School Events
The school year in Japan begins in April and ends the following March, and the year is divided into three semesters: the first is from April to July, the second is from September to September, and the third is from January through March.
As of 2006, elementary and junior high schools in Kawasaki City will have only two semesters. The first semester will run from April through October, and the second from October through March.
Schools in Japan hold a number of school events.
Notices of upcoming school events are handed to the children at school, who pass them on to their families. In some school events, parents and children participate together.
Refer to the following list of major events. Note that this list is not intended to be comprehensive.
| April | Enrollment ceremony New teacher introductions First semester commencement ceremony Medical check-ups |
|---|---|
| May | Parents’ day Sports festival Nature outings (elementary school students visit Yamanashi Prefecture Yatsugatake Children’s Center） School trip Field trip (a place is decided upon for each grade and the students spend a fun day together） |
| June | Pool opens（swimming lessons） |
| July | City Founding Day (July 1st, schools closed） Student interviews/parent-teacher-student meetings (to discuss the child’s studies) First semester closing ceremony |
| August | Summer vacation |
| September | Second semester commencement ceremony Evacuation drills (At elementary schools, parents pick up their children at school, and at junior high schools, the students practice making the trip home together with the teachers) |
| October | Student presentations (elementary school students give reports on what they are learning) School festival (junior high school) |
| November | Kawasaki City Learning Diagnostic Test School trip (elementary school) |
| December | Personal interviews/parent-teacher meetings parent-teacher-student meetings (to discuss the child’s studies) Second semester closing ceremony |
| January | Third semester commencement ceremony |
| February | City field trip (sixth graders visit the Diet buildings and other sites) |
| March | Closing ceremony (for the third semester and for the academic year) Graduation ceremony (elementary and junior high schools) |