TIPS Journal Feb 1, 2024 ❄️
on how the school year is going
Greetings from Tokyo International Progressive School
Thank you to those who submitted your opinions on the annual parent survey. Your viewpoints are very important to me. For those of you who expressed interest in seeing a pool of photos of school events, there is a link below to a Google drive folder where you will find plenty of photos of the school year. Many of the photos are taken by staff members or our school photographer at events. Please enjoy these views of school life, and we ask you don't share the photos outside of our school community.
February is DEIJ month at TIPS: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice. Classroom teacher, Ms. Xaida Zyvatkauskas, is leading us through activities that will culminate in Pink Shirt Day, February 28. As another example of DEIJ activities, author and guest speaker Mr. Kinota Braithwaite, arranged by Ms. Aki Takeuchi, will speak about his book, "Mio the Beautiful", on February 16. If you would like to have a copy of Mr. Braithwaite's book signed by the author that day, you may purchase it here. His book relies on pictures and simple text to call attention to and challenge the racism and bullying his daughter endured in Japanese schools as a biracial child. Mr. Braithwaite's writing calls us to increase our empathy to make schools and other communities more welcoming and fair to all.
As always, any questions, please ask.
All the best,
Lyn Sato
TIPS Principal
Read a Letter from Mr. Braithwaite to Parents Here
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
Through March 15, 2024
Thur, Feb 1: Japanese Language and Culture class sponsors field trip for grades 7 - 9.
Fri, Feb 2: Japanese Language and Culture class sponsors field trip for grades 10 - 12.
Mon, Feb 5: Ms. Z rolls out DEIJ month in Period 5 with intro assembly. Tokyo English Life Line presents to grades 9 - 12.
Wed, Feb 7: PSA meeting 1 p.m. attended by Ms. Xaida Zyvatkauskas.
Fri, Feb 9: Basketball game.
Fri, Feb 16: Diversity and Inclusion assembly presented by author Kinota Braithwaite.
Sat, Feb 17: PSA sponsors improv comedy and manga drawing workshops, supervised by Mr. Jessen-Petersen.
Tue, Feb 20: Altered Schedule, depart for Niigata 12 noon.
Fri, Feb 23: return from Niigata in evening.
Fri, Mar 1: Grade 8 TAP sponsors school-wide river clean-up in Periods 5 and 6.
Wed, Mar 6: PSA meeting 1 p.m., attended by Ms. Priya Pillai.
Sat, Mar 9: PSA sponsors improv comedy and manga drawing workshops.
Mon, Mar 11: Student Council sponsors scavenger hunt in Periods 5 and 6.
Fri, Mar 15: Dismiss for Spring Break. Have fun!
Parent /Staff Association ACTIVITIES
Submitted by Asako Aiba, Eiko Oka and Nako Pipe
The PSA is organizing a variety of events and workshops!
Here is a summary of information about our upcoming workshop.
The new Improv Comedy Workshop series has begun! Just like the previous series, our fantastic instructors, Bill and Doug, are here to bring out students' hidden talents and provide lessons filled with laughter and fun.
If you haven't enrolled yet but are interested in this workshop, TIPS students and their siblings are welcome to attend!
The PSA is thrilled to share exciting news about our Manga Workshop. We believe this inspirational workshop will be a fantastic opportunity to enrich and benefit our young learners.
If you haven't enrolled yet but are interested in this workshop, TIPS students and their siblings are welcome to attend!
PSA Monthly Meeting
Please join us, and together, let's discuss ways to make the TIPS community better!
Classroom teacher Ms. Xaida Zyvatkauskas will represent the TIPS staff at the February PSA meeting. You may call her Ms. Z; many of us do so!
Donation
Every year, we ask each student/family to donate 10,000 YEN toward PSA to help fund different activities and events hosted by TIPS PSA. You can simply submit this amount in an envelope with your child's name and have your student provide it to Junko Nakamura in the front office.
Please contact our PSA leadership at psa@tokyoips.com if you have any questions!
Around School This Month
Four pictures of the grade 4 - 6 Japanese Language and Culture field trip January 31. Thank you, Ms. Kimoto, for the very fun and organized day featuring glass blown wind chimes, a yummy lunch and aquarium tour, fostering friendships along the way.
The Quarter 2 Recognition Assembly was January 30. Here are a small number of those recognized for their achievements and contributions:
STUDENT COUNCIL NEWS
authored by Ms. Alaska Balamurugan, Student Council Publicist
Welcome back to a new year that will be nothing short of exceptional - that is a student council promise. Coming up in March, we have a fundraiser that will be sure to bring out your child’s inner dark side with a family friendly, yet still criminal casino night. More info on this will be provided closer to the date of the event, so make sure to perfect those poker faces in the meantime. All proceeds will go towards refugee victims, as well as those affected by the earthquake in Ishikawa. We all know how much TIPS loves to give back, so it’s only right that we receive some of that love as well. In mid-February, we will receive a visit from a very special friend riding in on his arrow-plane, an angelic being with so much love it is downright dangerous. Finally, it would not be a new year, without an inspirational poem,
2024
will not be a bore
For peace and not war
For our dreams to soar
Let your soul roar
Has so much to offer an more
Like TIPS’s fabulous snack store.
With love,
Student Council
And an additional note from Ms. Koh, Student Council Sponsor:
Friday lunches have always been the most exciting lunch. However, the TIPS Student Council (which is in charge of the lunch deliveries) have decided to change the menu for Fridays. We will be ordering from... McDonalds! To maintain the hopes to deliver healthy lunches for students, we will only be selling the small size for fries and will be selling salads. The menu will include: Big Mac, Teriyaki burger, Chicken burger, Fish burger, Cheese burger, 5 piece nuggets, small fries, side salad, and edamame & corn.
ATHLETICS IS BASKETBALL IN FEBRUARY
Please do not share the photos outside of our school community.
Want more about TIPS? Here is the latest issue of our newspaper, the Wolverine.
Tokyo International Progressive School
TIPS is the small and supportive international school in the Futako-Tamagawa area.
Email: tips@tokyoips.com
Website: https://www.tokyoips.com/
Location: 1-5-20 Kamata, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-0077
Phone: 03-5717-0511
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tokyoips