Elementary and Middle School Life (1)

A Day at School

The length of lessons, when to come to school, the days school is open, and the dates of the school year vary from school to school. One school day can be 4 to 6 lessons (at elementary school one lesson is usually 45 minutes, and at middle school lessons are usually 50 minutes).

《Lunchtime》

At elementary school all students are provided with lunch which they eat together. At middle school level there are both schools that provide lunch and schools which require students to bring lunch from home.

＊School dinner fees are paid by the parent of guardian of a student（usually fees are 3,500 yen to 4,000 yen a month）

《Cleaning Time》

At Japanese schools the whole student body, teachers and students both, take responsibility to clean the classrooms and hallways they use each day.

《After school club activities》

At middle school students can choose to join the sports or culture clubs which run after school has finished.

Things you need for school  《Elementary School》

Clothes and Equipment

Ransel backpack, name badge, sports clothes, indoor shoes (and a bag to put them in), gym shoes, a swimming costume, swimming cap etc.

Study items

Textbooks, notebook, a desk pad plastic sheet (shitajiki), pencil case, pencil, eraser, scissors, glue, ruler, coloured pencils, a painting set, calligraphy set, pianica, recorder etc.

Other

Lunch bag, toothbrush set, flask etc.

Things you need for school 《Middle School》

Uniform, a school bag, outdoor shoes to come to school in, name badge, sports clothes, slippers, gym shoes, swimming costume and swimming cap, textbooks, notebook, document collection, dictionary, writing stationary.

＊ These lists are an example as each school will have different items that students will need. Please ask your child’s new school for details about what equipment they will need.

＊Textbooks for elementary and middle school are all free.

＊Please write your child’s name on all of their belongings.

＊The information in this video is based on information from the Mie Prefectural Board of Education documents:

• Request to Parents and Guardians (Studying in the Japanese Education System)
• To students, parents and guardians who are transferring to our schools (Elementary school)
• To students, parents and guardians who are transferring to our schools (Middle school)