Japanese for School & PTA: words you will actually hear
33 words used in real life in Japan — School & PTA — with readings, meanings and example sentences.
集金
しゅうきん
collecting money (fees, dues)
Example
来週、集金袋に給食費を入れて持たせてください。
Next week, please put the lunch fee in the collection envelope and send it with your child.
給食費
きゅうしょくひ
school lunch fee
Example
給食費は毎月末に口座から引き落とされます。
The lunch fee is automatically deducted from your account at the end of each month.
引き渡し
ひきわたし
handover of a child to a guardian (emergency pickup)
Example
台風の時は緊急引き渡しになりますので、必ずお迎えに来てください。
In case of a typhoon, we will do an emergency handover, so please be sure to come pick up your child.
連絡網
れんらくもう
emergency contact network (phone tree)
Example
学級閉鎖の場合は連絡網でお知らせします。
If the class is closed, we will notify everyone through the contact network.
通知表
つうちひょう
report card
Example
終業式に通知表を渡します。
The report card will be handed out at the closing ceremony.
遠足
えんそく
school field trip (day outing)
Example
来月、遠足で動物園へ行きます。
Next month we're going to the zoo for a school outing.
役員
やくいん
officer/committee member (e.g. of the PTA)
Example
今年はPTAの役員決めがあります。
This year there will be a vote to decide the PTA officers.
参観日
さんかんび
open-class day / parent observation day
Example
今度の参観日は水曜日の3時間目です。
The next parent observation day is the 3rd period on Wednesday.
提出
ていしゅつ
submit (a form/document)
Example
この用紙は金曜日までに提出してください。
Please submit this form by Friday.
集金袋
しゅうきんぶくろ
envelope used to collect money (for school fees etc.)
Example
明日、集金袋に給食費を入れて持たせてください。
Please put the lunch fee in the collection envelope for tomorrow.
くじ引き
くじびき
drawing lots
Example
今年のPTA役員はくじ引きで決まりました。
This year's PTA officers were decided by drawing lots.
緊急連絡網
きんきゅうれんらくもう
emergency contact chain/network
Example
台風で休校になる場合は緊急連絡網で連絡します。
If school is cancelled due to a typhoon, we'll notify everyone through the emergency contact chain.
学級懇談会
がっきゅうこんだんかい
class parent discussion meeting
Example
学級懇談会では他の保護者とも情報交換ができます。
At the class discussion meeting, you can also exchange information with other parents.
登校班
とうこうはん
group of students walking to school together on the same route
Example
うちの子は登校班のリーダーを任されました。
My child was put in charge as the leader of the walking-to-school group.
引き渡し訓練
ひきわたしくんれん
drill for handing children over to guardians in an emergency
Example
来月、地震を想定した引き渡し訓練を行いますので、必ずお迎えに来てください。
Next month we'll hold a pickup drill assuming an earthquake, so please be sure to come pick up your child.
PTA
ピーティーエー
Parent-Teacher Association
Example
PTAの委員を一度は引き受けることになっています。
Every parent is expected to serve as a PTA committee member once.
上履き
うわばき
indoor shoes
Example
上履きは毎週金曜日に持ち帰って洗います。
Indoor shoes come home every Friday to be washed.
体操服
たいそうふく
PE uniform
Example
明日は体育があるので体操服を持たせてください。
There's PE tomorrow, so please send the PE uniform.
運動会
うんどうかい
school sports day
Example
運動会は雨なら翌日に順延です。
If it rains, sports day is postponed to the next day.
就学援助
しゅうがくえんじょ
government financial assistance for school expenses (low-income families)
Example
就学援助を希望される方は、来週までに申請書を提出してください。
Families wishing to apply for school financial assistance should submit the application by next week.
個人面談
こじんめんだん
parent-teacher conference
Example
個人面談の希望日を提出してください。
Please submit your preferred dates for the parent-teacher conference.
役員決め
やくいんぎめ
selecting/electing PTA class officers
Example
本日の懇談会の最初に役員決めを行いますので、少し早めにお越しください。
We'll select the class officers at the start of today's meeting, so please arrive a bit early.
欠席連絡
けっせきれんらく
absence notification
Example
欠席連絡は8時までにアプリでお願いします。
Please report absences through the app by 8 a.m.
音読カード
おんどくカード
reading-aloud record card
Example
音読カードにサインするのを忘れないでください。
Don't forget to sign the reading card.
給食当番
きゅうしょくとうばん
school-lunch duty
Example
今週は給食当番なので白衣を金曜日に持ち帰ります。
It's lunch duty this week, so the white coat comes home Friday.
名前つけ
なまえつけ
labelling belongings with the child's name
Example
入学前の名前つけが一番大変でした。
Labelling everything before school started was the hardest part.
学級閉鎖
がっきゅうへいさ
temporary class closure due to an outbreak of infectious disease
Example
インフルエンザの流行により、3年2組は明日から学級閉鎖になります。
Due to a flu outbreak, Class 3-2 will be closed starting tomorrow.
家庭訪問
かていほうもん
teacher's home visit
Example
家庭訪問は玄関先で結構です、と書いてありました。
The notice said the home visit can be done at the front door.
保護者会
ほごしゃかい
parents' meeting
Example
保護者会は平日の午後3時からです。
The parents' meeting is at 3 p.m. on a weekday.
担任
たんにん
homeroom teacher
Example
担任の先生に相談してみます。
I'll talk to the homeroom teacher.
一斉下校
いっせいげこう
simultaneous/mass dismissal of all students at the same time
Example
不審者情報が出たため、本日は一斉下校とします。
Due to a report of a suspicious person, all students will be dismissed together today.
学童
がくどう
after-school childcare program (short for 学童保育)
Example
うちの子は学童に週5日通っています。
My kid goes to after-school care five days a week.
校庭開放
こうていかいほう
opening the school playground to the public/students outside class hours
Example
土曜日の午前中は校庭開放をしていますので、自由に遊べます。
The playground is open on Saturday mornings, so kids can play freely.
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