Please note that these guidelines are for the foreign teacher's general information about how the school protocol usually operates, and do not constitute a contract, in whole or in part.  All school duties and rules are under the control of the principal and may be changed as necessary.

A.                      Teacher Duties

The duties of the foreign teachers include:

1.           updating the English Communication Curriculum;

2.           preparing materials for English Communication classes;

3.                      preparing for and teaching about 16 hours of English Communication

classes per week, following the English Communication Curriculum as closely as possible;

4.                      teach after school Homestay classes 3 to 5 days a week during the spring semester (for 2^nd-year students);

5.                      teach several weeks of extra American Homestay classes during the late spring (for 2^nd-year students);

6.                      teaching Adult English Conversation classes in the evening (optional);

7.                      working on speech and recitation contests: preparing speech scripts and other materials, coaching students, typing out student speeches, and judging contests;

8.                      organizing and leading students to create, practice, and perform skits, games, and musical routines for school festivals;

9.                      teaching extra-curricular classes, supervising clubs, or coaching sports;

10.                  assisting administration in preparing special documents in English;

11.                  serving as a committee member on Student Discipline, Special Events, or Career Guidance;

12.                  leading a small group of students to clean an assigned area of the school for about 10 minutes each day;

13.                  cleaning the teacher staff room with the other teachers after students have begun their vacation;

14.                  keeping their desk area clean and tidy everyday;

15.                  doing the After School Room Check for 3 straight days in rotation with other teachers; and

16.                  participating in all school ceremonies and events;

17.                  take an annual health exam along with all teachers and staff (usually in September);

18.                  guiding students to obey all school rules.

B.                      School Schedules

1.                      Work Hours

Monday to Friday                            8:30 am 4:30 pm

Saturdays               (1^st, 2^nd , 3^rd, or 5^th Saturday of each month)           

8:30 am 12:30 pm

Saturdays               (The 4^th Saturday of each month is usually an off-day.)  

These days and times are subject to change due to special events.  Therefore, be alert for special announcements about schedule changes.  

2.                      School Daily Schedule

Opening of School Building   7:30 am

Teacher Assembly                           8:30 8:40 am

Homeroom Period                            8:45 9:00 am

1^st Period                           9:10 9:55 am

2^nd Period                          10:05 10:50 am

3^rd Period                           10:55 11:40 am

4^th Period                           11:45 am 12:30 pm

Lunch                               12:30 1:05 pm

5^th Period                           1:10 1:55 pm

6^th Period                           2:00 2:45 pm

After School Period           3:30 4:30 pm (extra classes)

Closing of Building                7:00 pm

These times are also subject to change so be alert for time change announcements.

The English Conversation Club is usually scheduled for Fridays between 3:30 and 4:30.

Please note that teachers must sign or stamp in the Teacher Attendance Log before 8:30 am to be considered officially on-time.  Teachers are allowed to leave school without permission during lunch.  Teachers may obtain permission to conduct personal business, such as going to the bank, during work hours, with written permission using the appropriate forms (see How Things Work Folder). 

3.   Semester Schedules

All of the dates given will vary from year to year slightly, depending on the calendar year, so please make sure you go by the official school schedules.  The dates presented in this document are being given simply as general reference points.  Student final scores and attendance records should be turned in to the English department head teacher during the week following the exams.  Both the exam and the exam follow-up lesson should be included in the attendance totals.   Each term ends for the students with a school-wide cleaning day, and a closing ceremony.

 Spring - Summer Term (April 1^st to July 31^st)   

Examinations and the going over of the tests with the students is around June 19^th to June 23^rd.  School festival preparations and the festival itself (around June 25^th to July 1^st) will take much of the daily school time for the first few weeks of July.  Second-year students will not be in school from about July 10^th to July 20^th, due to their School Trip to America. Student vacations begin around July 25^th.  Teachers have off-days from around August 5^th to August 10^th.  

 Summer Fall Term (August 18^th to September 30^th) 

Examinations and the going over of the tests with the students is around September 21^st to September 26^th.  Some of your second-year students may be on homestay in America until around September 8^th.  Students may have 1 or 2 days of vacation, from around September 29^th to September 30^th.

 Fall Winter Term (October 1^st to January 8^th)   

Examinations and the going over of the tests with the students are around December 13^th to December 18^th.  Student holidays begin around December 22^nd.  Teachers have off-days from around December 29^th to January 5^th. 

 Winter -- Spring Term (January 1^st to March 31^st)   

Classes begin approximately January 15^th, but the class schedule (periods and times) will change on an almost weekly basis.  The reason for these changes is due to (1) the school ski trip (about February 21^st February 23^rd), (2) daily ski lessons, and (3) school entrance examinations (about the first 2 weeks of February).   Examinations and the going over of the tests with the students is around March 14^th to March 19^th.  Please note that 3^rd year students will NOT have regular classes during this term, though they may come in individually for self-study and / or for tutoring from teachers.  The graduation ceremony and festivities will take place around the first Friday of March.  Student vacations begin around March 21^st.

4.           Holidays

Sundays

The 4^th Saturday of each month

December 25^th, Christmas

December 29^th to January 4^th, New Year's Holidays

February 10^th, School Foundation Day

The second Monday of January, Coming of Age Day

February 11^th, National Foundation Day

March 20^th, Vernal Equinox

April 29^th, Earth Day

May 3^rd, Constitution Day

May 4^th, National Holiday as Part of Golden Week

May 5^th, Children's Day

July 20^th, Ocean Day

September 15^th, Senior Citizen Day

September 23^rd, Autumnal Equinox

The second Monday of October, Physical Fitness Day

November 3^rd, Culture Day

November 23^rd, Labor Day

December 23^rd, Emperor's Birthday

If a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday then becomes a holiday.

5.         Vacations

Paid Vacation.     During their first year of teaching, teachers are entitled to 10 days of paid vacation each year.  If more than 10 days are taken, the teacher's salary will be reduced accordingly.  Under special circumstances, a teacher may be allowed to take an additional paid vacation day with permission from the principal (ko-choo sensei).

C.                      Classes

1.                      The teacher should be in the classroom when the chimes ring and remain there until the class period ends.

2.                      Classes should be held in the assigned classrooms.  If a change for class location is

desired, permission should be obtained.

3.                      Records of attendance, academic performance, and student discipline should be

recorded accurately.

4.                      No food or beverage is allowed in the classrooms by teachers and students.

5.                      Students may not use cellular phones in class nor have them even in plain sight.

D.                      Visa Restrictions

1.                      The visa and alien registration card are important documents and should

be safely kept at all times.  In order to legally retain the rights which

these documents confer, all laws and regulations concerning living in

Japan must be observed.

2.                      The visa does not allow the foreign teacher to work outside of the school

for income.

3.                      Driving without written permission from the school is not allowed since

the school is legally responsible for any damage or injuries incurred by

the teacher.  In order to possibly obtain permission for driving, another

financially viable person, such as a parent, must state in writing that he / she is

legally responsible for any driving-related accidents.

E.                      Dress

1.                      Shoes should be black.  Men should wear suit and tie.  Women should wear long

dresses (below the knees). Dyed hair, low-cut dresses, or excessive jewelry are not

allowed.

2.                      During the snow season, shoes should be changed in the vestibule before entering the school in order to avoiding tracking water on the floors.

F.                      Miscellaneous

1.                      Foreigner teachers are required to attend staff meetings.  Translations will be provided  before, during, or after staff meetings, as necessary. Most staff meetings take place on Wednesdays, beginning at 3:30 pm.

2.                      Personal use of school equipment and supplies requires authorization.

3.                      Some rooms to be used are locked and require keys for opening them, and can be obtained from the school office through written authorization.

4.                      Room 300 has a large screen video which may be used for classes. 

5.                      School telephones are to be used for business purposes only.  There is a public telephone in the entrance of the school for personal use.  Long-distance phone calls related to school work can be made with permission using kyo-too sensei's phone

6.                      When talking with students, teachers are requested to speak only English both inside and outside the school.

7.                      Foreign teachers are encouraged to arrange automatic payments for water, gas, electric, and phone bills.  The office can assist in making these arrangements.

8.                      A computer password for using the school computers can be obtained through the vice-principal (kyooto sensei).

9.                      A coffee and tea club is available for a small fee (about 500 yen) each semester.

10.                  Each month, 2000 yen will be deducted from your salary for use in school parties and trips.

Last Updated December 27^th,  2002