Student & Parent Information
HIS Niseko seeks an open relationship with students and their parents, and communication is key. We are committed to providing timely information. The links on this page are designed to deliver details on school policies, the academic reporting system, class news, parental involvement, and standardized testing.
Communication is usually much easier if the first contact between the school and family occurs before a problem arises. While in some cultures teachers are the only ones allowed or expected to initiate conversation, in an international school, we encourage students and parents to bring questions, comments, and/or concerns to teachers at any time.
Parents and students are expected to support the policies and the programs of the school and are encouraged to exercise their right and responsibility to consult—regarding any matter—with the faculty, administration, and Executive Board, in that sequence.
It is also important to remember that as an international school, the HIS Niseko and Sapporo schools represent approximately 20 nationalities. At HIS Niseko, differing personal perspectives are respected. In discussions, participants need to distinguish between content and style. Developing an awareness of and sensitivity to the feelings of others will help us all contribute to the general good will of the HIS Niseko community and the world.
HIS Student-Parent Handbook (currently being revised)
The HIS Student-Parent handbook contains information that is important for students and parents to be aware of and understand. Parents 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 184 KB)
PowerSchool Reporting
HIS uses PowerSchool, an online software program, to track student attendance.
Report Cards
At HIS Niseko report cards are sent home with students twice a year—at semester break in January and at the end of the year in June. For the first semester reporting, parents would keep the report card, sign the report card envelope, and return the envelope to the classroom teacher.
Mid-semester progress is discussed at mandatory parent-teacher conferences at the end of the first quarter and by-request conferences at the end of the third quarter.
My Class Connection
My Class Connection is a link to web pages for all of the school’s classes. We hope that the My Class Connection pages help to improve communication between teachers and the students in their classes, as well as parents. Teachers are encouraged to utilize My Class Connection more and more as the year progresses.
PTA (Parent Teacher Association)
The HIS PTA is an organization at both the Sapporo and Niseko schools, which aims to increase parent understanding of educational issues, increase the communication of important ideas through the parent community, and to raise funds to help improve our school programs. Meetings are held at designated times throughout the year, and all parents are encouraged to attend and participate.
To contact PTA Niseko, please drop a note in the PTA mailbox at the reception office. Or send us an email at pta.niseko@his.ac.jp.
Standardized Testing at HIS
Every year, HIS students are given standardized tests to mark their progress and to assess the school's overall effectiveness. For this assessment, HIS subscribes to the MAP testing services, which it implemented in 2009, and to the WrAP writing assessment, which was implemented in 2011.
