Hinoki International School (previously known as the Japanese American School of South East Michigan or JASSEM) was a two-way Japanese-English

language immersion Language immersion, or simply immersion, is a technique used in bilingual language education in which two languages are used for instruction in a variety of topics, including math, science, or social studies. The languages used for instruction ...

elementary school in Livonia, Michigan in

Metro Detroit The Detroit metropolitan area, often referred to as Metro Detroit, is a major metropolitan area in the U.S. State of Michigan, consisting of the city of Detroit and its Southeast Michigan, surrounding area. There are varied definitions of the a ...

which opened in 2010 as a

charter school A charter school is a school that receives government funding but operates independently of the established state school system in which it is located. It is independent in the sense that it operates according to the basic principle of autono ...

. It closed in 2015 before a planned opening of a new Farmington Hills, Michigan campus.

History

Hinoki International School was established in 2010 as the Japanese American School of South East Michigan (JASSEM, or 南東ミシガン日米学校), by Ted Delphia, co-owner of Himawari Preschool and head of the Michigan Japanese Bilingual Education Foundation (MJBEF), a 501(c)(3) public charity. The elementary school was started as a charter school with Livonia Public Schools (LPS) as charter authorizer and landlord. Using over $500,000 in Federal Charter school program grants and input from

Eastern Michigan University Eastern Michigan University (EMU, Eastern Michigan or simply Eastern), is a public research university in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Founded in 1849 as Michigan State Normal School, the school was the fourth normal school established in the United Sta ...

's World Language Department, Hinoki enrolled 13 students in 2010 in a single kindergarten class. They grew to 133 students in grades K-3 in 2013-14. The school was originally housed in the former McKinley Elementary School,Smith, Karen. "
Livonia district eyes charter school
(). '' The Livonia Observer''. June 18, 2010. Retrieved on March 4, 2014. and later moved to the former Taylor Elementary School.New school year opens new chapter for Japanese school
(). '' Hometown Life''. September 3, 2014. Retrieved on October 18, 2014
Alternate page
Hinoki had 185 students enrolled for 2014-15 when it received notice that MJBEF would be withdrawing as educational service provider. Randy Liepa, the then-superintendent of Livonia schools, asked the board of the Hinoki school to merge with the Livonia School District. In May 2014, the Hinoki board voted to follow the recommendations of Hinoki parents and the PTO, and remain a charter school while entering into talks with LPS about possibly becoming part of that district in 2015-16.Minutes of Hinoki Board of Directors Meetings.

May 8, 2014. Liepa declined to renew the lease of the Livonia school facility. On July 28, Livonia Public Schools (LPS) revoked the Hinoki charter since the charter school had no building. LPS then opened a district-operated school-of-choice elementary school with a similar program, called the Niji-Iro Japanese Immersion Elementary School, located at the former Hinoki campus. Anne Hooghart, the president of the school board, accused Delphia of conspiring with LPS to take control of the school without the board's consent, while Delphia denied this. Karen Smith of '' O & E Media'' wrote that "Hinoki stakeholders viewed the Livonia board's actions as a hostile takeover of their school, recruiting teachers and students without the Hinoki board's knowledge."Smith, Karen.
Hinoki International School to reopen under new charter

Archive
. O&E Media. February 17, 2015. Retrieved on April 17, 2016
Alternate location at
Cincinnati.com Hinoki was granted a new charter from Saginaw Valley State University, and moved to 29230 W. 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, Michigan, and began enrolling students in Kindergarten through 5th grade for fall 2015. In June 2015, the building in which Hinoki planned to open was sold to a private school, Aim High School. Hinoki was required to vacate the building by October 2015.Mueller, Nathan.
Parents reeling from closure of Schoolhouse Montessori

Archive
. O&E Media. July 5, 2015. Retrieved on April 17, 2016. On September 11, 2015 the Hinoki School board voted to dissolve.

Curriculum

Hinoki's Japanese-English immersion program was a blend of both Japanese pedagogy and Michigan’s educational standards within the framework of a dual language classroom. Each class was taught by a pair of teachers—one native speaker of English and one native speaker of Japanese—who took turns instructing the students in all core subjects areas, alternating the language of instruction for each lesson. The student body included both native Japanese speakers and native English speakers so that each students had a "target language" in which he/she can strengthen his/her skills with the help of his/her teachers and peers.

References

External links

Hinoki International School
* (Archive)
Hinoki Foundation

. July 22, 2014. * Hubred-Golden, John.
Japanese-English charter school to open in Farmington Hills
" '' Farmington Voice''. February 17, 2015. *
MINUTES BOARD OF EDUCATION Livonia Public Schools 15125 Farmington Road Regular Meeting June 2, 2014

Archive
. Livonia Public Schools. -- See "Approval of Japanese Immersion Program" on p. 3 of 6. * Livonia District Removes Charter, Takes Over Japanese Immersion School.

"

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" August 14, 2014 * MAPSA Calls on State Superintendent to Investigate Livonia Public Schools

August 18, 2014 * Hinoki Parent Outlines Case Against LPS in Letter to Michigan State Superintendent

August 19, 2014, Michigan Capitol Confidential * MDE Spokesman: LPS Had Right to Revoke Charter School Contract with Hinoki

August 18, 2014, Livonia Observer & Eccentric {{Farmington Hills, Michigan Charter schools in Michigan Bilingual education Japanese language English as a second or foreign language 2010 establishments in Michigan Educational institutions established in 2010 2015 disestablishments in Michigan Educational institutions disestablished in 2015

History

Curriculum

See also

References

External links

Further reading