1. Class Attendance

Class attendance determines the quality of a student's academic progress and achievement. If your child is or will be absent from school, please email us with the student's name, the reason for the absence, the date, and a phone number where you can be reached during the day. Unauthorized absences and tardiness have a significant impact on your child's school day and safety. If we do not hear from you within 24 hours of an absence and the absence continues, we will notify the appropriate authorities.

Tardiness 

(Due to public transportation delays, traffic congestion, etc.)
In case of tardiness due to public transportation delays, please submit a notification of delay. If you are picking up or dropping off your child by car, and are likely to be late due to traffic congestion, please call us by phone or other means after confirming your safety, or report it after your arrival. Your child's  safety is our top priority.

Examples of absences that can be recognized with a notification:

If your child becomes ill.
When there is a medical appointment that cannot be changed.
Death of a family member.
Religious holidays.
Participation in school-sponsored events or activities.
Reasons beyond parental control, accidents, natural disasters, etc.

Examples of unexcused absences:

babysitting
travel (negotiable)
shopping
Absence without a valid reason

Unexcused absences of 20 times in a year or more than 10 times in a trimester may result in the cancellation of credits. If your child is going to be absent for an extended period of time, please notify the school and consult with our staff.

2. Traffic rules

Since students frequently go out of the school to move from one classroom to another, the school provides traffic safety instructions throughout the year. Please teach and encourage traffic safety at home as well.

- Early dismissal

Only the person listed on the Student Card is allowed to take students home. If you know in advance when your child will be leaving early, please let us know by e-mail. If your child is leaving early due to a sudden illness, please let us know who will be picking up your child.

3. Contact by phone

Students are not permitted to take messages during school hours. Please contact students in advance.

4. Cell phones

Cell phones are generally not allowed while students are at school, as they interfere with classes. Cell phones are to be placed in the cell phone storage area by the entrance on the way to school from 9:00 to 15:00 for G1 Pre-Class and G1 students, and from 9:00 to 16:00 for G2 students and above, and must be collected on the way out of school. To clarify, the rule is that the cell phone must be collected at the end of the school day. If a student breaks this rule, the school will temporarily hold the cell phone and return it to the student when the parent/guardian comes to school or after notifying the student via e-mail.

5. Internet use in the school

Students must obtain permission from their teachers before using the school Internet. The school prohibits the transmission of copyrighted, threatening, obscene, or trade secret protected material. Use for product advertising, commercial activities, political campaigns, or solicitations is also prohibited. Violators of this rule will have their tablets or PCs taken away and will not have Internet access. During this time, homework and classroom assignments will receive a grade of zero.

6. Dress Code

YES International does not have a dress code, but students may be asked to change their clothes if they are deemed to be offensive to others. The same applies to clothes that create a hindrance in class; they may be asked to change their clothes or haircut. Especially on days when there is a physical education class, please be sure to wear clothes that do not inhibit physical movement and a hairstyle that does not get in the way. Hair that is longer than shoulder length should be tied up in one or two buns on days of PE class, and hair that is longer than elbow length should be braided or braided. (Hairpins may also be a hindrance during certain activities.)

During the daytime when the average temperature is above 10°C (50°F), students go barefoot indoors. Indoor footwear may be used during periods when the average temperature is below 10°C.

7. Testing Policy

YES International will administer in-class and other tests as necessary.
Frequent testing may increase scores, but it has been shown that excessive stress can lead to depression and is very detrimental to mental health. In addition, studying with the sole purpose of increasing test scores can lead children to mistakenly believe that it is okay to forget their knowledge as soon as the test is over. We are careful about the timing and frequency of our tests, keeping in mind that test scores do not always directly correlate with student learning outcomes and that we do not mistake purpose for means. Rather than memorizing the answers to tests, students are encouraged to ask questions, think critically, and grasp the answers on their own as they enjoy learning in informative classes. This is the philosophy of our school.

8. Textbooks and School Supplies

Although we rarely use textbooks distributed by the Board of Education, we may use textbooks, supplementary readers, drills, etc. selected by the instructor as needed.
In the first year of enrollment, students will receive a set of calligraphy tools, colored pencils, rulers, and notebooks, but after that, please purchase additional items as needed. If you are unsure about the format of the notebooks, please contact your instructor or the office. Tablet devices, ukuleles and other instruments are loaned unless otherwise instructed. In case of damage or loss, expenses may be charged.

9. School Events

Field trips, school camps, Halloween, Sports day, and other events are scheduled throughout the year. The annual schedule will be distributed at the beginning of the school year, but the schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions.

10. Expenses

The tuition, facilities, and materials fees are paid to YES International, Inc. and are used to pay for teachers, classroom rent, printers, tablets, PCs, and other school maintenance costs. There may be additional fees for special programs such as field trips and school camps.

- Student ID Cards

An individual student ID card will be issued at the beginning of the school year.
Please use it to purchase a commuter pass or for other purposes. Please use and keep it responsibly. If you need to have it reissued due to loss, etc., you will be charged an additional fee.

11. Contact with the school

All communications from the school to parents will be posted on the Parents Only Contacts (Basecamp). Sign-up information for the Parents Only Contact will be sent to you by email after you have been admitted (transferred). You will receive an email notification when a topic is posted on the bulletin board. Please be sure to check it. We may also send out paper notices for attendance confirmation, questionnaires, and announcements of major events.

12. Parent-Teacher Meetings

Parent-Teacher Meetings are held at the end of the first semester and at the end of the school year, as well as at the end of the second semester when deemed necessary by the parents or the school. If you have any concerns or problems in your study or daily life, please contact the office first. We will set up an interview. The school may also request a meeting if deemed necessary and as needed.

13. Parental Participation

Although YES International does not have a PTA organization, there are opportunities for everyone to get together for events and meetings. Volunteers are also needed for each school event. Please check the "Parents Only Contact Information" (Basecamp, Temporary) for more information. 

14. Safety and Crisis Management

We strive to create a safe learning environment for all students. Fire extinguishers and AEDs are provided as safety measures. We also conduct evacuation drills on a regular basis.

15. Injuries and illnesses at school

If a student is injured, we will report it in the contact book or by e-mail if it is a minor illness. If the injury or illness is deemed serious, the teacher in charge will contact the parents. If the person listed on the Emergency Card cannot be reached, the school reserves the right to call an ambulance or send the student to a hospital for medical attention.

16. What is expected of the student

For children, "getting an education" is their occupation. The following are the things that are expected of you as a student if fulfilling the requirements of your occupation.

- Be prepared for class the day or morning before 
- Make sure you have what you need for each class. 
- At the very least, don't forget a your stationary.
- Books and other materials loaned by the school will be used by others later. Treat them with care.
- Do your best at all times. There is nothing wrong with not being able to do something or not understanding something. However, it is not good to give up from the beginning or turn a blind eye to your own mistakes.
- For parents: Please check your backpacks with your children from time to time. Notices from school or returned printouts may be lying around...

17. Homework

Our policy is to assign as little homework as possible, and even if homework is assigned, there should be ample time for it to be completed. Homework will be assigned as needed, so please remind your child/children at home if they have homework. If homework is forgotten repeatedly without valid excuse, it may affect your school life. For example, you may have to do homework during recess or you may not be able to understand the following day's lesson and miss out on a fun class.

For some subjects, homework may have to be done using the Internet. Please use the Internet under the supervision of a parent or guardian.

18. Study and life at home

- Be actively involved in household chores and be taught good manners.
- Let's show our parents what we have studied in class.
- Let's eat well-balanced meals.
- Let's live a clean and hygienic life every day.
- Let's get enough sleep for a regular life and activities. (Try to get at least 9 hours of sleep a day)
- Do assigned homework as instructed, while considering the meaning of the assignments.
- Submit homework assignments to the teacher on time.

19. Grading Schedule

Our school operates on a trimester system, and grades are given at the end of each trimester. In order to keep parents informed of their student's academic and life progress, a grade report is issued at the end of each semester. In the third semester, we will issue a final grade report that includes the number of days of extracurricular activities, comprehensive studies, and absences.

20. Grading System

Academic grades are based on a student's ability benchmark against their grade level. The school's academic age does not necessarily correspond to the standard academic age in Japan. Behavior records are used to assess students' life, social development, and personal growth for the benefit of students and parents.

21. Interim Report

Interim Progress Reports are issued on an as-needed basis. For example, if a student receives a C or below in all subjects and falls below our achievement standards, an Interim Progress Report will be issued along with the grade report. If necessary, a meeting will be held with the student's subject teacher and the principal. If it is determined that there are any problems or issues that need attention not only academically but also in terms of daily life, a parent-teacher conference will be held. If necessary, we may ask the student to consult a specialist.

22. About the various tests

In addition to quizzes prepared by teachers, TOEFL and Kanji examinations are held several times throughout the year. The results of the TOEFL test, in particular, are used as reference for class placement. The Kanji Proficiency Test is administered approximately during the third semester in order to assess students' kanji mastery over the course of the year. (If a student does not pass the test in the third semester, he/she may retake the test in the first half of the next school year if he/she wishes.)

In some years, we also introduce vendor tests in Japanese, arithmetic, and other subjects. Since our school promotes active learning through bilingual education, it is inevitably impossible to cover all the contents of the Japanese Government's curriculum guidelines, so these tests are used to check which areas of study are being omitted. If you are considering taking a school entrance exam in Japan, please consider how to proceed with your personal home study based on the results of this test.

23. Drugs

Students who possess, sell, or receive drugs that affect the mind will be suspended or expelled from school and will be reported to the police.
Please avoid your child taking medication at school if possible. If you have a prescription that must be taken at school, please write down the details in your contact book or e-mail. The school will not administer prescription medication. Please take them at your own risk.

24. Do not bring anything to school that will interfere with classes.

Please do not bring anything that will interfere with classes. Weapons and dangerous items are not allowed under any circumstances. A safe and secure learning environment is our first priority.
If a student brings a dangerous item to school, the parent/guardian will be notified and the student will be immediately suspended.
If a student is found to have brought a hazardous material to school, a conference review will be held with teachers, staff, and school administration.
In addition, threats of violence, physical violence, or sexual violence will result in immediate expulsion from school and will be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Toys and personal items brought to class for use in class should be put away immediately in your bag without playing with them to avoid breaking or losing them.

Souvenirs and gifts should be exchanged outside of the school.

Dangerous/explicit items include: items that can be used as weapons, fireworks, illegal drugs, prescription drugs that have not been notified to staff, poisons, pornography, alcohol, cigarettes, and any other items that the school deems dangerous.

25. Abuse Policy

At YES International, the safety and happiness of children is our first priority. In the event that physical, sexual, or emotional abuse is suspected, YES International School will contact the relevant authorities, including the Child Guidance Center.

26. Damage to property

Notebooks, writing materials, and school supplies (calligraphy tools, jump ropes, rulers, colored pencils, etc.) provided by the school at the time of enrollment or transfer are personal property, but all other equipment is shared. In principle, we do not ask for any reimbursement due to unforeseeable damages to equipment, but we do ask for reimbursement for the tablet and its accessories. In the case of damage due to repeated carelessness or failure to follow the instructions of staff, we will ask for reimbursement. In the event of stains or damage to personal belongings between students, cleaning, laundering, and reimbursement may be requested.

27. In the event of a weather warning

In the event that a "Windstorm Warning," "Heavy Snow Storm Warning," "Snow Storm Warning," "Heavy Rainstorm Warning," or "Flood Warning" is issued for Yokohama City, we will discuss how to respond and notify you on the bulletin board.

As a rule, school closure notices will be posted to the parent-only contact address (Base Camp, temporary) by 7:00 a.m.
When school is closed, afterschool classes will also be cancelled.
If a warning is issued while students are in school, the safety of students will be our first priority and we will contact parents and guardians to discuss what time to stay at school and when is best to to pick them up.
The school has enough emergency supplies to last all students and faculty for two days. However, the school is not prepared for a long-term evacuation, so in the event of a prolonged evacuation, we will consider moving to a wide-area evacuation site or an evacuation facility.

31. Correspondence to the Board of Education and enrolled school

As a free school, we may be asked by the Board of Education or the public school in which your child was enrolled to provide proof of enrollment at the time of admission, transfer, or during the school year. Please note that in certain rare cases, public schools may have reservations about cooperating with our system of education. 
Please feel free to contact our office if you are facing any issues. We can issue a certificate of enrollment, prepare materials, and attend explanations to school boards and public schools.

32. Countermeasures against Infectious Diseases

Due to the possibility of the spread of a new type of coronavirus infection, measures such as school closure may be taken in the event that a state of emergency is declared or the Prevention of the Spread of Infectious Diseases Act, etc. is issued.
In addition, please note that there is a possibility that the rules for coming to and from school, the classroom, and picking up and dropping off students may be changed in order to prevent infectious diseases.

33. Affiliated Medical Facilities

Yokohama Nakamura Clinic

34. Physical Examination

Internal medicine, otolaryngology, and urinalysis will be conducted once a year.

35. Insurance

The students will be covered by the Sports Safety Association of Japan's general group insurance for a period of one year.