General homeschooling information

Support groups

Besides OCHEA itself, there are other homeschooling support groups on Okinawa:

  • FISH (Faith In Schooling Homes) - a Christian-based homeschooling co-op. It meets one day a week for the morning and part of the afternoon.
    Coming in 2008-09: a special co-op for high schoolers. Spots fill up during the summer, so plan ahead. Call Chris at 959-1772 (633-1772 on base) for more info.

  • okinawahs Yahoo group - a nonsectarian mailing list supporting every type of homeschooler on Okinawa. A good place to ask questions if you are looking to meet up with people with similar interests. There are various playgroups that get together informally, and this would be the place to hunt them up.

(If you have a link to add to this list, please email it to [email protected].)

Okinawa

Okinawa itself is a fabulous place to homeschool, with abundant resources to enjoy and discover. Consider:

  • Relationships: not only with other English speakers, but getting to know and share in the lives of Okinawans. We're the visitors: reach out and try to see Okinawa through their eyes!
  • Ocean activities: swimming, tidepooling, snorkeling or scuba diving, kayaking, and visiting the fantastic aquarium.
  • Cultural activities: Shuri castle and many other castle ruins; local crafts such as pottery, glass-blowing, and textiles; Japanese study; cultural centers like Okinawa World; and World War II history and battle sites.
  • Anything outdoors: hiking and exploring, or going to parks. The weather makes this enjoyable almost year-round.

Extracurricular activities

  • DoDEA school offerings - homeschoolers are eligible to take classes, check out books from the library, and use special education services at DoDDS schools, as well as participate in extracurricular activities. The DoDEA policy on homeschooling is extensive. Call your local school to find out how to register and what services are available.

  • Youth centers - the Kadena youth center has offered special classes for homeschoolers on a bi-monthly basis in the past. Call 961-0500 (on-base: 634-0500) to find out current offerings.

  • Private classes - of course, there are an abundance of lessons and extracurricular activities both on and off base: soccer, basketball, football, baseball/t-ball, gymnastics, ballet, karate, swimming, piano, violin, voice, arts & crafts, library storytime, Japanese, etc.

Schooling choices

OCHEA is a homeschooling support group, but we encourage you to pray and follow the Lord's leading for your family. Besides homeschooling, some other options are:

  • DoDEA schools on base - if you are SOFA status and have permission.

  • Japanese public schools - if you are a Japanese citizen or here on a non-SOFA visa.

  • Private schools, English - the English-language Okinawa Yellow Pages carries listings of these. Three of the Christian ones reaching to the upper grades are OCSI (Okinawa Christian School International), New Life Academy, and Zion Christian Fellowship Academy. There are several church preschools and Montessori preschools, also found listed in the Yellow Pages or advertised in the weekly Japan Update.

  • Private schools, Japanese - there are secular and a few Christian ones, but they can be hard to track down; you'll need the help of a bilingual friend who can check the directories and ask around for you. You may not have to be able to speak Japanese to enroll your child, because sometimes one person at the school will know enough English. It's not uncommon for English-speaking families to send their kids to Japanese preschools, but to do this for the higher grades is not so common.
Hosted by www.Geocities.ws

1