NIS Online Learning FAQs

First of all, it is worth mentioning that the majority of feedback we receive is that for most students, the amount, level, and pacing of work is about right. 

However, it is not surprising, given that different children study and learn in different ways, that some parents reported that their children have too much work, while others report too little. Consequently, we have received requests to reduce work or go to a four-day week to ease the stress on students. But we have also received requests to increase the amount of time students are in lessons. 

As a school, our goal is to balance learning with well-being, and we need parents to help accomplish this. Please reach out to your child’s teacher if you feel there is too much/too little work or if the work is too hard/too easy. The teacher will work with you and your child to get the balance right.  Ultimately, we trust in you – the parent – to help us support your child. 

Online learning is the ‘continuance of operation plan,’ which, as an accredited international school, NIS is expected to have. And as a fully accredited school, your child’s transcript and report card in our online program carry the same weight internationally as would a campus-based program. Furthermore, while how students are learning may be different, and some of the teachers may have adapted some content for the online environment, we are maintaining the core curriculum components (key skills, knowledge, and concepts) in the online program.

There are even some areas in which online learning can really excel. The IB Approaches to Learning Skills; self-management, creative skills and management of the state of mind - along with autonomy and responsibility – are all being developed through online learning. And, while there may be some gaps in the planned curriculum (which we will fill when we return to campus), your children will make exceptional advances in life skills and other areas of their learning, which they will carry with them forever. 

Grade 11 students, who are mid-way through their IB program, may have a unique set of concerns – although, again, we are entirely confident that online learning does not need to impact their success negatively. We continue to discuss what, if anything, we may need to do differently for Grade 11 students as they close this school year and go into next semester. 

Parents have shared well-being concerns for their children. Whether it is too much screen time, loneliness/missing friends, lack of physical activity, or boredom, our kids are facing considerable challenges.

As a school, we want parents to know that your decisions about what is right and healthy for your child should always come first. Teachers strive to help students find balance in their day. In Primary, we designed a flexible schedule so families can have time to do different activities in the fresh air. In Secondary, the breaks are in place so students can get away from their screens, take a walk, or do something different.

We encourage parents to create family routines that emphasize balance between online learning and healthy family life. Students need their technology to stay connected to their friends outside of class, too – so we advise parents to be liberal with the use of these tools for social connection. But family dinners, game nights, walks, or movie nights are also an essential part of building a healthy home environment.

And, if that means sometimes telling your child to put away their studies and do something else, then your child’s teacher will be happy you did so!

We completely understand the apprehension around sending your child back to school and want to emphasize that it is completely optional. Every family will need to make their own choice about whether to send their students back to campus. Therefore, in order to make an informed decision, we have carefully planned out a school protocol for maintaining the health and safety of our students, teachers, and staff. You can read about the SAFETY MEASURES and NEW PRACTICES found in the NIS Return to Campus document.

As stated previously, it was our intention to bring students back into school for limited, optional, on-campus engagements (separate to the online curriculum) upon the lifting of the State of Emergency. With the current COVID-19 case trajectory in Aichi and Japan showing an improving situation and with the State of Emergency ending in Aichi, this gives the school positive momentum as we enter planning for a safe return to campus.

As a campus-based learning environment we have been looking for ways to sensibly and safely re-culture our community back to campus. This means taking opportunities to teach students how to use the campus safely, as well as simply providing time and opportunity for them to once again feel safe and comfortable in school.

One of the biggest messages from survey data is a desire for fun and connection; finding ways for rites of passage, to reconnect with friends, to enjoy time together, to say farewells and to celebrate accomplishments as a community. This can be done online, but not very well.

Finally, bringing a limited number of students back in a controlled environment will give us an opportunity to introduce and instruct students about what campus might be like starting in the fall. It will give us all an opportunity to ease into the possible new reality of what campus learning might look like after returning from summer break.

Learning is a priority. We have therefore determined that the last three weeks of June will be predominantly a continuation of the already-established online learning experience, following the familiar, predictable schedule for all students, regardless of whether or not they can come to campus. This is how learning will look in June:

3-day rotation for G1 – 11  This means that each grade will be on campus for approximately 5 times in the final 14 days of school, June 1-18. ELC will have a different schedule in which one week will see ELC Preschool students invited to campus, and another week will see ELC Kindergarten invited to campus.

Teaching campus safety  Since we will have a limited number of students on campus on any one day, we will be able to teach children carefully how to use campus safely under these guidelines.

Campus opening times  Campus will be open to students from 9:45 am-3:15 pm with no activities after school) in line with government guidance asking us to avoid rush hour traffic for those students using public transport.

The daily schedule for secondary  will be a continuation of the current four period day schedule used for online learning. Primary will follow a modified schedule that still allows for the continuation of online learning.

On days when a Grade is not invited to campus, online learning will continue for students in the normal way.

On the days when a Grade level is invited to campus, teachers will plan learning in such a way that the students who remain home are not adversely affected. (Note: this may mean the school-based students do a separate stand-alone activity and the students at home do not have learning on that day, or it may mean teachers plan for something that students can also engage in whether at home or school. Teachers will communicate this to their classes based on the best fit for that class)

Attendance will be optional for all students. However, Gr.11 students in particular are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunity since the time will be used for IB-related work which, while not impacting the 2019-2020 school year transcript, will be very helpful in preparing for a successful Gr. 12 year.

While we have empathy for family circumstances, the answer sadly is no. Online learning is our obligation for continuity of provision in the case of campus closure, and this continuity of learning is an expectation of us as an accredited international school. As such, we continue to pay staff to deliver learning online, an educational model which requires them to work just as hard – and in many cases harder – than they would in campus-based schooling. Mindful of our responsibility to provide continuance of learning, not only at this time but through the economic uncertainty of the years ahead, NIS will not be changing its tuition policy or rates at this time.

Again, sadly, this is not possible.  In addition to contractual obligations we have on working days for returning staff, some NIS teachers will complete their obligations to NIS and be departing the country in June. Unfortunately, adding days at the end of the school year is not feasible. Again, as an accredited school, our continuance of operation under online learning is the mechanism we will use to ensure your child meets the academic outcomes necessary for their stage of learning. 

We do, of course, understand the economic impact COVID-19 is having on the global economy and the trickle-down effects this is having for the financial health of some NIS families. In that case, I strongly urge you to consider an application for a short-term scholarship. Continuity of learning for ALL our students is the priority for us, and though we cannot make adjustments to the tuition policy, we do want families in need to reach out for support through scholarships. Together as a community, we can ensure that we move through this difficult time. Please contact scholarships@nis.ac.jp for information or see details here.

Yes. We do not yet know how much is possible because we are in discussions with the bus company regarding this matter. The school is currently still paying for this service, and the bus company is still maintaining the employment of the drivers. However, we are in discussions, and it is our hope and our intention to make a reasonable, partial refund to offset the costs of this unused service. As soon as more information is available, we will share with bus parents directly.

The school is not involved in handling issues with lunch accounts. Please contact Cezar's directly at payments@cezarskitchen.com.

Be there to support your students; but let them do the learning. Try to avoid providing too much help – a certain amount of ‘good struggle’ is essential in learning.

And remember, online lesson content is not as personalized as much as classroom learning can be. Please use your judgment to make the learning work for your children.

Teachers DO want to hear from parents as partners in their child’s learning. Please bear in mind, however, that what may not be working for you may be working very well for others in the class, and what seems like a straightforward suggestion, may be more complicated than it appears. Therefore, while staff do want to hear your voice and work with you, not all requested changes or accommodations can be made.

Please also remember that teachers are receiving a very large volume of emails at the current time. We DO want to hear from you as we partner in your child’s learning. However, before sending an email, please consider the following:

•  Teachers may take longer than usual to respond
• If you have already made a request or have agreed on an action with a teacher, please allow a reasonable amount of time to see how it helps your child as you consider when to send further communication.
• Please contact your child’s teacher for issues that pertain to your child but remember that wider issues related to online learning and well-being may be better directed to other members of the administration. But please do remember that Administrators are also currently dealing with an increase in email communication, so forgive us if the answer is delayed.

Safety and well-being are so important. Please help us by ensuring that:

• Your child gets plenty of time away from the screen to do other things – even if that means they are not always handing in work or deadlines are missed. Simply let the teacher know, and they will appreciate the decision you made.
• Your child always has their camera on during Google Meets unless instructed to turn off by the teacher for bandwidth reasons. It is essential that students can connect face to face on this medium and that teachers can account for the students in their class.

As we transition back to campus, it would be helpful if parents could discuss the hygiene protocol, including the '3Cs,' with their students. This can help reinforce the importance of their efforts to keep themselves and their classmates safe and healthy while at school. A full explanation of the Safety Measures that the school is undertaking can be found HERE.