to improve teaching and learning in their classes. The school year is divided into three terms and student progress is reported at the end of each term. There are three occasions per year for formal conferences.  The first of these, held in the fall of the year, is for parents to meet with the teacher. This meeting provides time for parents to give teachers their opinion and perspective on their child as both a person and a learner. Next, there is a parent-student-teacher conference where the student’s progress is discussed. In the spring, there is a student-led conference where the student reviews his/her work, progress, and portfolio with the parents in the presence of the home-base teacher.

HOMEWORK

Homework is considered a vital part of the overall ES educational program. The amount of time for homework varies with each student, but in general homework assignments range from 10 to 30 minutes per day for kindergarten, grade one and two students, and up to one hour for grades three, four, and five.

COMMUNITY SERVICE

We nurture a strong sense of community service at Nishimachi and it begins as our students enter in kindergarten. Our philosophy is “To nurture in our students the natural response to contribute to their communities, local, global and immediate, and develop a life long commitment to community service.”
ES students have opportunities to contribute to and participate in Community Service projects.
I invite you to look at what students achieved during the 2008-2009 school year.

STUDENT LEARNING SUPPORT SERVICES

The student support services team, consists of the school counselor, the ES/MS principals, the learning support teacher, and the English-as-a-second-language (ESL) specialist. They meet on a regular basis to make recommendations concerning students with individual learning needs. They also operate in cooperation with homebase teachers and advisors, parents, and faculty and refer students for counseling, general learning support, and language support, tutoring, or outside testing services.

STUDENT WELFARE

Nishimachi provides a safe and supportive learning environment. Each student is under the guidance of a homeroom teacher and is supported by the school counselor and the nurse. There is also a Health/Wellness program from kindergarten to grade five. A Health and Wellness program is taught by ES home-base teachers.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

We have an ES student council (STUCO) beginning in grade two and they are responsible for representing their class at our bi-weekly meetings. The ES STUCO take a leadership role in our community service projects.

CULTURAL LIFE

Students are involved in cultural events which enrich their understanding of our host country, Japan both during the school day, after school and on day and overnight trips such as rice planting with students at our sister school in Kurohone, learning taiko drumming after school or pounding rice at school on a cold winter day.

SCHOOL TRIPS

Each grade level is involved in day field trips which enhance the academic curriculum. Overnight field trips commence in grade three.

Grade 3:	Sleep over on the school campus
Grade 4 :	Three day ski trip with two nights in a ski lodge in Iwappara. Three day trip to Kazuno, our outdoor facility, in Gunma prefecture.
Grade 5 :	Three day trip to Kazuno, our outdoor facility, in Gunma prefecture. Three day ski trip with two nights in a ski lodge.