Breakfast in school

It is important to note that their is no breakfast in the schools. Kids always eat breakfast at home! This is a stark different from schools in the UK and US. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so luckily, they even provide a sheet of ideas for things to eat. Choose one main, one addition 1 and one addition 2

MAIN                                                

RICE + MISO SOUP                    

OR                                  


TOAST + MILK


OR

CEREAL/MILK



Addition 1                              

FISH
TOFU
EDAMAME or NATTO
BACON/EGGS or OMELETTE
WIENERS



Addition  2 

Ohidashi
Salad
Fried veggie mix
Fruits

School supply list

By school: 

Textbook「教科書」 - Provided by the schools
Name plate「名札」  - Provided by the schools. This stays at school and they use it until graduation.
Defense buzzer - Provided
Randoseru Cover - Provided


Things to prepare from home: 

RANDOSERU they will use for 6 years or any regular backpack
A large handbag, for stuff that wont fit in the backpack, projects or crafts they take home.
Hallway shoes - UWABAKI
Shoe bag - a small bag to fit uwabaki in
Sun hat - with school name emblem on it. they will tell you where to buy it
PE kit - try online for white top, navy blue bottoms, or they will tell you where to buy it
Swim kit - one piece for girls or tight trunks for boys, swim hat, towel, swim bag.  Might want school official, or same color anyway.
Emergency kit - BOUSAIZUKIN
Luncheon mat
Face/hand cloth
Lunchon bag -  a small bag to hold the mat and hand cloth
Dust cloth for cleaning  -  2-3 of them
Umbrella*  not sure how important.

School supplies -  such as crayons, color pencils, notebook, liquid and stick glue, communication book, toolbox/pencil case.

Here's my school's list:
Pencil box
5 pencils  B or 2B, and 1 red pencil
Writing pad - SHITAJIKI, used to write on top of
Eraser
Scissors  - easy to cut with, no characters
Stick glue

 
Special 

ART PACK  -  (ZUKOU)  This is different from the other supplies and stays together in a separate bag.

Medium handbag - that wont tear or rip. Cloth like Polyester, Cotton, or ECO instead of plastic
2 newspapers
2 or 3 B pencils
Black NAME PEN
Eraser
Liquid glue
Scissors
Pocket tissue paper
Art text book (provided)
Color pencils (12+)
Crayons (12+)


Other 

Kenban harmonica - looks like a keyboard.  check with the school on what they are learning for music. In UK, my daughter was learning violin but they provided the instruments.

ENOGU SET  -  Seems to be from December for my school. Different from the art zukou set..

After School Club

Most schools provide after school care (HOUKAGO CLUB). This is free unless you're going beyond a certain time where you may incur an extension fee.

There are two groups.   A group and B group. 

A group is for people who are or are not working. Pickup is by 5PM and you can use it MON - FRI if you wish. You fill out a basic form and pay an 800 yen SPORTS INSURANCE for the year. A group kids can start immediately from next day.

B group is for people who are working. In addition to the basic form, you need to fill in two additional forms for this group. One of the forms include your work schedule even if you are a sole trader. If you work for a company, or attend language school/university, you should have a representative from there sign.  Pick up is until 7-7:30PM and you can use it 7 days a week based on your working schedule.

There are a few rules more associated with using the after school clubs:

No snacks for A group kids.  They will have to bear until after 5pm to eat at their home. They can not bring a snack and will not be provided one. My daughter is always hungry and I would love to put something for her to eat as she walks home but this seems impossible.

B group kids will be provided a snack around 6pm. The cost is 70 yen.

B group kids staying until closing should always be picked up by guardians.  They can never walk alone.

A group kids walking home alone at 5pm will be walked to the school gates by the staff.

If you are picking up a kid, try to come in thirty minute increments. 4, 4:30, 5, etc. 

Japan School Registration and Fees

So you want your child to attend a Japanese school? Maybe you want some kind of bilingual education. Maybe you need to save money for international or boarding schools during the years that matter (junior high or senior high). Whatever the case, I'll document my experience and you can guess from this what might be needed or what to expect.

In the UK and US, public schools are generally free to attend, minus lunch fees. (Or they are paid for by tax dollars anyway). I can't say that I know much about other fees involved there but in my case, my daughter attended a lottery school in Portland for Japanese immersion. Low-income people can receive free or reduced lunches.

In the UK, she went to a Church of England school. (It is quite bizarre that almost every public school is Catholic or Anglican. I found it surprising.) Westminster city provides year reception - year 2 students free meals regardless of income. Textbooks were free in both the US and UK schools. 

In Japan, fees range from 59,000 - 85,000 yen per year depending on the grade. The lower end is for first year students. The upper end is for sixth year students. These fees will vary based on ward or city throughout Japan. You will pay the fee monthly from your Japan Post account, though the first payment might be made in cash if this is impossible. I am not sure if other cities or schools will allow a regular bank account. 

The fee breakdown is this: 

給食費 (School Lunch Expense) 

学年費 (Student Year Expense)  I am guessing textbooks + attendance

PTA 会費  (Parent teacher association)

There is also the auto bank transfer fee if you go this route but the cost is negligible (10 yen or so)

To register for school, you have to be living in the ward and registered with the city office. You can find your nearest school and some basic info here:    http://www.gaccom.jp/en

Then you have an appointment with the school directly, sign a bunch of documents and you're ready to go. You'll receive a confirmation letter of registration from the city office within 1-2 days (up to a week) later. 

On a minor side note, neither I or my daughter are registered as living in the ward. I don't have my visa yet but my daughter is Japanese. They didn't want to do resident registration (JUUMIN TOROKU) by herself.  I also let them know that I have things to do daily and she's too old to go to a daycare (HOIKUEN), so they had better figure out a solution. So basically, you can provide a lease document or a letter from the person you live with if you are renting a room or subletting. They will put education above anything else, since all kids have a right to receive an education in Japan.

On another note, the city office also provides help with fees. I am not sure if its income based or the entire cost is covered but if you are registered officially in the city, you should apply for that.