Announcements

Unsurprisingly, being a helpful parent calls for a little playfulness, a bit of humor, and perhaps just a touch of the "it's not that deep!" mindset, as our wonderful offsprings would put it.

Inspired by Halloween, let's be a bit less serious this week! And while we're at it, let's get our MS musical tickets (SpongeBob and his goofy friends are about to give us a masterclass in being wonderfully silly) and book our parent-teacher conferences (always my favourite pastime — and I'm not even joking).

Get inspired by the lightheartedness of Mustang Bob and fill out your Talent Spotlight applications (deadline approaching!). And don't forget to sign up for the Elementary School and High School parent dinners. Honestly, you'd hate to miss those.

Playfully yours,

Indre

Virtual Parent Session with Cartoonist Matt Smith - Nov 16 at 7PM

Ever wondered if graphic novels count as "real reading"? Join HS Asst. Librarian Caroline Haddad and special guest Matt Smith—professional cartoonist and former ASIJ teacher—on Zoom for an eye-opening session on the literary value of visual storytelling. Sign up here to learn how graphic novels support readers of all ages, from early childhood to high school! This session is sponsored by the Grants and Speakers Program. 

Divisional Events   

HS Fall Social Dinner - Nov 6 at 6:30PM

Come join us this Friday for a fun night at Kitchen Salvatore Cuomo Ginza, where you can connect with HS parents over delicious Italian cuisine for ¥10,000 per person. Click here for details and to secure your spot! Questions? Reach out to Shuchandrima and Naomi at hssocial@pta.asij.ac.jp.

ES Parents Social Dinner - Nov 13 at 7PM

It’s time to take a break from the busy school routine! Join us for an ES parents dinner at DIYA Modern Indian Dining for delicious food and free flowing drinks for ¥9,000 per person.  It’s a wonderful opportunity to connect with other ES parents. Please sign up here. Questions? Contact ES Social Coordinators Eva, Gwen or Nicole at ESSocial@pta.asij.ac.jp.

ELC Fall Movie Festival - Nov 18 at 1PM 

Our Fall Movie Festival is coming up on Wednesday, November 18, after PACT dismissal! Children's Movie Sign Up is now open! We'd love your help! We are looking for parent volunteers to help supervise the children during the movies. Please sign up to volunteer here. For questions or more information, please contact the ELC Division Events Team.

Volunteer Requests 

Senior Lunch Taco Fiesta - Nov 13 at 1PM

We are excited to host for our Seniors a Taco Fiesta on Friday, Nov 13 from 1-1:45PM in the Courtyard. We thank you in advance for supporting our Seniors!  You can sign up here to donate fruit and juices and/or help on the day. For questions, please contact Senior Activities Chairs: Nancy (Meredith) & Meg (Ren) at senioractivities@pta.asij.ac.jp.

Winterfest

Winterfest is gearing up for Dec 5, and we need your help to make it magical! Questions? Reach out to Joanna, Maricris and Massimo at winterfest@pta.asij.ac.jp. 

FOFA Talent Spotlight Applications are Open! 

Only 3 days left to Apply! We’re bringing the FOFA Talent Spotlight to Winterfest on Dec 5 with three dynamic stages! Students from all grades are encouraged to apply in a wide range of performing arts categories, including instrumental performance, voice, dance, stand-up comedy, martial arts, poetry reading, magic, short film and visual art, MC hosting, and more. Please submit their application by Thursday, Nov 5 via the Winterfest Talent Spotlight Application Form. Space is limited based on schedule and technical capacity. Contact the Talent Spotlight Committee if you have any questions.

Winterfest Coffee, Beverage and Bake Sale Booth Chairs Needed

Winterfest is built by our community, and over 70 parents are already busy planning every detail of this year's celebration. To complete our team, we still need a few more volunteers to step into lead roles for our Coffee, Beverage, and Bake Sale booths.  If you are interested in leading one of these booths, please reach out to Maricris, Massimo, and Joanna at winterfest@pta.asij.ac.jp.

Village Connections

Village Connections brings together ASIJ families living in the same neighborhoods to build community, catch up over coffee and explore local cultural activities together. For questions, please contact Alicia Andrea Murrieta Fernandez at villageconnections@pta.asij.ac.jp.

Zen Temple Visit - Nov 5 

Join us on Thursday, November 5, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM for a guided tour, Zazen meditation practice, and a traditional Buddhist vegetarian meal at Soji-ji monastery in Yokohama (¥5,500/person). Registration is now full, but you can click here to join the waitlist!

Community Gratitude

Our ASIJ community is the best around! Help us honor our unsung heroes by nominating a community member who lets their Mustang Spirit shine. Each week, we’ll highlight your shout-outs. Submit an anonymous message here. 

To The ELC PTA Division Events Team: A huge, heartfelt thanks and congratulations on the success of the Fall Family Festival at the ELC! To Fumie, Phoebe, Stella, Hanako, and Ivy, your continuous dedication, meticulous planning, and energy resulted in a great turnout and incredible excitement across every classroom and the entire ELC community.

To Our HS Fall Play FOFA Liaisons: A huge thank you to Fran, Jenny, and Claire for supporting the cast, crew, and faculty of this year’s HS Fall Play. Through every rehearsal and performance, you kept everyone fed with lunches and an amazing snack table, organized flowers and gifts, created a fun and artistic headshot board, kept parents informed, and so much more. Your time and hard work helped make this such a great production. The students, faculty, and parents are truly grateful!

To All the Parent Volunteers for the MS Musical: Huge appreciation to our incredible parent volunteers who came together to support the MS production of The SpongeBob Musical!  Over the weekend, parents worked alongside our Costume Director to sew, snip, and assemble the Sea Anemone and Sardine Chorus costumes for the full cast. To keep everyone energized through the long hours, they also organized a fantastic spread of snacks and refreshments for our hardworking student performers and rehearsal crew. It takes an entire community to bring Bikini Bottom to life, and all of these parent volunteers truly went above and beyond to make these weekend rehearsals a success. The students and directors are incredibly thankful for your time, talent, and energy!

Parent-Led Clubs

New to ASIJ, new to Tokyo, or eager to share a hobby? Join a Parent-Led Club or start your own by filling out our interest form! Registration opens Tuesdays at 12:00 PM as events are announced in the newsletter, and you can explore the full club directory and photos on our website. For questions, contact Parent-Led Clubs Chair Shino Torigoe-Yeh at parentledclubs@pta.asij.ac.jp. 

Ikebana Experience Club - Nov 10 at 11AM (Global Front Tower, Shibaura)

Immerse yourself in the elegant world of ikebana, in a workshop led by Rikako, a licensed teacher from the Ikenobo school of floral art. Cost: ¥5,500 (cash). Sign up here.

Hello Nihongo Club - Nov 11 at 10AM (Izumi Garden Residence, Roppongi)
Practice Japanese small talk about the weather and learn to make triangle-shaped onigiri while enjoying a cultural experience! Cost: ¥1,500 (cash) Sign up here.

Brisk Walk Club - Nov 12 at 10AM and Nov 18 at 10AM
Enjoy a beautiful walk through Tokyo while meeting new friends! Sign up here.

Nov 12: Hiroo to Toranomon Hills
Walk through Arisugawa Park, past Tokyo Tower and Zojoji Temple, ending at Toranomon Hills.

Nov 18: Yotsuya to Shinjuku
Walk past the State Guest House and along Ginkgo Avenue, ending at Shinjuku Gyoen. Please bring ¥500 for park admission.

Grapevine Club - Nov 14 at 7PM (Snack Sasaeai, Ebisu)
Come sing, mingle, and experience a true slice of Tokyo nightlife at a snack bar with unlimited drinks, food, and karaoke! Cost: ¥8,000 (cash). Sign up here.

Photography Walk Club - Nov 17 at 10AM (Gotokuji, Setagaya)
Explore Gotokuji, Tokyo’s Lucky Cat Town! Visit charming cat-themed shops and cafés, explore the famous Gotokuji Temple with its hundreds of lucky cats, and enjoy lunch nearby. Sign up here.

Pakistani Kitchen Club - Nov 20 at 10:30AM (Private residence in Setagaya)
Join Pakistani Kitchen Club for a hands-on cooking session featuring everyday Pakistani dishes. Cost: TBD (cash). Sign up here.

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