WHITE ELEPHANT SALE MEETINGS

The Family Community have organized a schedule for families to assist with preparations for the Spring Carnival White Elephant Sale, a hugely popular annual fundraiser for the Family Community and heart of activity at the Spring Carnival every year. Preparing thousands of items for sale is a huge job that requires the valued assistance of many parents and families, and in turn provides a great opportunity for you to get to know other families in your child's class a grade level. Please join us if you can on the Suginami Campus from 9am to 3pm on the dates below according to your child's class, even if its just for a few hours. Lunch will be provided.

• Kinder 3, Tuesday 6th April
• Kinder 4, Wednesday 7th April
• Grade 1D, Thursday 8th April
• Grade 1W, Friday 9th April
• Grade 4F, Monday 12th April
• Grade 4J, Tuesday 13th April

Read full details in English and Japanese, along with a reply slip for parents and families who wish to designate a time for helping out with the sale on the day of the carnival (only for the above classes). Please return all reply slips to Homeroom Teachers by Wednesday 17th April. Thanks for your ongoing support of the school and our carnival.

SPRING CARNIVAL BOOTH UPDATE

Thank you to all parents for your submission of the return slip. Although we still need more parent volunteers for some booths we want to proceed with preparation of the Spring Carnival. While we continue to accept reply slips we will be speaking directly with parents for support of the booths.

お手伝いの返信用紙を提出していただきました保護者の皆様、ありがとうございます。全てのブースで人数が十分に足りている状態ではありませんが、スプリン グカーニバルの準備を進めながら引き続き返信用紙の受け付け、お手伝いの呼びかけを行っていきたいと思います。ご協力よろしくお願いいたします。

There has been a slight change in the food booth. Australian and Indian booths have been canceled due to lack of helpers, instead Sri Lanka booth is launched. We finalized the food booths as China & Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Philippines, Sri Lanka and USA; a total of 7 booths. Moreover, helpers for Entertainment are determined as unnecessary. Family Community Officers will make contact with parents who have volunteered to help Entertainment. Now, for parents who have not yet submitted the reply slip, they will be asked to help the following booths as indicated below. Parents who have submitted the reply slip will be helping the booth of their choice.

フードのブースに若干の変更がありました。十分な数のお手伝いが集まらなかったことからオーストラリア、及びインドブースの立ち上げを断念することにな り、代わりにスリランカブースを立ち上げることになり、ブースは中国＆台湾、日本、韓国、メキシコ、フィリピン、スリランカ、及びアメリカの７ブースに確 定いたしました。また、エンターテイメントはお手伝いが不要となりました。エンターテイメントを希望されている方にはＦＣ役員がご連絡いたします。なお、 返信用紙が未提出の保護者の方々には、以下のクラス担当に従いお手伝いしていただくことになります。返信用紙を提出していただいた保護者の方々は、クラス 担当とは関係なく希望するブースでお手伝いください。

• White Elephant: K3, K4, 1D, 1W, 4F, 4J,
• Food: China & Taiwan - 2F, 2G, LI-1
• Japan - 8F, 8S, 9T
• Korea - MI-1, MI-2, 9C,
• Mexico - 6M, 6S, 6MSP
• Philippines - 5C, 5L, 7V, 7MSP
• Sri Lanka - Meguro Campus
• USA - 3C, 3L, LI-2

Meeting dates are as follows. For the next meeting on Thursday March 4th we would like to have participation of parents from Korean, Philippines booths, and White Elephant.

今後のミーティングの日程は以下の通りとなります。次回4日（木）のミーティングには韓国、フィリピン、ホワイトエレファントのお手伝いの方々に出席していただきたいと思います。

• Thursday 4th March
• Tuesday 9th March
• Thursday 11th March
• Tuesday 16th March
• Thursday 18th March

GRADE 6 SKI TRIP PHOTO REPORT

February 24 to 27 the grade 6 classes went on amazing 4-day ski adventure in Yuzawa. Click here to view our full album of photographs, customize a slideshow, download photographs or order prints.

INTERNATIONAL MUSIC FESTIVAL 2010

Friday evening March 19th is the day to set aside for the International Music Festival 2010! This year, the Music Department is proud to present “Broadway Revue”. Families may have already received some information or a request for assistance with costumes and small props from the Music Department or your child’s Homeroom Teacher. Please feel free to call the Music Department or your child’s Homeroom Teacher on 03-3335-6620 or 03-3332-6963 during school hours if you have any further questions regarding the costumes. You do not have to worry about it if you have not received any request.

• The program will begin at 6pm and will run for approximately 2 hours.
• Students are asked to be at school at 4pm the afternoon of the International Music Festival for a final preparations.
• Students should eat an early dinner at home before coming to school.
• A small snack is permitted to be brought to school. Doors will be opened for the parents and guests 15 minutes before the program begins.
• There will be NO school lessons for participating classes on that day.
• There will also be no bus service for participants on that day.
• Be keep in mind that there is no parking available at A-JIS. Please use the parking lots in the school’s vicinity or come by public transportation.

As usual, the students, their music teachers and many other members of the faculty and staff have been working together hard to produce an entertaining show, which promises to be a great success. We look forward to seeing you on that day! Please do not hesitate to call the Vice-Principal Paul Wright on 03-3332-6963 if you have any questions regarding this event.

3月19日(金)にインターナショナル・ミュージック・フェスティバル2010　が企画されています。今年、音楽科は「ブロードウェイ・レビュー」を披露します。もう既に音楽科またはクラス担任からこのアクティビティーに関してのお知らせや衣装、小道具を準備するお手伝いの依頼が出ているかもしれません。この手紙に添付されている衣装についてのお知らせをよくお読みになって下さい。もし衣装等に関するご質問がありましたらお気軽に03-3335-6620もしくは03-3332-6963までお電話で音楽科又は担任にご連絡下さい。教師から仮にまだ依頼が出ていなくてもご心配ありません。下記に詳細が記されていますのでご参照下さい。

• プログラムは午後6時に始まり、約2時間を予定しております。
• 生徒はインターナショナル・ミュージック・フェスティバルの日は最終準備のために午後4時までに学校に来てください。登校前にご家庭で早めの夕食を取るようお願い致します。軽いおやつを学校に持ってきて頂いて結構です。
• プログラム開始15分前から、保護者の皆様とお客様に会場にお入り頂けます。
• この行事への参加クラスは当日授業がありません
• 参加生徒は当日スクール・バスを利用できません。
• 学校内に駐車場はございません。近隣の駐車場をご利用になるか、公共の交通機関をご利用の上、来校をお願い致します。

いつも生徒・音楽教師・学校スタッフ一同、素晴らしいショーになるよう、一生懸命努力しております。ショーは大成功となることでしょう。当日皆様にお会いするのを楽しみにしております。このアクティビティーに関しまして何かご質問がございましたら、ご遠慮なく03-3332-6963までお問い合わせ下さい。

2010-2011 SCHOOL CALENDAR

The 2010-2011 school calendar is complete and was approved by the school board in last week's meeting. The process of putting together this calendar was one of collaboration, involving representatives from all parts of the school community, including parents, faculty, staff and administration. All aspects were carefully considered and decisions were made thoughtfully. Click here to view the full calendar. The school would like to thank the following people for donating time to attend meetings and for their valuable contributions:

Parents

• Mr. David Perry, Father of MI-1 student
• Mrs. Mika Miyata, Mother of Gr.6 student
• Mr. Mike Madigan, Father of Gr. 8 and Gr.4 students

• Mrs. Netta Carver, Grade 9 Homeroom Teacher
• Mrs. Shoko Endo, Japanese Teacher
• Ms. Wendy Weisbart, Grade 1 Teacher

• Mrs. Kiki Yamaguchi, Admissions Officer and Mother of Gr. 1 and Gr.2 students
• Ms. Harumi Nakatake, Executive Secretary

Administration

• Ms. Barbara Beaufait, Head of School
• Ms. Kristine Bordner, Middle School Vice Principal
• Mr. Paul Wright, Suginami Kindergarten & Elementary Vice Principal
• Ms. Elizabeth de Souza, Meguro Kindergarten Principal
• Mrs. Chiharu Uemura, Finance Director
• Mr. Robert Gomez, Admissions Director
• Mr. Allen Huies, Placement Director

SPRING CARNIVAL 2010 UPDATE

We have received approximately 40 reply slips from parents offering assistance for the Spring Carnival. In order to provide parents with information on how you can support booths at the carnival and get started with preparations, we will be holding a Spring Carnival meeting every Tuesday and Thursday in March from 9am to 11:30am in the Family Community Room, House Shara 204 on the Suginami Campus. Family Community officers will meet you at the school entrance at 8:45am.

The Family Community needs parents to support the Spring Carnival in different ways. Even if you are not available to attend the Spring Carnival meetings, you can still help on the day before the Spring Carnival, the day of the Spring Carnival or on school days during April. Please read full details on booths and volunteering in English and Japanese.

SUGINAMI PEACE POSTER AWARDS

Earlier this year, Suginami Ward held its annual "Posters for Peace" contest, soliciting entries from Suginami Ward elementary/middle school students. We were advised that of the 515 entries from 28 schools, 2 entries by A-JIS students won prizes.

• Bronze A.Yamagishi (8F)
• Bronze J.Komuro (7V)

The prize winning entries will be on display from March 8, 2010 until March 18, 2010 at Suginami Ward Office. There will be an award ceremony that will be held on March 18th at 4:00pm for 1 or 11/2 hours to recognize those students who won prizes. A bus from/to A-JIS will be going to the Suginami Ward Office for the award ceremony on March 18th departing at 3:10pm and parents are welcome to join us on the bus. If you would like to utilize A-JIS bus services to attend the ceremony at Suginami Ward Office, please complete and return the reply slip attached in English or Japanese by March 2, 2010.

WHITE ELEPHANT SALE 2010

The Family Community would like to announce that we are ready to collect items to be donated for the White Elephant Sale. We apologize for the delay in the announcement due to unexpected circumstances this year. The White Elephant, a sale of new and used items donated by families, is one of the biggest events held during the Spring Carnival and the entire proceeds will be put back into the school for our students to enhance their educational environment. Every year we’ve had many items donated and we’d like to extend our sincere appreciation for your cooperation. However, in the past few years the White Elephant volunteer parents had difficulties handling items of extremely poor quality. We kindly appreciate your keen judgement in donating clean and usable items. Please acknowledge that any unclean or damaged items will be thrown away upon decision of the White Elephant volunteer parents. If you have any unwanted items, please deliver them by either of the following ways indicated below. We appreciate your cooperation.

Types of Items

Adult and child clothes, baby clothes and goods, shoes, bags, accessories, household goods, tableware, books for children, toys, electronic appliances, CDs, DVDs, stationary, sporting items, vacation goods, travel goods, gifts, ornaments, food and many more.

Sorry but we DO NOT ACCEPT books, DVDs or videos other than those intended for children. Thank you for your understanding.

Quality

• New items
• Unused old items
• Used but clean and usable items

We appreciate if the original price tag or a note indicating the original price and/or number of time used is attached to new and unused old items. Please Take Note of the Following

• Used clothes must be in a reasonably clean condition either washed at home or dry-cleaned
• All items should not have any damage
• An indication on any missing parts or pieces for usable items should be attached
• Food should be within the expiration date
• All electronic items should be pre-checked and indicated that they work

Where and how to send donations

Personal Delivery: Suginami Campus 1st floor underneath the stairway (Please put items in a paper bag or a box and indicate as “White Elephant”

School Bus: Please also put items in a paper bag or a box, indicate as “White Elephant” and ask bus attendant to bring them to school.

Delivery Service: Please send to Suginami Campus at the following address:

2-10-7 Miyamae, Suginami-ku, 168-0081

Aoba-Japan International School (Please note as “White Elephant Donation”)

Deadlines

Donation items can be collected during school days from 8:00AM to 5:00PM until Friday April 16, 2010.

For further information, please contact:

family.community@aobajapan.jp

ファミリー・コミュニティーは、ホワイト・エレファントに寄付していただく品物の回収の準備ができましたことをご報告いたします。今年は予想外のスケジュールで、ご連絡が遅くなりました事をお詫びいたします。ホワイト・エレファントは、皆様から寄付された新品、新古品、中古品のセールで、スプリング・カーニバルで行われる様々なイベントの一つで、収益は全額学校に戻され生徒の教育環境向上のために使用されます。

皆様より毎年たくさんの品物を寄付していただいておりますが、このことにつきましてはファミリー・コミュニティーのスタッフ一同心より感謝しております。有難うございます。しかし残念ながら数年前から粗悪な品物の寄付が目立ち、ホワイト･エレファントのボランティア・スタッフは処理に大変苦労されております。どうか常識の範囲内の清潔で使用可能な品物のご寄付をお願いいたします。なお、汚れた品物や壊れた品物はボランティア・スタッフの判断で破棄することがありますのでご了承ください。

ご自宅で不要な品物がございましたら以下のいずれかの方法にてご寄付ください。皆様のご協力よろしくお願いいたします。

品物

大人や子供の衣類、ベビー服やグッズ、靴、鞄、アクセサリーや小物、家庭用品、食器、児童書、玩具、電化製品CD、DVD、文房具、スポーツ用品、旅行用品、不要なお中元やお歳暮の品、装飾品、食品など

品質

A) 新品 B) 新古品　C) 中古品

(清潔で使用可能なものに限る)

新品や新古品で購入した際の値札が付いている場合はそのままに。値札がないものでも大体の購入金額や使用回数が分かる場合は、記していただけると助かります。

以下の点にご注意ください

• 中古衣類は比較的きれいな状態で、必ず自宅で洗濯、またはドライクリーニングに出してください
• 故障や破損した品物のご寄付はご遠慮ください
• 使用可能な品物でパーツやピースが足りない場合はメモをつけてお知らせください
•  食品は賞味期限内のものに限ります
• 電化製品は必ず正常に機能するか確認し、使用可能であることをメモしてお知らせください

ご寄付いただく方法と場所

ご持参いただく場合：　杉並キャンパス１階の階段の下　（品物を袋、またはダンボール箱に入れ、「ホワイト・エレファント」とご記入ください）

スクールバスをご利用の場合：　品物を袋、またはダンボール箱に入れ、「ホワイト・エレファント」とご記入いただきバスの添乗員にお渡し下さい

宅急便を使用される場合：　以下の住所にお送りください

回収時間と期限

回収時間は登校日の8:00AM～5:00PM 、回収期限は、2010年4月16日（金）になります。

児童書以外の書籍及びVHSのご寄付はお断りしております。ご了承ください。

ご質問、ご不明な点がございましたら下記までご連絡ください。

宮田美華

ファミリーコミュニティー会長

family.community@aobajapan.jp

COFFEE MORNINGS, HAITI FUNDRAISING REPORT

We are happy to announce the great success of the Haiti Book Sale and Snack Sale. The proceeds totaled to ¥121,960 (¥52,800 for books and ¥69,160 for snack) contributing the Haiti Relief Campaign to reach over 100 million yen together with the admission fees for the Haiti Talent Show. We would like to take this opportunity to extend our warm appreciation to the parents of the Suginami campus who came to help sell books and snack, and to the parents of the Meguro Campus for supporting the snack sale with plenty of home-baked goods. We would also like to announce that the Halloween Bake Sale earnings totaled to ¥152,971 and the Family Community Officers decided to send the proceeds also to Haiti to help the victims of the disaster.

Another announcement from the Family Community - To make the organization more comfortable for the parents to join and to enable parents to share ideas and thoughts casually the Family Community would like to hold a COFFEE MORNING as follows:

• 1F Conference Room, Suginami Campus, 9:00 – 11:30
• Tuesday February 16
• Tuesday March 2
• Tuesday March 16

Please feel free to participate the coffee morning session. The topics for Tuesday Feb.16 session will be introduction of the new Officers, answering any questions you have on the Family Community and sharing ideas on the Spring Carnival. Please take this opportunity to share your thoughts with us and partake in building the organization. We are looking forward to seeing you all.

先月29日に行われましたHaiti Book Sale and Snack Saleは大成功に終わったことをご報告致します。収益は合計で121,960円（本が52,800円、スナックが69,160円）に達し、ハイチタレン トショーの入場料も含め、ハイチ救済キャンペーン目標の100万円を超えることができました。この機会に、本やスナック販売のお手伝いをしていただいた保 護者の皆様、またたくさんの手作り菓子を寄付して下さった目黒キャンパスの保護者の皆様に心から感謝申し上げます。ご協力ありがとうございました。 また、10月に行われましたハロウィーン・ベークセールの収益は152,971円に達したことも併せてご報告致します。なお、ファミリーコミュニティー役員の判断でこの収益もハイチ被災者に寄付することを決定いたしました。

もう一つご報告があります。ファミリーコミュニティーをより参加しやすい組織にするため、また保護者が気軽に意見や考えを話せる場を作るため、コーヒーモーニングを以下の日程で行う事になりました。

• １階のConference Room, 9:00 – 11:30
• 2月16日（火）
• 3月2日（火）
• 3月16日（火）

皆さんお気軽にご参加ください。なお、2月16日（火）のテーマは、役員の紹介、ファミリーコミュニティーに関する質疑応答、スプリング・カーニバルに関する意見交換などを予定しております。この機会に是非、皆さんの考えをお聞かせください。また組織の構築にお力をお貸し下さい。皆様にお会いできることを楽しみにしております。