Other Considerations

Safety First Tips Commuting To and From School

Parents are asked to please review these tips with your children. If an incident should occur, please CALL 110 as soon as possible.

  • Avoid quiet short-cut routes. Walk with a friend when possible.
  • Communicate with parents on the time you will be home (call home when running late).
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Avoid having very loud music whilst wearing earphones and being distracted by cell phones in quiet areas.
  • Wear bike shorts under skirts and jumpers.
  • Stay more than an arm's length from strangers.
  • On a crowded train stand by a woman when possible.
  • Yell in Japanese, "TA-SU-KE-TE!"

International School of the Sacred Heart and the Local Community

The International School of the Sacred Heart campus is part of a designated evacuation site to which local residents will come if fires spread through the neighborhood, however, it is not officially designated as a temporary shelter in which people who cannot return to their homes will live.

The nearest official temporary shelters are Hiroo Metropolitan High School and Rinsen Elementary School. In the event of a major earthquake during the working day it seems very likely that these official shelters will be overwhelmed. Therefore we are not planning to evacuate to such a shelter, but students will stay on campus.

Note:

  • The motion of the quake is frightening but unless it shakes something down on top of you, it is harmless.
  • The school buildings meet the requirements set forth by the Japanese building regulations.
  • Emergency kit bags are on sale at local stores. The kit contains cold-water flask, flashlight, fireproof head covering, etc.
  • Subways are considered safe. There are specially trained officials there. The greatest danger is panic. REMINDER to students: REMAIN IN PLACE UNLESS ORDERED TO MOVE.
  • Families are advised to discuss with their children alternative ways of getting home after an earthquake in case public transportation is disrupted.

Public Transportation

  1. If trains or buses are stopped, students must follow instructions of drivers or train officials.
  2. If a student does not speak Japanese she is advised to follow the majority to a place of refuge.
  3. Each student who walks or uses public transport should study a map of her route with her parents and note local government designated "places of refuge."