Education

SCHOOL LIAISON PROGRAM MANAGER

• Inbound & Outbound Student Transition
• School Deployment Notifications
• Connects families to community and installation resources.
• Educates schools, communities, and commanders on the unique challenges impacting military children.
• Offers post-secondary preparation resources.
• Identifies education related matters that impact military-connected students.

18 MSG Administrative Office, Building 99

DSN: 634-2231; Duty Mobile: 080-6489-8617

Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday • 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Saturdays, Sundays, & Holidays • Closed

Email: 18msg.kadenaslo@us.af.mil

School registration online

Kadena SLO

https://kadenafss.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Required-Enrollment-Documentation.pdf

To ensure better stability for your children, all incoming personnel that have school age children are to contact the School liaison officer prior to enrolling their children in school. Because of school zoning, personnel should wait until after they have had their housing briefing to enroll their children in school. This is in an effort to avoid having to move children from the school they are zoned for while in billeting to the school where their permanent quarters will be located.

There are no American "public" schools available in Okinawa. Children of families with orders to Okinawa attend the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) on the various bases at no cost. They can also choose to attend one of the various religious affiliated schools off-base which have varying fee structures.

Number of DoD Schools on Okinawa

• Elementary: 8
• Middle schools: 3
• High schools: 2

PRE-KINDERGARTEN

Students must be four years old on or before September 1st of the current calendar year to be eligible to register for the upcoming school year.

KINDERGARTEN

Students must be five years old on or before September 1st of the current calendar year to be eligible to register for the upcoming school year.

FIRST GRADE

Students must be six years old on or before September 1st of the current calendar year to be eligible to register for the upcoming school year.

ORDERS

ALL orders must have the student(s) name listed AND rotation date (when you leave the island). For Marines, the tour length can be found on Web Orders (usually 36 months) . For Navy, it is listed as PRD (Projected Rotation Date).

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Sponsor’s Orders, Web Orders, Certification of Employment, SF50, Contract, etc. Area Clearance or Dependent Entry Approval (ONLY if the dependent’s name isn’t on Orders), Copy of Immunizations, Lease, Housing Assignment Letter, Hotel Receipt, etc., Previous School Records IF YOU HAVE THEM and Passport OR Birth Certificate

ONLINE REGISTRATION

You can upload all documents straight to the ASPEN website or take them to your zoned school.

SCHOOL ZONING

While living in temporary housing, your child is zoned for the school in that area. When you have been assigned permanent housing (on or off base), there is a possibility that your child could be moved to another school unless you live in the same zoning area. For more information, call the School Registrar or the District Registrar at the numbers listed. The Bus Transportation Office can be reached at: okin-bus@pac.dodea.edu

Courses Provided at the Secondary Level

Both high schools offer courses similar to the best stateside secondary schools for students to earn the 26 Carnegie Units necessary for graduation. Over 50% of the DoDDS graduates attend college. Among the graduates are National Merit Scholars and military academy appointees. A number of scholarships for the local American organizations as well as national scholarships are awarded each year to graduating seniors.

Extra-Curricular Activities

The following is a list of after-school activities: Yearbook; Newspaper; Student Council; Instrumental Music; Track; Choral; Music; Drama; Letterman's Club; Cheerleaders; Drill Team; Stage Crew; Radio Club; Football; Tennis: Boys-Girls Intramurals; Boys-Girls Volleyball; Photography; Wrestling; Boys-Girls Basketball; Boys-Girls Soccer; Computer Club; Honor Societies; Ecology Club; and Boys-Girls Cross Country.

Library Facilities Available to Students

All DoD schools have library/media centers that exceed the AdvancED accreditation standards. The library facilities in all schools include extensive collections of library books, audio-visual materials and equipment. Each of the libraries has a computer network which provides student access to information within the school and worldwide. All schools are equipped with a variety of multimedia resources. In addition to DoDDS' libraries, students also have access and use of the base library facilities.

Supplementary Services Available

There are a variety of specialists and programs which supplement and enrich the regular classroom program. All schools are staffed with a guidance counselor, a nurse, a reading improvement specialist, an English As a Second Language (ESL) specialist, compensatory education teacher and a media specialist (librarian). Sure Start, a program targeted for "at risk" children who would benefit from a comprehensive preschool experience is in place in six schools on Okinawa. Additionally, eight school psychologists provide itinerant service to all thirteen schools, and the two work experience coordinators, assigned to the high schools, provide appropriate services to all schools upon request. Advanced placement and Honors classes, JROTC, and AVID are offered at both high schools.

Special Education Program

All children with disabilities from ages 3 to 21 (unless graduated from high school), who are space required are eligible for an appropriate education in the DoD schools.

If you have such dependents in your family, you are required to enroll in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) at your current command. EFMP screenings are required prior to PCS move overseas.

POC: Special Education Coordinator, District Superintendents Office, DSN: 315-632-7145.

Program for Gifted Education

Gifted Education programs are available for students who meet the DoDDS identification criteria by providing evaluative evidence from previous schools that is consistent with the DoDDS criteria. Instructional programs are provided by fully qualified Gifted Ed. resource teachers and the regular classroom teachers.

Other Enrichment Activities

Okinawa has been the host for Pacific Region activities for the Far East Speech and Drama Festival, Far East Boys' Basketball (AA Division) and Cheerleading Competition, the Honors Far East Music Festival and the Far East Computer Contest. In addition, students from Okinawa may compete in the National Junior Science and Humanities Symposium held in Tsukuba, Japan. Locally, an island wide science fair and spelling bee are held annually.

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores for all schools in the Okinawa District are available through the DoDEA Data Center.

School Advisory Committee (SAC)

There is a SAC at each school, comprised of 50% parents and 50% professional educators (teachers) of the respective schools, to advise the principal on school matters. We believe that parents, teachers, students, DoDDS administrators, and military commanders share the responsibility to work collectively in supporting the schools and to enhance programs. This support is required to improve not only the delivery of educational programs and services to DoDDS students, but also to improve the overall quality of life shared by all personnel in the American overseas communities, of which the schools are an integral part.

PTA/Parent Volunteers

We welcome parent volunteers in our schools. Many programs in our schools are enhanced through the time and efforts provided by parents and other interested adults in our community. Please let the school know when you will be available to help and the kind of help you wish to offer. We have active Parent Teacher's Associations in each school that are affiliated with the National PTA in the US.

Please let the school know about work experiences you are willing to share with students or faculty. Some of our resources to reinforce good work habits, academics, and preparation for seeking jobs have come from parent volunteers. We have many teaching materials in our schools, but the next best thing to personal experience is personal interaction.

Homeschooling

There are many opportunities for those wishing to home educate their children while living on Okinawa. There are three support groups (OCHEA, IDEA International, and FISH (Faith in Schooling Homes), as well as, support groups, CO-OP groups and play groups open to all military island-wide.

Okinawa Christian Home Educators Association (OCHEA)

OCHEA consists of a group of approximately 40 families who are currently home schooling. As the name infers, OCHEA is a Christian based support group, with membership open to anyone who is interested in or presently homeschooling. Encouragement, help and services are offered to all, regardless of religious preference.