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School events over the course of one year

	School Entrance Ceremony (In April)		A celebration is held every year for newly admitted first year students. All the first year students take a commemorative photo during the ceremony. Parents/Guardians attending the ceremony are required to dress in formal clothing.
	Physical Examination/ Medical Check-ups		Routine medical check-ups are provided to all students. The doctor provides a full body physical exam (e.g. overall body health, teeth, eyes, ears, nose, etc.)
	Various Medical Tests/Analyses		During the course of the medical check-up, the doctor will conduct various analyses. The doctor will check the lungs and heart, check urine samples, and test for parasitic worms.
	Home Visitation From Teachers		Teachers periodically visit the students and their families at their homes, assessing the students’ home situation, as well as consulting parents about the progress of their children in school.⇒Q8
	Summer Break 【From Late July to Late August 】		Students are given homework during their summer break, and there is at least one day (sometimes more) when the students are required to attend class. These summer school days are called “toukoubi”
	Disaster Prevention Training		To prevent panic during potential disasters (earthquakes, fires, etc.) all students undergo a disaster prevention training program. During training, students are required to wear a safety hood, called “bousaizukin” in Japanese. Sometimes after training, parents/guardians will pick up their children from school.
	Sports Festival		Once a year, schools will hold a sports festival. In preparation for the festival, students usually practice a lot in respective clubs in the days/weeks leading up to the event.
	Department for Culture, Fine Arts, Performing Arts, etc. During School Festival(s) (Gakuensai no Bunkabumon)		During the school year, schools will hold at least one major festival (sometimes more for elementary schools). There is a department within the festival dedicated to non-sporting activities (e.g. chorus, fine arts, theatre, etc.) known as “gakuensai no bunkabumon,” although the name for this department can vary from school to school. The activities available to the students also vary depending on the school.
	Winter Break 【From late December to early January】		Students are given homework during their winter break.
	Graduation Ceremony 【 In March 】		Before graduation day, students will rehearse for the ceremony. Graduating students will receive a graduation certificate along with various mementos. A graduation photo will be taken and parents/guardians will attend the ceremony.
	Farewell Ceremony For Teachers Who Are Leaving the School		For teachers who are leaving the school, usually, a separate ceremony is held sometime after the graduation and end of school year ceremonies. All students will attend this ceremony. Some schools will hold the farewell ceremony on the same day as the end of school year ceremony.
	Spring Break 【From late March to early April】		From April, the new school year begins.

Other Events

Beginning and End of Semester Ceremonies		At the beginning and of each semester, all school faculty and students will gather for a beginning/end of semester ceremony
Body Measurements (Height, Weight, etc.)		In elementary school, every month, students will have their body measurements taken (height, weight, etc.) In junior high school, these measurements will be taken once per semester.
Parent’s Day (Day When Parents Observe Their Children in Class)		There will be special days when parents/guardians are invited to come observe their children in the classroom (called “jugyou sankan” in Japanese).
Parent and Teacher Consultation Meeting (Gakkyuu Kondankai)		After observing their children in the classroom, teachers will talk to parents/guardians about their child’s overall progress. In the case of 3rd year junior high students, teachers will also discuss about the student’s entry into high school.
Parent, Teacher, and Student Meeting		Teachers will have a meeting with the students alongside their parents/guardians. Teachers will discuss the student’s overall performance in school, and in the case of 3rd year junior high students, the discussion will mostly focus on the student’s prospects for admission into high-level senior high schools. ⇒Q9
Student Field Trip/ Excursion		When students go on a field trip, they will usually travel to a workplace or business (farm, factory, stores, etc.) to observe and learn more about a particular job. They will leave in the morning, and return in the evening. On these days, students must bring their own lunch, and are required to pay any fees that may come up during the course of the trip.⇒Q10
School Trip		All students will embark on one major trip somewhere in Japan. The trip usually lasts for three days. Students will stay in either a hotel or an inn. Expenses for accommodations must be paid for by the student.⇒Q10

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