Moving From Japan (Kailua: neighborhoods, elementary school, living)

[KaiNalo808]

Where can a 6 year old girl from Japan who knows no English attend school? She, and her mother will be moving to Hawaii this year. Can anyone recommend an elementary school (public if any) ?

Thank you for your help.

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by KaiNalo808

Where can a 6 year old girl from Japan who knows no English attend school? She, and her mother will be moving to Hawaii this year. Can anyone recommend an elementary school (public if any) ?

Thank you for your help.

Which island?

[KaiNalo808]

Oahu

My Concern is for the 6 yr old girl and her making the transition to America and finding a school for her where her mom and I will be safe knowing that the teachers will help her with the transition in school. For example, will there be a faculty member who can speak Japanese so she can also communicate with the mother?

[LaniK]

Lanikai Elementary in Kailua is the only one I know of that is a public (charter) school that can help. Otherwise, perhaps a private school search?

[Balad1]

For what it's worth there are private schools that some of the local Japanese send their kids to that promotes learning/speaking Japanese.

[VanHa]

You might not have a choice of what public school to send the child...it will be determined by where they will be living...the other choice is to send the child to private school...where you may pick and choose.

[KaiNalo808]

how about a school that offers ESL (English as a Second Language)? Who offers that?

[expat123]

I do not live in Hawaii yet, but I know a bit about US public schools. The federal government requires state public schools to provide English as a Second Language (ESL) assistance to children who need help (usually determined by a test when they first enter school). So if the child needs the help, she will recieve it in some form as required by law. Look at Hawai'i's Public Schools

The quality of the ESL programs vary by state. You should be aware that the Hawaii education system ranks as one of the lowest in the US, so I would say that your first priority should be getting into a good school. The quality of education offered in the regular classroom (where ESL students usually spend most of their time) will be the most important factor for the child developing English. The trouble is, unlike in Japan, good schools are in more affluent neighborhoods, so you would have to be able to afford the most expensive housing in Hawaii to get into the best public schools in Hawaii.

You could go the private school route, although I am not sure about which are best for ESL students. You might want to look into the private Buddhist schools like Hongwanji and Pacific Buddhist Academy because they may have more Japanese students.

As far as the mother communicating with the school, I think your best bet would be finding a friend who can help translate. That shouldn't be too hard in Hawaii where there are a lot of Japanese. It might just be too hard to find a school where you know there is a Japanese teacher and then trying to get into that school (and also hoping it is a good school educationally).

The good thing is that she is young enough at 6 years old to pick up a second language quickly. I know from experience with English-speaking children that age learning Japanese.

[Kansoku]

children will learn english well by immersion in school.

there must be at least one japanese parents who sends their children there, and they can do the interpreting for the teachers and mother