TIPS Journal Apr 1, 2024
on how the school year is going
Greetings from Tokyo International Progressive School
Hello! I hope you are enjoying this beautiful time of year.
We are gearing up for our Variety Show April 12. Although we have tried to include each student, the bright lights of the stage are not for everyone. Non-participating students will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m., and those that ride the bus will be delivered home, leaving around 12:55 p.m.
Everyone else will be enjoying an altered schedule that morning and be taken by school bus to the venue in Todoroki around noon for our practices. We will be in small groups to find a quick dinner in the neighborhood. Our show is at 6 p.m. If you cannot attend and need help getting your child home in the evening, please let our office know that.
Soon you will receive information to sign up for a Parent / Student / Teacher Interview. It is important to us to sit with you for a few minutes each semester, either online or face to face, to check in on student program. I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity and sign up for time to chat with your son or daughter's teachers.
As always, any questions, please ask.
All the best,
Lyn Sato
TIPS Principal
UPCOMING IMPORTANT DATES
Through May 15, 2024
Thur, Apr 4: Dismissal at 3:25 p.m. for teacher report card preparation.
Fri, Apr 5: Last Day of Quarter 3.
Mon, Apr 8: First day of Quarter 4.
Thur, Apr 11: Recognition Assembly.
Fri, Apr 12: Altered Schedule. Variety Show from 6 p.m.
Sat, Apr 13: PSA sponsors improv comedy and manga drawing workshops
Wed and Thur, Apr 17 - 18: Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews from 4 p.m.
Thur, April 18: no classes for Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews
Fri, Apr 19: Teacher Workday, no classes.
Fri, Apr 26: Altered Schedule, Sports Day (rain date May 10)
Mon, Apr 29: Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) presents to grades 6 - 8.
Tue, May 1: PSA meeting 1 p.m., staff represented by Lyn
Fri May 3 - Mon, May 6: Golden Week holiday
Goodbye to Mr. Luigi Mondino
We are sorry to part ways with Mr. Luigi Mondino, our high school literature teacher, PE teacher, and club director. Mr. Mondino is currently our longest serving classroom teacher, and has helped so many of our students on their way with their Career Planning and Personal Finance courses. If you see Mr. Mondino before his departure in June, please thank him for the many years of teaching and supporting our students.
Thank you, Mr. Mondino!
Welcoming Ms. Jill Marcelo
We welcome the very skilled Ms. Jill Marcelo to our full-time classroom teaching staff. Ms. Marcelo has 15 years experience in teaching and learning support in international school classrooms from the Philippines, Indonesia to North Carolina, USA. Please say hello and welcome Ms. Marcelo to our community when you see her! We expect her in August.
Parent /Staff Association ACTIVITIES
Submitted by Asako Aiba, Eiko Oka and Nako Pipe
Here is a summary of our activities.
Improve Comedy Workshop
Our Improv Workshop has been a resounding success! In the last workshop, eight participants further developed their skills from previous months by actively participating in the lively warm-up game 'Zip Zap Zop,' which enhanced their listening and quick-thinking abilities. They also engaged in group activities like 'Art Gallery' and scene work in 'Toaster,' refining their collaborative and improvisational talents while delighting in the creative twists.
If you haven't enrolled yet but are interested in this workshop, TIPS students and their siblings are welcome to attend!
Are you fond of drawing? Intrigued by manga?
Dive into the world of manga creation with our Basic Engineering of Drawing Manga workshop!
If you haven't enrolled yet but are interested in this workshop, TIPS students and their siblings are welcome to attend!
Join us in supporting sustainability by donating gently used English or Japanese books for our Used Book Donation Drive. Your contributions will be sold at the school, with proceeds benefiting our gardening projects, and fostering environmental responsibility among students. Let's make a difference together while discovering new reads and enhancing our school environment!
Book Collection Period: March 12th - April 5th
Please drop off your books at the designated area in the school lobby.
Pre-Order Period: April 8th - April 15th
Grade 11 students will compile a list of donated books, and you can pre-order from this curated list.
Book Sale:
April 16th Lunch Time
April 17th Lunch Time & 4 pm - 7 pm
April 18th 9 am - 1 pm
Donated books will be available for purchase by students, parents, and staff.
Cancellation of PSA Monthly Meeting
Due to the unavailability of all PSA Leaders on April 3rd, unfortunately, we will have to cancel the April PSA Monthly Meeting. We will send the report, our income statement, and a comprehensive update on our recent activities, by email.
Please contact our PSA leadership at psa@tokyoips.com if you have any questions!
🏫 AROUND SCHOOL RECENTLY 🏫
SCIENCE FAIR MARCH 4
According to Ms. Pillai, science fair organizer, it's much more than just science! Skills developed include:
Confidence: Students feel proud when they show their projects to others.
Executive Functions: Students learn to solve problems by asking questions and trying different things when things don't go as planned.
Time Management: They learn to manage their time well to finish their projects on time.
Working Together: Sometimes, they team up with friends to do their projects, learning to work as a team.
Independence: They also learn to do things on their own, taking charge of their projects.
Presentation skills: Kids practice explaining their ideas so others can understand.
Finding Information: They learn to look for information to make their projects better.
Creativity: Kids get to show off their creativity by coming up with new and fun ideas.
Understanding Data: They learn to look at information and figure out what it means.
Flexibility: When things don't go as expected, they learn to adjust and try something different.
ATHLETICS: BASKETBALL SEASON IS HERE
Basketball Coach Kurtis Tomlinson holds with the team's attention during a game again KAIS on March 29.
Friendly basketball competition between staff and students at our gym in March.
The "teach us something" assignment from Ms. Young's Speaking Socially Class
TOKYO INTERNATIONAL PLAYERS YOUTH PROGRAM
A performance sure to delight all ages, featuring one of our very own thespians.
... and something from one of our very own visual artists ...
Please do not share the photos outside of the school community.
SERVICE TRIPS
For those who were involved in the 2022-2023 academic year service trip to Iriomote Island with Ms. Saki Koh and Mr. Kurtis Tomlinson, below is a photo published in the Iriomote Island "Go Ethical" booklet for travelers. Our students' writing was well represented in the booklet. Take a look at the link below for plenty more of our students' impressions of the trip and the purpose of the booklet.
COMING NEXT YEAR
TIPS is proud to plan another service trip for our high school students in the spring of 2025. While there are many details to confirm, we know it will be a domestic trip during spring break in about a year from now. If your child will be in grades 9 - 12 next year, consider allowing them to spend spring break in another part of Japan on a service trip.
Want more about TIPS? Here is the latest issue of our student newspaper:
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