PLS Newsletter - 11.12.2020

This seminar was originally scheduled to be held on Sunday, January 10 and Monday, January 11 (national holiday), however in the midst of increasing coronavirus infections we have decided to conduct the seminar via Zoom at a newly scheduled date and time.

*There will be a lunch break as well as regular breaks throughout the day.

Previous attendees seeking a deeper understanding or simply looking to refresh their knowledge are most welcome. 
*Schools currently paying a monthly advisory fee are eligible to register one free participant.

Instructors:
Midori Daikuhara (PLS General Manager / Teacher Trainer)
Tomoko Saeki (PLS Sister School Coordinator / Teacher Trainer) 
Kiyomi Maezawa (PLS Assistant Manager / Teacher Trainer)

To apply:
Please fill out this form to register your place.
We will send the Zoom ID and passcode to your registered email address near the date of the seminar.

Application deadline: Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Details:
As the seminar will be held online this year, managers and staff will participate in the main sessions together, with opportunities to dive into specific role-play scenarios during breakout room sessions. Topics planned for discussion are outlined below, but subject to change in accordance with attendee needs and requests.

Topics: (to include breakout room role-play sessions.)

• Understanding the unique features of the PLS System®.

• Key things to communicate to guardians.

• How to explain the PLS System®.

• Methods to encourage guardians to participate in homework assignments.

• Methods to communicate with and motivate students from the perspective of front staff.

• Methods to communicate with potential new students/guardians (by phone and in-person).

• Discussions with students/guardians looking to take a break from or leave the school.

• Increasing student numbers.

• Understanding your school’s strengths and building on them.

• Smooth communication with teachers.
  
  and more.
  
  About the Total Management Seminar
  
  This seminar is designed to explore optimal methods to introduce and manage communications related to the PLS System®. Taking place in January each year, the seminar is targeted at PLS Sister School managers and staff members who engage in practical management work. Through a deeper understanding of the PLS System®, paired with better communication with guardians, students and teachers, we aim to help attendees enhance daily school operations.

  We welcome questions on any issues that you may encounter in daily operations and will provide answers to them to the best of our ability. We encourage as many people as possible to attend as we approach a critical time of the year, welcoming new students and staff members.

  School owners interested in attending are also welcome!

Contact: Makiko Hara

We would like to announce the teaching training schedule for next year. Please refer to the linked charts for details.
Japanese Schedule English Schedule Application Form

This year, in an effort to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections, all seminars and events after Osaka Seminar 1 in the spring were conducted online for the first time. We still believe that nothing is better than hands-on training, but recognise that such training — in particular, asking attendees to travel across prefectures and gather in a large group — is unfeasible under the current circumstances. 

Our planning for the 2021 teacher training program is based on the possibility that we may be able to resume face-to-face workshops; as such we have scheduled two-day events for both Osaka and Tokyo.

However, in the event that in-person training remains unfeasible, we will continue to hold seminars online. We appreciate your support and understanding on this matter. *In the event that the spring seminars are held online, an alternative schedule has been made. Please refer to the attached chart for these dates.

We plan to make an announcement regarding the format of the June convention and November forum based on the situation nearer the scheduled dates. 

Contact: Makiko Hara

On Sunday, November 15, 2020, the PLS Association 2020 online forum — “Meeting the Challenge of the Present" — was held via Zoom. We are delighted to report that over 100 people from 29 sister schools participated in the event.

It was an insightful meeting that dived into current issues, with Chairperson Masumi Ormandy & Co-Chairpersons Ray Ormandy & Midori Daikuhara leading speeches and participants exchanging ideas about life under the coronavirus, mutual respect for teachers and sister schools, what we can do for guardians, and what kind of message we should be sending out during this time.

A detailed report of the event can be found here.

Contact: Saki Imamura

We would like to confirm the following business days for the year-end holidays.

Business days within 2020: Up to Tuesday 22nd December (18:00)
Business days in 2021: From Monday 4th January (10:00)

Information related to orders and shipping of teaching materials

• Orders placed by 14:00 on Tuesday, December 22 will be shipped within the year

• Closed from December 23 (Wednesday) to January 3 (Sunday)

  Normal business resumes from January 4th (Monday)
  
  At present, our packages are being collected earlier than usual. (The deadline for same-day shipping is 14:00). Please place orders with this in mind so that we can fulfil your order in time.

  If you would like to place an order within the year and have the shipping scheduled in the New Year, please let us know.

Contact Person: Makiko Hara

AZ English School (Kyoto)

Due to relocation, the address and phone number has been changed:

New Address: 18-12 Terayama, Hirono-cho, Uji-shi, Kyoto 611-0031
New Telephone Number: 07774-66-6999

Nishi-Kawaguchi Kindergarten English School (Saitama)

New Telephone Number: 048-251-3076 (Kindergarten & General Shared)

The latest list of member schools is available for download from our website in the Sister Schools Section under “What’s New”.
*Please note that a login ID and password is required to access the page.

Contact Person: Saki Imamura