HUSKY EXPRESS June 12,2020

 Administration Corner 

 Head of School 

A Fond Farewell

Dear HIS Community Members,

Well, the 2020 ~ 2021 school year did not finish the way that I could ever have imagined. Covid-19 confined us to our homes a whole lot more and when I was at school, it seemed so empty and far too quiet, despite the voices of teachers talking loudly at Zoom screens and engaging with their students.

This unusual finish means that I will not get to thank individuals in person, and to say goodbye to everyone on the last few days of school, as I was expecting I could have. So, I am left with a letter of farewell and thanks as the means of communicating my best wishes to everyone within the HIS community.

Leaving HIS not only brings my time as head of school to and end, but it brings to an end a 20+ year relationship with HIS. I began as a young father and ESL teacher, working with amazing students and colleagues within the elementary school. My path at HIS would later take me into the secondary school and into the fields of history and language arts and I will carry many many memories away with me of a place that has come to define so much of my career and working life.

I would like to thank the staff and teachers of HIS. Their skills and commitment as teachers came together so clearly and concretely in these months when we had to respond to Covid-19 with flexibility, care and an immense amount of hard work and I have appreciated the dedication they have shown on all parts. I wish each and every one of you my best as your continue to support the learning that takes places every day within (and often outside of) the walls of the schools in Sapporo and Niseko.

I would also like to thank the parent and wider stakeholder community (particularly the Executive Board and Board of Councilors) for your commitment to the school and to supporting the school in so many ways as participating members of this community that is dedicated to education.

My own path after departing HIS will take me into a new and exciting role outside of education. I will remain in Hokkaido, however, and look forward to watching how HIS grows and develops.

In working with Mr. Tim Schlosser, the incoming head of school from August 2020, I discovered a man of immense educational understanding, administrative experience and great ability. HIS is in excellent hands and I wish Mr. Schlosser, school administration, the staff, parents and most of all the students, my absolute best in both the short and long term.

Sincerely yours,

Barry Ratzliff
Outgoing Head of School

At the Niseko Opening Ceremony 2012

With Dr. Kim and his wife. Dr. Kim was one of my first students at HIS

With the Class of 2010 - Habitat for Humanity Trip

Fall Festival 2018!

Financial Assistance Update

The Finance Committee has met to finalize financial assistance for the 2020-21 school year. Letters will be issued to recipient families over the next two weeks.

 From the Principal's Office 

Dear parents, students, and teachers,

Let me start by thanking you for all your support and understanding as the school and the community responded to the unexpected disruption to the school year as a result of Covid 19. I am very proud of the way HIS students, parents, and teachers handled the demands we were faced with to protect everyone as we also continued to educate.

As you know, there continue to be questions about what the pandemic situation will look like as we approach opening day in August. Nevertheless, we are currently anticipating a regular-schedule opening with students in the school building.

At the same time, however, we are working together as a team to plan out online and hybrid models of learning with the understanding that we could be required to close the school again in the event of a “second wave”.

We learned a lot from this semester, and we have been actively applying that knowledge in our preparedness planning for moving forward. We look forward to sharing out full details of our updated online and hybrid learning plans upon our return in August.

But as we head into summer, it is with great sadness that we say goodbye to the following teachers and staff.
Kadoya-san, who not only cleaned for us each day but was also so often the very first cheerful “hello” we received each morning as we arrived.
Ms. Marquez, who taught the whole school PE while also coaching so many of our teams over the last couple of years.
Ms. Lola, from the Niseko campus, who in collaboration with Ms. Tanya has done so much to build our early year’s program.
Ms. Sugino, who brought such joyful song and dance to the school each year, and such deduction to the well-being of students across the school.
Mr. Holywell, who has done so much to prepare our grade 6s for the rigours of middle school, while helping to promote the joy of reading through his stewardship of the library.
Mrs. Holywell, who, along with Mr. Holywell, provided such warmth and compassion in her role as dorm parent while also subbing for almost every class at HIS - at least once.

And finally, we say a sad farewell to Mr. Ratzliff who over the course of almost exactly 20 years (9 of them as head of school) has played such a central role in the development of HIS’s programs and school culture. Where do you start when trying to sum up the work done and the influence felt by a head of school who has worked so tirelessly for so long. Schools, like any institution, can be a tricky thing to maneuver. Mr. Ratzliff, with his meticulous attention to detail and strong-minded knowledge of what had to be done, was able to put in place so many of the systems, processes, and policies that are required of modern accredited international schools.

We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mr. Ratzliff. As he exits, he leaves us with a very strong foundation upon which to continue to build HIS into a great school.

We wish Mr. Ratzliff the very best in all his future endeavors and adventures!

And to everyone, please have a wonderful - and MUCH deserved - peaceful and restful summer vacation.

Best regards,
Neil Cooke

Last week of school schedule:

• Wednesday, June 17th
  10:00 - school starts as usual
  1:00 - 3:00 Secondary cleanup / homeroom time
  Students should remember to bring back all materials that need to be returned to the school including: textbooks, library books, locker keys, sports uniforms, etc.
• Thursday, June 18th
  10:00 - 12:00 -- Secondary assembly/awards ceremony - All secondary students should attend.
  Note: Details will be announced explaining how we will divide students into groups to meet regulatory requirements for maximum numbers allowed due to Covid 19 restrictions.
  3:00 - 4:30 -- Graduation Ceremony

Online Course Application Form / Agreement
Students in next year’s junior and senior classes interested in taking an online course are reminded to submit to me the Online Course Agreement by Wednesday, June 17th. Remember that taking such a course for HIS credit requires a significant amount of summertime work and commitment. There are several deadlines that need to be observed.

 Greetings from the Executive Board 

Notices from the Executive Board: