An Invitation
Thank you for considering HIS as a place for your child's (or your) education. Hokkaido International School is a special place providing a unique educational opportunity in Sapporo. For those seeking an American-style education in English at an accredited institution, HIS may be just the place for you. Our dormitory makes HIS an excellent option for families who live far away from other international schools, and our tuition and fees are significantly lower than similar schools in the larger cities in Japan.
Please contact HIS directly if you would like more information, or plan a visit to the school. We encourage applicants and their parents to spend a good amount of time at the school when classes are in session to fully understand what HIS can provide (and for how different we are from schools you might be used to). Applicants are able to sit in on classes for a half day or full day to get a 'feel'
for student life, instructional styles, and the social environment of HIS. At least one parent of students interested in staying in our dorm must visit the school and meet with administrators and dorm parents.
The application process at HIS is not complicated, but will require full academic records from the past two years of schooling, one letter of recommendation from a current or recent teacher, recent standardized test scores if available, and an interview with teachers and the Headmaster. The forms presented at right should also be completed (just click to open and print). For students over 3rd grade, a writing sample is also required, which will be done on campus just prior to the interview.
If you have further questions about applying to HIS, please email the Headmaster at rbranson@his.ac.jp
Thank you!
Rick Branson
Headmaster
Hokkaido International School Introduction
Hokkaido International School is a private, coeducational day/boarding school that offers an American-style education from pre-school through high school for students of all nationalities. English is the language of instruction. The school has an enrollment of 190, with 88 students in the secondary school and 13 in the graduating class of 2010. Students represent 28 different nationalities; approximately 15% are native speakers of English. The school was founded in 1958 and is the only International School on the island of Hokkaido.
Hokkaido International School is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS) and the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS).
HIS Tuition and Fees
HIS Tuition and Fees are payable annually, however, tuition payment will be accepted on a quarterly basis if necessary. Payment is due on July 31 preceding the school year. Invoices will be mailed in July. For students entering after Opening Day, payment is due prior to enrollment.
| Application Fee (one time only) |
¥15,000 (payable at interview) |
| Entrance Fee (one time only) |
¥200,000 |
| Tuition |
Annual |
Quarterly |
| Preschool (half day) |
¥ 596,000 |
¥149,000 x 4 |
| Preschool (full day) |
¥ 868,000 |
¥217,000 x 4 |
| Kindergarten-Grades 6 |
¥ 940,000 |
¥235,000 x 4 |
| Grades 7-9 |
¥ 972,000 |
¥243,000 x 4 |
| Grades 10-12 |
¥ 1,004,000 |
¥251,000 x 4 |
| Other Fees |
|
| Annual fees (all students) |
¥170,000 |
| Insurance (optional; recommended) |
¥ 3,000 |
Special Fees (not applicable to all students):
ESL Fee (annual): Students at HIS who are developing their English ability will be classified based on their needs for additional instruction and attention by both the ESL teacher and their classroom teachers. ESL learners can have special instructional needs for five to seven years even after being in an immersion setting, depending on a variety of factors. Level I ESL learners come to HIS with little or no English and often receive individualized instruction for a number of months. ESL fees are assessed starting in 1st Grade. Students are charged an annual ESL fee based on their level in August. The fee set in August applies to the entire school year, and will be adjusted the following school year, depending on student progress. Junior and senior high students who still need ESL support will be placed in an ESL class and charged Y125,000 per year until exiting the program.
| Level I |
¥200,000 |
| Level II |
¥100,000 |
| Level III |
¥50,000 |
| Level IV |
¥25,000 |
| Level V |
¥25,000 |
Bus Fee (payable directly to the HIS Office):
Bus Annual Fee ¥90,000 per student/year or
¥160,000 for a family/year
¥50,000 per student/year for one-way riders
¥90,000 for family/year for one-way riders
Tuition Fees Refund Policy
In the case of student withdrawal, tuition will be refunded on a quarterly basis. Tuition will be charged for every quarter in which a student attended school. Bus fees will also be refunded on a quarterly basis.
In the event of non-payment of fees, no school records shall be released until fees are paid in full.
Exceptions to quarterly payment must be reviewed by the Executive Board.
A Special "Thank You" from the Executive Board
The HIS Executive Board recognizes that our tuition and fees would be significantly higher were it not for the generous support of the City of Sapporo, the Hokkaido Government, and the US Government, as well as other individual donors. The Board would like to thank the community who contribute so much to HIS in so many ways.
HIS Dormitory Information and Fees
As an arm of Hokkaido International School, the Hokkaido International School Dormitory provides students with a safe, healthy and supportive home and family-like environment, in order that residents may reach their potential as students, athletes and individuals who are achieving the educational outcomes of the school. Detailed HIS dormitory information can be found by clicking here for a link to the HIS Dormitory page.
Dorm Fee Payment
HIS Dorm fees are payable annually, however, fee payment will be accepted on a quarterly basis, if necessary. Payment is due on July 31 preceding the school year. Invoices will be mailed in mid-June. For students entering after Opening Day, payment is due prior to enrollment.
Dorm Fees 2008-2009
| Room Deposit (one time only) |
¥50,000 |
| Room Cleaning Fee (annual / nonrefundable) |
¥15,000 |
| Room and Board |
Annual |
Quarterly |
| Room Fee |
¥426,000 |
¥106,500 x 4 |
| Meal Fee (Breakfast and Dinner*, Mon.-Fri.) |
¥210,000 |
¥52,500 x 4 |
*
Students can order their own lunches through the school kitchen.
Optional fees: Students may subscribe to wireless internet access for ¥30,000 per year, or ¥7,500 per quarter. There is internet access available for free in the common room.
Dorm Fees Refund Policy
Dorm cleaning fee is nonrefundable. In the case of student withdrawal, room and board fees will be refunded on a quarterly basis: fees will be charged for every quarter in which a student lived in the dorm.
In the event of non-payment of fees, students may be asked to leave the dorm, and no school records shall be released until fees are paid in full.
Admissions Policy and Process
Admissions Policy
HIS is a school dedicated to serving the expatriate community of Sapporo and Hokkaido, as well as others pursuing a western style education. Admission applications are reviewed and decided on by an Admission Committee consisting of two or three staff members and chaired by the Headmaster. This group will also make initial grade-placement decisions.
Priorities in admission are given to the following in order of preference:
> The children of expatriates from English speaking countries
>The children of expatriates from other countries
>Japanese returnees (a returnee is defined as someone who has completed at least two years of western style education overseas)
>The children of Japanese parents who can demonstrate a compelling need for a western style education
HIS, as a western style educational school, expects parents to:
• Take an active role in the life of the school (i.e. attend and take part in school/ PTA activities)
• Be able to communicate with the teachers and staff in English
work with your child at home in your native tongue (i.e. encourage reading; help with homework, etc.)
• While HIS cannot admit students with profound learning difficulties, HIS may be able to accommodate students with mild special needs. Continued enrollment at HIS is always dependent upon a student’s satisfactory achievement, behavior and effort.
Admissions Process
1. Complete HIS Application Form, one per child. Assemble comprehensive school records, including current report cards and those from the previous two years of schooling, standardized test scores, and a recommendation from at least one teacher. Include medical and inoculation records. Proof of student’s age must be included. Have translated into English, if necessary.
2. Call to schedule an admissions interview.* Most interviews will be held at 3:30 after school. The interview fee is ¥15,000, to be paid at the time of the interview. At least one parent must accompany the student to the interview. The interview will be conducted in English.
* We recommend (and may request) that parents observe classrooms to gain a clear understanding of HIS teachers’ expectations for student behavior and academic work.
3. Immediately prior to the interview, students in third grade and above will be asked to complete a writing sample. Please arrive 30 minutes before your interview time to complete the writing sample.
4. The interview will take from 30 minutes to two hours. Elementary students will be interviewed by a committee which includes the Elementary coordinator, the grade-level teacher, and one special subject teacher. Secondary students will be interviewed by a panel of three teachers. The Headmaster sits on all admissions committee meetings. Students for whom English is not the first language will also interview with the ESL teacher.
5. At the conclusion of the interview, the committee will determine whether or not to grant admission. A student may be admitted, denied admission, or–in some cases–admitted on a probationary basis. Probationary admission means that the student will be admitted for a few months at the conclusion of which time his/her admissions will be reviewed by all of his/her teachers. Admission can, at that time, be revoked.
6. All decisions of the admissions committee are final; students are welcome to apply again in the future.
7. If a student is admitted, parents should arrange for immediate payment of the first school bill, which will include the entrance fee. Upon payment, students may begin attending classes at HIS.
8. Dormitory students and their parents must interview with the dorm parents, and read and sign the dormitory residence agreement before enrolling.
If you have any questions, please contact HIS.
Sincerely,
Rick Branson
Headmaster
HIS Language Mission
The mission of Hokkaido International School states that HIS “will nurture inquisitive, creative learners for compassionate stewardship of an ever-changing world by providing a university preparatory program, within an English language environment.” HIS seeks to instill in its students a thirst for knowledge and a desire to continue their education throughout life. The aforementioned goals are delivered through an English language medium. Although HIS is not an English language school, based on the school’s demographics, it does share an obligation to help students develop their English language.
The HIS Language Mission is based on the following premises:
1. The HIS language mission will be designed to apply to all HIS students.
2. Our language mission takes a nurturing approach to language usage, seeking to inspire and motivate students to appropriate language usage.
3. We believe that language in academic, social, and professional settings must be taught, practiced and assessed for full proficiency to develop.
4. Personal goal setting and self-reflection are essential to internalizing a mature and sensitive concept of language use in a multi-lingual world.
5. Teachers as well as students need to understand that language acquisition is a natural, fairly predictable yet organic process, unique to individuals and age groups, taking three to nine years to reach full proficiency.
6. Teachers and students must be accepting and tolerant of the ways students use language at different learning stages.
7. Implementation of a language mission is an ongoing process, frequently reviewed and evaluated, and evolving over time.
HIS Language Mission Goals
The language mission of Hokkaido International School necessitates that students take the lead role in their own language development. The school will provide the atmosphere and educational tools to ensure progress towards proficiency. It is the responsibility of the student to take advantage of this environment. The Language Mission Goals are:
1. To internally motivate students to develop the language of the school as well as a foreign language where appropriate.
2. Creating self-awareness of one’s own language ability and progress made towards proficiency over time.
3. To inform parents of their child’s language ability and progress made.
Encouraging students to reach across language and cultural barriers to interact with people who are different.
How do we make it happen?
We keep language ability and usage in the forefront of their minds. We keep them thinking about it, reflecting on their actions, and charting their progress or lack there of through:
• Formal Language Testing
• Self-Assessment Tool
• Teacher Assessment Tool
• Goal Setting and Reflection
• Reporting
HIS Student-Parent Handbook
The HIS Student-Parent handbook contains information that is important for students and parents to understand and be aware of. Students and parents both should read the handbook, and if there are any items that you have questions about please contact the school so we can assist you. Our goal is that this handbook be the "go to" guide for information and details and allow you to be better informed about HIS. The handbook is comprehensive in scope and will answer most questions you may have. You can read an online edition of the handbook, or view, save, and print a copy from the links below:
Online HIS Student-Parent Handbook
Printer-friendly HIS Student-Parent Handbook (PDF 328 KB)
HIS School Bus Information
We are very fortunate to have Mr. Hirano and Mr. Yokohira with us again this year. Both of them are both very caring, careful gentlemen who look out for the safety of your children. Not only are they safe drivers, they supervise the maintenance of the buses as well, making sure that the buses operate reliably. The HIS community is grateful for their continued service.
Below is the information regarding the payment information and general rules of the bus. Please review these rules with your student riders.
Bus fee payment:
• One student yearly rate is ¥90,000.
• Family yearly rate is ¥160,000.
• Bus fees are payable by the year or by the quarter. Please pay by the first day of each quarter. If your family leaves HIS during the year, bus fees will be refunded on a quarterly basis; fees will be refunded for any complete quarter in which your child did not ride the bus.
• Please report to Ms. Kanehira in the main office if your student will stop riding the bus or otherwise change his or her bus riding to and from school.
Absences:
• Please call the bus driver if your child will miss the bus due to tardiness or absence. The bus drivers’ cell phone numbers are: Mr. Yokohira 090-3891-1331 & Mr. Hirano 090-2814-9928
Bus Behavior:
Enforcement of bus riding rules will continue to be enforced as follows:
• If a child violates the bus rules once, parents will be called.
• A second infraction will result in a one-day suspension from the bus.
• A third infraction will result in a one-week suspension from the bus.
If you have any questions about the bus system, please contact HIS by phone at (11) 816-5000 or email at his@his.ac.jp.
