TIPS Journal Nov 1, 2024 🍁

It's a beautiful time of year and I hope you are enjoying the outdoors.

Our Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews are important to us. If you have signed up to speak to our teachers about your son or daughter's progress, see you on November 6 or 7.

Starting in January we ask that you avoid sending nuts and nuts products to school, in order to help us become a nut-free school and to protect those with allergies. Thanks!

As always, any questions, please ask.

All the best,

Lyn Sato

TIPS Principal

lsato@tokyoips.com

Fri, Nov 1: Smart Reads Book Sale begins. Volleyball players depart 1:45 p.m. to compete @ IISJ.

Wed, Nov 6: Early 1:20 p.m. dismissal for students. Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews 1:30 - 6 p.m.

Thur, Nov 7: Parent / Student / Teacher Interviews 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. No classes for students.

Fri, Nov 8: Japan Learning Support Conference for teachers. No classes for students.

Sat, Nov 10:🏐 ISTAA Volleyball tournament.

Tue, Nov 12: Grades 4 - 5 soccer team competes at TIPS.

Mon, Nov 18: Photo Day courtesy of KeyShots.

Wed, Nov 20: Student Council sponsors Game Day as service trip fundraiser.

Thur, Nov 21: Last day to order from Smart Reads Book Sale.

Fri, Nov 22: Science field trip for grades 9 - 10.

Sat, Nov 23: PSA comedy improv workshop in Shibuya.

Tue - Thur, Dec 3 - 5: Japanese Language and Culture field trips.

Fri, Dec 6: Early 3:25 dismissal.

Sat, Dec 7: PSA comedy improv workshop in Shibuya.

Sat, Dec 7: Meet the Counselor Morning in our Common Room

Fri, Dec 13: International Day. 2 p.m. dismissal for Winter Break.

TIPS Dads Night Out will take place on Friday 15 November at 19:00 at Big Iowa BBQ in Roppongi. For more info, to RSVP or to be added to the TIPS Dads Distro please contact Rory Tibbals at prtibbals@gmail.com.

Get ready to dive into the literary world filled with adventure, knowledge and magic! The SmartReads Book Club campaign starts today as your son or daughter will have the chance to order from the SmartReads catalogue they receive. The TIPS order code is 609. But hurry! The fun ends November 21.

With special consideration for our grade 12 grads!

🎹 If you are musically inclined, Mr. Carlos Lee, dad of a TIPS student, is creating a music group for parents and students you'll want to know about. According to Carlos, music is a fantastic way to get to know your child or teenager better as well as knowing yourself better. Please contact Carlos at fueye81@gmail.com to collaborate on a musical project. You may find yourself on stage at our Variety Show on April 11 🎼I

🌟 TIPS is proud to sponsor an overseas service trip during Spring Break, March 16 - 21, 2025. Some students in grades 8 - 12 will be invited to travel overseas with Ms. Priya Pillai and other TIPS staff members for a memorable week of serving others. By now parents and students of this age group have been given the details of what is sure to be a memorable trip.

Members of the trip will be based at the Telunas Center and conduct day activities from there. Read more about the Telunas Center here.

Thanks to our Student Council, much of our fundraising efforts this year will financially support the trip to the Telunas Center.

Our own Ms. Yu Matsumura at our reception desk will be getting married soon and her professional name will change to Yu Breeden. Starting today, please use this email address to reach her: ybreeden@tokyoips.com. Congratulations, Yu!

Here's a small example of an award recipient from our Recognition Assembly October 30. Congratulations to all who received an award. For others, we have faith in you! There are two more such assemblies this school year.

Another small sampling of the creative Halloween designers. Very impressive again this year!

Any and all TIPS parents are invited at 10 a.m. the morning of Saturday, December 7 to meet our counselors, Mr. Masahiro Shimokawa and Ms. Kalin Yokota. You may reserve a time to speak with them privately, or simply drop by our Common Room to introduce yourself over coffee and a pastry. We welcome you. To gauge how much time to allow, please let us know you are coming by sending an email to Mr. Shimokawa at mshimokawa@tokyoips.com or Ms. Yokota at kyokota@tokyoips.com.

January Drama Workshop:

Empower Your Child Through Drama: Confidence, Connection, and Self-Discovery

In today’s digital age, nurturing creativity and emotional awareness is essential for building self-discovery and meaningful connections. Drama offers a unique path to achieving both.

Join our Drama Workshop, led by acclaimed director Mr. Kenjiro Otani and actress Ms. Miho Oowada, where students will develop creativity, communication skills, and self-expression through expert guidance.

About the Instructors:

Mr. Kenjiro Otani is a San Francisco State University graduate and seasoned director with experience in youth theatre and inclusive arts projects. He also teaches at Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music and Tokyo University of the Arts.

Ms. Miho Oowada is an actress known for her inclusive arts work with children. Co-leader of “When Children Smile, the World Smiles,” she brings a passion for helping young people express themselves creatively.

Workshop Details:

• Session 1: Grades 4-8 10 AM - 12 PM
• Session 2: Grades 9-12 1 PM - 3 PM
• Fee: ¥3,500 per student (Siblings welcome! More participants help maximize PTA support and contribute to fundraising efforts!)

Each session is limited to 15 students. Reserve your spot now!

Location: Komaterrace Nishi (https://www.komaterrace.com/)

For parents' convenience, there is an on-site café, a playground, and a small car park for quick drop-offs and pick-ups. For longer stays, paid parking is available nearby at Times and Mitsui Repark.

🍎🍎🍎

November PSA activities:

Nov. 23rd, 2024 10 AM - 2 PM: Improv Comedy Workshop at Ebisu

Location: (https://shakyokan-ebisu.amebaownd.com/)

Registration: https://forms.gle/XAD7HUhiT8Mvpmwk6

🍎🍎🍎

Donation

Each year, we kindly ask each student/family to donate 10,000 yen to the PSA. These funds help support various activities and events organised by the TIPS PSA. Please submit the donation in an envelope labelled with your child's name and have them give it to either Ms. Nakamura or Ms. Matsumura in the office.

For additional information, please contact us at: psa@tokyoips.org

As the start of a new month arrives, so does this probably not very well written article. Planned events are a fundraiser for the costs of the upcoming service trip, with very fun and skill-based games like blackjack and roulette. Playing a game will cost between 100-200 yen (depending on the game). If your child would like to enjoy the events to the fullest, we recommend bringing an amount of money equal to 1000-2000 yen. You can also bring extra money for snacks.

On December 12th, we have the Christmas event, in which we watch Christmas movies and do Christmas Secret Santa and overall be very Christmas. That is all, but I do wonder, are there events of your own you look forward to in November? Don’t answer, because this article does not have a secret spying device listening in on your microphone. I promise.

TIPS is partnering with Peak Pursuits for a series of outdoor adventures this year. The events are fantastic opportunities to get out of our urban setting and see some of Japan's beautiful landscapes.

For almost 50 years Tokyo English Life Line has been talking to troubled teens. If a teenager does not feel like talkiing to the adults around them but is experiencing emotional distress, encourage a call or chat to TELL.

Want to read more about TIPS? Here is the latest issue of our newspaper, The Wolverine, and back issues, too.

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

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokyoips/