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Hinoki International School

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Hinoki International School
ひのきインターナショナルスクール
Information
TypeCharter
MottoTo provide Japanese and American students with an opportunity to learn from each other, and become bilingual, bicultural, and globally-minded individuals.
Established2010
Faculty10
EnrollmentClosed
Websitewww.hinoki-school.org

Hinoki International School (previously known as the Japanese American School of South East Michigan or JASSEM) was a two-way Japanese-English language immersion elementary school in Farmington Hills, Michigan in Metro Detroit which opened in 2010 as a charter school. It closed in 2015.

History

Hinoki International School was established in 2010 as the Japanese American School of South East Michigan (JASSEM, or 南東ミシガン日米学校), by Ted Delphia, co-owner of Himawari Preschool and head of the Michigan Japanese Bilingual Education Foundation (MJBEF), a 501(c)(3) public charity. The elementary school was started as a charter school with Livonia Public Schools (LPS) as charter authorizer and landlord. Using over $500,000 in Federal Charter school program grants and input from Eastern Michigan University's World Language Department, Hinoki enrolled 13 students in 2010 in a single kindergarten class. They grew to 133 students in grades K-3 in 2013-14. The school was originally housed in the former McKinley Elementary School,[1] and later moved to the former Taylor Elementary School.[2]

Hinoki had 185 students enrolled for 2014-15 when it received notice that MJBEF would be withdrawing as educational service provider. Randy Liepa, the then-superintendent of Livonia schools, asked the board of the Hinoki school to merge with the Livonia School District. In May 2014, the Hinoki board voted to follow the recommendations of Hinoki parents and the PTO, and remain a charter school while entering into talks with LPS about possibly becoming part of that district in 2015-16.[3] Liepa declined to renew the lease of the Livonia school facility.[1] On July 28,[2] Livonia Public Schools (LPS) revoked the Hinoki charter since the charter school had no building.[1] LPS then opened a district-operated school-of-choice elementary school with a similar program, called the Niji-Iro Japanese Immersion Elementary School, located at the former Hinoki campus.

Hinoki was granted a new charter from Saginaw Valley State University, and moved to 29230 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, Michigan, and began enrolling students in Kindergarten through 5th grade for fall 2015.[4]

In June 2015, the building in which Hinoki planned to open was sold to a private school, Aim High School. Hinoki was required to vacate the building by October 2015.[5] On September 11, 2015 the Hinoki School board voted to dissolve.[6]

Curriculum

Hinoki's Japanese-English immersion program is a blend of both Japanese pedagogy and Michigan’s educational standards within the framework of a dual language classroom. Each class is taught by a pair of teachers—one native speaker of English and one native speaker of Japanese—who take turns instructing the students in all core subjects areas, alternating the language of instruction for each lesson. The student body includes both native Japanese speakers and native English speakers, so that students have a "target language" in which they can strengthen their skills with the help of their teachers and peers.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Smith, Karen. "Livonia district eyes charter school" (). The Livonia Observer. June 18, 2010. Retrieved on March 4, 2014.
  2. ^ a b "New school year opens new chapter for Japanese school" (Archive). Hometown Life. September 3, 2014. Retrieved on October 18, 2014. Alternate page
  3. ^ Minutes of Hinoki Board of Directors Meetings. "[1]" May 8, 2014.
  4. ^ Smith, Karen. "Hinoki International School to reopen under new charter" (Archive). O&E Media. February 17, 2015. Retrieved on April 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Mueller, Nathan. "Parents reeling from closure of Schoolhouse Montessori" (Archive). O&E Media. July 5, 2015. Retrieved on April 17, 2016.
  6. ^ "2015-09-11 Hinoki Board Mtg Minutes.pdf". docs.google.com. Retrieved 2017-03-02.
  7. ^ "New Hinoki School in Livonia Blending Languages and Cultures". WDIV-TV (Click on Detroit). July 28, 2011.

Further reading