Deutsche Schule Kobe International
Parent Handbook
Contents
Mission, Vision, Values Statement
Ownership and Governance
Leadership and Responsibility Structures
Organizational Chart
Who to Talk to
Supplies List
Staff
Weekend News Publication - Upcoming Events and Information for Parents
School Policies
Term Dates
The School Day
Drop Off and Pick Up
Children Travelling Alone
Parent Parking
School Clothing
School Lunches
After School Clubs
School Closure due to Weather Warnings, Typhoons or Storms
Emergency Procedures for Earthquakes and other Situations
School Board
Parent Teacher Association
Student Absence
Late Students
Student Medication and Allergies
Financial
Complaints Procedure
Leaving DSKI
Recommendations and Reports
Mission, Vision, Values Statement
Our mission is built upon our German heritage and European values and beliefs. As a school community we strive to be lifelong inquirers inspired by and challenged through authentic and meaningful learning experiences. Being committed to providing an exceptional education, we foster international mindedness, critical thinking, inclusion and respect for diversity and the willingness to act with integrity and compassion.
Ownership and Governance
Association of the German School in Kobe
DSKI is owned by the Association of the German School in Kobe, which is a legal entity in Japanese law.
Association members are anyone who pays the membership fee, all parents join when enrolling at the school. Membership is open to people outside the parent community. The school is supervised by the Association of the German School in Kobe School Board, consisting of elected members of the association voted in at the Annual General Meeting every year in September.
Gakko Houjin
The school has the legal status in Japan of an educational institution, not a company or a business.This is expressed in Japanese as Gakko Houjin. We are required by law to have a Gakko Houjin school board. We don't have two separate boards though, in reality the members are the same as the Association board.
Leadership and Responsibility Structures
Senior Leadership Team (SLT)
Consisting of the principal, division heads and Special Needs Coordinator. The SLT is responsible for running and managing the school and meets weekly.
Pedagogical Leadership Team (PLT)
The team meets monthly and is responsible for the implementation of the PYP and pedagogical leadership in school. The PLT is responsible for supervising and approving all curriculum and pedagogical documentation and practise.
Office Staff
Office manager is responsible for the running of the school office and all personnel matters. Finance officer deals with all orders, invoicing and budget matters.
Class Representatives
The second week back in semester 1, all homerooms will have a meeting with the teacher and parents to discuss the upcoming year and to elect a class representative from the parent body. This role is to liaise between parents and homeroom teachers and also to represent the class at Parent Teacher Association meetings.
Parent Teacher Association
Hold meetings once a month with elected class representatives joining as voting participants. To work with the school supporting us with events etc.
Organizational Chart
Who to Talk To
Talk to your child first about:
Your child's homework
Questions involving your child and another child in the school
Talk to your child's homeroom teacher about:
Your child's homework
Questions involving your child or incidents in school
The curriculum in use in your child's class
Your child’s report card
Talk to specialist teachers about:
Questions about specific subjects (e.g. Physical Education, Music, Japanese in the PYP)
Talk to the Head of Early Years or Head of Primary
Guidance and advice about student support
Unresolved issues from conversations with other staff members
Matters regarding your child the homeroom teacher has been unable to resolve
Questions about the Primary Years Programme
Questions about PYP teaching
Talk to the finance officer about:
Tuition fees (including invoices, payments, bank transfers, etc.)
Talk to the office manager about:
The bus (e.g. when your child will not be taking the bus)
Your child's attendance (e.g. when your child will be absent)
Special arrangements (e.g. when your child will be absent for a certain period of time)
Talk to the principal about:
Questions that have not been answered or resolved after speaking with the above staff members
As a final recourse, any unresolved grievance or complaints can be escalated to the school board.
If you cannot speak English well enough to communicate with a particular staff member, please bring someone who can translate for you. If that is not possible, contact the school manager to discuss your options.
The School Programme
Here at DSKI, we offer a unique and thoughtfully integrated curriculum that merges the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) with the Cambridge Primary curriculum. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is an international curriculum framework developed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) for students aged 3 to 12. It focuses on developing the whole child as an inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring learner who actively contributes to their community and the wider world. The PYP is designed to nurture curiosity and foster a lifelong love of learning through inquiry-based, transdisciplinary learning rather than traditional subject divisions. Students explore six transdisciplinary themes—such as “Who we are” and “How the world works”—that connect local and global issues. These themes guide units of inquiry that integrate the Cambridge curriculum for math's, language and science into our IB units of inquiry. Cambridge provides clear learning objectives, international benchmarks, and structured progression pathways that ensure academic rigor and continuity across all grade levels.
The programme also emphasizes the attributes of the IB Learner Profile, which encourages students to be open-minded, principled, reflective, and balanced individuals. Teachers act as facilitators, guiding students to ask questions, conduct research, and take action based on their learning.
Assessment at DSKI is purposeful and tailored to value both the process and product of our students' learning.
Rooted in the IB PYP philosophy, assessment focuses on understanding and growth as well as academic achievement. Students are assessed three times a year, in September, January, and April. This structure allows us to closely monitor each student’s academic progress and personal development, and to provide timely support for both extension and intervention. Formative assessments such as self-assessment and reflection, peer feedback, and teacher observations allows our students to take ownership of their learning, while Cambridge Primary assessments, including baseline, end-of-unit, progress and checkpoint tests, offer clear benchmarks that are measured against an international standard.Ultimately, assessment at DSKI aims to create internationally minded learners who are confident, compassionate, and equipped to make a positive difference in an increasingly interconnected world.
© International Baccalaureate Organization 2025
Supplies List
All students will need the following items. Please replenish these supplies if needed and please don't forget to label all equipment and clothing with your child’s name
School Clothing
Please could all parents buy their child a school polo shirt for school events.
You can order from our website here.
Please Look After Your Child's Clothes!
Please make sure all items belonging to your child are clearly labelled with your child's name. Any items unclaimed by the first day of summer vacation will be disposed of by the school.
Staff
All staff employed at DSKI are confirmed to be fully qualified and background checked before commencement of employment. You will receive information from the office when you join the school about who your child's teacher is.
Background Checks for New Staff
All staff hired at DSKI must undergo background checks to ensure they are free of any criminal convictions and are safe to work with children. Police clearance certificates must be made available to the school from all countries a prospective teacher has lived in before a contract is issued. Contact details for referees must be provided from previous and current employers which need to be available for phone call conversations. Written testimonials are not accepted. In addition internet checks are performed as well as searches on social media. Qualification certificates are also verified before a contract is issued.
Weekend News Publication - Upcoming Events and Information for Parents
Every Friday we update our Weekend News publication with upcoming events and information for parents. Please read it here every week to keep informed. All classes also have blogs with information about what the students have been doing.
School Policies
We ask all parents to be familiar with and to abide by the Parent Code of Conduct.
Term Dates
We publish the whole year calendar on our website every year.
Please see here for the dates of school terms, holiday dates and also the dates of events through the year.
The School Day
Drop Off and Pick Up
For security reasons the entry gates will only be open at arrival time and at pick-up times when a staff member is on duty
8.30 a.m. – 8.35 a.m.
3.20 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.
For safety they will be locked at all other times.
All families are issued with a security key card to open the school gate, one card per family when they join the school. They should be returned before the family leaves the school. A replacement can be arranged in case of loss, with a 10, 000 yen administration fee.
When your child arrives at school please wait in line by the correct gate and the duty staff will let the students in when school opens.
Early Years Gate Pre-school - Grade 2 Gate Grade 3 - 6 Gate
Children Travelling Alone
Preschool to Grade 2 please notify the school office if a child travels to and from school independently. From Grade 3 no notice is required.
Parent Parking
When bringing children to school by car, please don't park cars at the side of the street or let children cross the street without using the zebra-crossing. It is illegal in Japan to park outside of a designated parking area. Please use the paid parking directly across from the school. For a case by case specific reason we can arrange guest parking on-site. Please ask at the office.
School Lunches
The school is happy to provide a school lunch for students who would like to order one.
Every term we publish a sign up sheet for families who would like to order on our school blog. We work with a local supplier who provides us with a healthy balanced menu, with both European and Asian food.
After School Clubs
We are pleased to offer parents a wide range of after school clubs.
Every day we have different offers, with examples such as dance, basketball, crochet, cooking and skateboarding. At the start of every term we send a link for you to sign your child up. We also host a club fair for students as well as sending information to parents.
School Closure due to Weather Warnings, Typhoons or Storms
The administration staff will make themselves aware of medium to long term weather events that would need to be monitored due to the possibility of a weather warning being issued. If bad weather is forecast in the medium term, the school will monitor on a daily basis to see if a weather warning (Keihou Warning) has been issued or is likely to be issued by the Japan Meteorological Agency website.
Procedure
24 hours in advance
A warning email to be sent to all families, advising of the possibility that the school will close, and that a further email will be sent out the next morning to either confirm closure or otherwise.
6.30am of the warning day
Principal will make a closure decision. This will be made based on any weather warning in place and also the current local conditions. Principal will email all families and staff confirming the school will be closed, or that the weather is not as severe as expected and the school will be open. The weather warning is given for large geographic areas, and the local conditions may vary.
If the school is closed it will be closed for the whole day effective immediately from the 6.30am email.
Principal will call the bus driver coordinator to cancel the busses
Principal will email all staff that the school is closed
Administration staff to cancel cleaners and the school lunches
School Bus on Weather Warning Days
Principal will call bus driver coordinator to tell of any school closure and bus cancelation
Bus drivers not to cancel the service without approval from administration
Bus attendants to call parents who would have children picked up to inform them of the cancellation
Bus attendants to tell administration of any families that can't be reach on the phone
Emergency Procedures for Earthquakes and other Situations
For a detailed guide in any emergency situation please see our Emergency Procedures Policy.
School Board
All of our families become members of the Association of The German School and are eligible to join our school board. The board sits once a month with members elected for either one or two years. It is responsible for the managerial and financial oversight of the school as well as the long term strategic direction. If you would like to have more information or join the board, please come along to our Annual General Meeting every September.
Parent Teacher Association
We are very happy to have an active parent community. Our Parent Teacher Association is involved in all school life and events, especially our annual Oktoberfest. At the start of every new school year each class holds elections to vote for the new class representative to join the monthly meetings.
So please feel free to get involved!
Student Absence
Illness
If a child cannot come to school due to illness please call the school office before 8.00 a.m. The office will then inform the bus driver and the teachers about the child’s absence. If a child is absent for three days, then they should just return as normal. If a child is ill for more than three days then medical evidence about the illness will need to be submitted to the school office.
Application for Absence
Absence during term-time can be applied for by contacting the school office with the nature of the request for approval by the principal.
Late Students
If you know that your child will be late (doctors appointment, traffic etc) please inform the school office as soon as possible. If they have not arrived at school by 9:15 a.m. and we have not received any information the school will call parents to make sure everything is okay.
Student Medication and Allergies
Administering Medication at School
Our teachers are not allowed to administer medication to children as they are not trained medical staff. If your child needs to take any medication, please make sure they can self-administer, with a teacher's supervision if needed. If your child gets a headache, a stomach ache, a tooth ache or a fever, we will call you to pick them at the earliest time possible.
Non-prescribed medicines cannot be administered in any case. In an emergency, first aid will be given and an emergency doctor will be called. In life-threatening incidents (e.g. asthma, allergies etc.) emergency medication from the child’s personal emergency kit (sprays, inhalers etc.) can be administered if the staff have received appropriate training.
Allergies
The school takes all precautions to ensure a safe environment for children with allergies. Parents are asked to work with staff on accommodations.
• Please notify the school of your child’s allergies.
• Provide a description of the child’s past allergic reactions (including triggers and warning signs).
• Work with the school to develop a plan that accommodates the child’s needs in the classroom, during breaks, during school activities and in the school bus.
• Provide medical documentation, instructions and medications as directed by a physician.
• If medication has to be used, staff need to receive appropriate training and support from the child’s doctor
• Please provide the name and telephone number of the child’s primary carer and allergist.
• Please provide signed consent to share all information with other school staff.
English/Japanese speaking Doctors in the area
Dr Masatoki Adachi Clinic Kobe
Dr. Adachi was helping our school before
Dr. Okada speaks English and some of our teachers are going to this clinic
Dr. Tsou Shully speaks English and is offering the flu shot at our school now
Financial
Payment Options
We have different options for payment of tuition fees.
• Yearly
• Twice yearly (payment dates are July 15 and January 15)
• Quarterly
• Monthly
Please contact the school office for more information. Please note we have a 10% penalty fee for payments received 15 days later than the due date of the billing invoice. Students whose tuition is outstanding 30 days after the beginning of the year may be suspended from classes. A child will be permanently excluded after 90 days of non payment. The school reserves the right to withhold any report cards, transcripts or diplomas if there are unpaid balances. Tuition fees are not refundable.
Fee Reduction
A fee reduction application can be looked at by the school board. Consideration is given based on the financial situation of the family supported by all relevant evidence submitted to the school board.
School Insurance
Deutsche Schule Kobe International school insurance is taken out by the school for all students covering
• Periods during which the student attends regular classes, field trips and outings related to the curriculum
• School events
• Periods during which the students and visitors are on the school premises
• Periods while commuting to school (traveling back and forth between residence and the school by a logical route and means)
Bank Account
Account Name: Deutsche Schule Kobe
International 学校法人神戸ドイツ学院
Sumitomo Mutsui Banking Corporation
Rokko-Island Branch
Account No 3393642 (Savings Account) Swift Code: SMBCJPJT
Complaints Procedure
We are very willing to deal with any complaints from parents in a positive and productive way. May we please ask parents to follow the Who To Talk To guide on page 4. If you are unsatisfied with any of these outcomes please speak directly with the principal. If you are still unhappy then please ask the principal to refer you to the relevant board member for final arbitration.
Leaving DSKI
After entering school the existing contract will be automatically extended if parents do not resign by written notice using the form provided by the school, at least 3 months prior to leaving the school.
The notice of withdrawal must straddle a full three months.
To leave at the end of term 1 (January 31st) - resignation deadline October 31st
To leave at the end of the school year (July 31st) - resignation deadline April 30th
If the date of withdrawal is not set, the withdrawal notice will be considered insufficient. Parents or legal representatives must agree and consent that all fees shall be forfeited in full, if insufficient, provisional or conditional notice of withdrawal is given. An exception can be made if there is a possibility that a student may have to withdraw due to parents’ work obligations and if the employer fails to inform the parents in time to meet the deadline. In such cases parents must apply to the Board, stating all details, and provide further documentation (to be decided by the Board) in order to obtain a postponement of deadlines.
If a student has to withdraw due to unavoidable reasons (temporary residence abroad due to parents` work obligations, medical reasons), temporary leave of absence may be granted, if the child returns to the school within the school year in which they withdraw. The parents or legal representatives must apply in writing for temporary leave of absence at least 3 months prior to temporarily leaving the school; an exception may be made only in cases of emergency such as accidents or hospitalization due to illness.
If the time of their absence is longer than 3 months, students on temporary leave are charged a reduced fee of 200,000 yen per semester for the time of their absence. Building and development fees, insurance and membership fees and PTA membership fees must be paid in full. In case of absences up to 3 months, tuition fees are not reduced.
Recommendations and Reports
We are happy to provide recommendations for students which have been requested by the school being applied to. Please understand that usually they are confidential and we cannot release these reports to parents, they must be sent directly to the new school. If you would like to see what has been written, you will need to contact the new school and ask.
We are happy to provide two paper copies of the DSKI school reports, stamped by the school. We do have an administrative charge for additional copies of 3000 yen per report.