PLS Newsletter - 06.04.2021

Contents

(1)    A Message from Midori Daikuhara.

(2)    2021 Sister School Association School Updates

(3)    Teacher Training Seminars 2 and 3

(4)    2021 Sister School Association Convention

(5)    Online Meeting for Owners and Representatives

Dear PLS sister school members,

I hope that these words find you well, and that you are making a good start to the new school year. This time last year was a daily struggle as we all tried to manage under the first state of emergency. With this in mind, I’m very grateful that we are gradually moving towards regular activities, although the coronavirus pandemic has proved to be very unpredictable. Osaka, Hyogo and Miyagi prefectures received extended priority status last week in an effort to control the spread of infection. To our friends affected in these regions: please take care, and we are all sincerely hoping for a quick recovery and the resumption of normal business.

We’ve heard from sister schools that inquiries are up over last spring, and that schools are receiving inquiries from people who refrained last year. We’ve also seen students returning after completing exams and even former students who have brought their children to the school. 

On a personal note, I recently had the pleasure of re-connecting with a PLS graduate who came to see me unexpectedly after 25 years, who has since gone on to study and work internationally. She told me, with a big smile on her face, "I am the person I am today because of my encounter with English. PLS really opened up my world!” A photo she and I took together was posted on her Facebook, and received an amazing comment from a friend from her study abroad days in the US: "I used to learn English through PLS when I was a child! I used to study with Junko at Time English School in Kobe!” What a delightful surprise! Once again, I was moved and grateful for the special connections we make every day. I am sure that you also encounter such moments in your life and treasure them as I do.

This spring, I am delighted to announce that we have five new PLS sister schools. This was made possible by existing sister schools and those who have been associated with Ray and Masumi Ormandy for a long time. We are incredibly grateful for these connections, and look forward to continuing to work with you to help create a bright future for children across the nation through quality English language education.

We look forward to working with you again in 2021.

Midori Daikuhara

We would like to inform you of the following new sister school enrollments, departures, changes of representative and changes of school name. 

New sister school enrollments

•   Merry Land Nursery School (Tochigi)
•   NEXTAR English School (Toyama)
•   Ocean Forest English School (Tokyo)
•   SHINING STAR Ⓖ English School (Tokyo)
•   Wow! English School (Shizuoka)

Change of representative

A to Z Language School (Nagano)
As of April 1st 2021, the Founder Hiroko McKinnirey has appointed Michiko Endo as President and Rumi Miyasaka as Principal.

School name change

Midori Language School (Hiroshima) has been re-named HAPPY & WISE ACADEMY as of March 2021.
*Please note that there is no change to the address or telephone number.

School departures

・Kenmei Academy Elementary School (Osaka)
・Nagaoka Kindergarten - FEC Kids English Club (Fukuoka)

The official list of sister schools for 2021 will be posted to you at a later date.

Contact: Saki Imamura

Thank you to everyone who attended the recent teaching training seminar (Seminar 1) held online. In view of the current situation regarding coronavirus, we have decided to continue with online seminars in April and May.

For anyone planning to attend, please take note of the dates below.

 
Tokyo/Osaka (combined attendance)

Seminar 2 - April 25, 2021 (Sunday)
Seminar 3 - May 30, 2021 (Sunday)

 
To register attendance, please contact: kyozai@pls-pec.co.jp

Contact: Makiko Hara

In view of the current situation, we have decided to hold the 17th annual PLS Convention online, and are planning it for June 13 (Sunday).

We will be sending out more detailed information about this event in a future newsletter.

Contact: Saki Imamura

Date: April 26, 2021 (Monday)
Time: 1:00 PM - 2:30 PM
Format: Zoom
For: School representatives or acting managers. (Dual representation is also possible.)

Further details of this event will be sent out at a future newsletter.

Contact: Saki Imamura