ShigaJET Announcements http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet Copyright 2012 ShigaJET.org http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification ExpressionEngine v2.2.2 http://expressionengine.com/ en Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:12:04 GMT Kencho Gmail Down http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/kencho_gmail_down Greetings Shiga.

I wanted to make a brief announcement to tell everyone that my office will most likely be restricting the use of the kenchopa@gmail.com account. They are concerned that the use of freemail (gmail, yahoo) is not secure and are worried about the private and personal information of the schools and stufents. As a result I may have to switch to the prefectural email. This will make regular communication and information/file...

]]> http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/kencho_gmail_down#When:06:57Z Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:57:02 GMT Setsubun (節分) http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/setsubun If anybody noticed oni masks, 福豆 fukumame ( "good fortune" beans), and 恵方巻 eho-maki at your local Heiwados/conbinis that's because Feb 3rd is setsubun in Japan ("seasonal division").

Setsubun is a holiday set by the old Chinese lunar calendar marking the changing of the seasons (though I am sure many of you up north would beg to differ). According to ancient beliefs this part of the year is where the connection to the spirit and...

]]> http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/setsubun#When:02:25Z Fri, 03 Feb 2012 02:25:38 GMT U.S. Citizens: Register to Vote! http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/u.s._citizens_register_to_vote This is a reminder for U.S. citizens.

To vote in the upcoming U.S. election/primaries, you must register for an absentee ballot with your state. It only takes a few minutes, and does not affect your voting status if you decide to return to the U.S. later this year, so don't put it off. Register today!

To register for an absentee ballot:

  1. Go to http://www.fvap.gov/map.html (Federal Voting Assistance Program)
  2. Select your state
    3. ...
]]> http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/u.s._citizens_register_to_vote#When:05:06Z Mon, 16 Jan 2012 05:06:21 GMT ALT Experience Articles 2011/2012 - Example Essay http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/alt_experience_essays_2011_2012_example_essay Attached are both the example essay template and my essay from last year in order to give and idea of what the ALT experience article looks like.

ALTs in the past have written articles with a wide range of themes from experiences, heartfelt goodbyes or messages to their CO, and even things such as poems and food recipes. How you want to write your own article is up for you to decide, but  please keep in mind that your CO, the BoE, and other...

]]> http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/alt_experience_essays_2011_2012_example_essay#When:06:29Z Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:29:20 GMT 2011 Winter Announcements - (Restricted to current ShigaJETs) http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/2011_winter_announcements http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/2011_winter_announcements#When:04:40Z Tue, 13 Dec 2011 04:40:20 GMT 2012 Conference for Returning JETs http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/2012_conference_for_returning_jets Each year CLAIR hosts a Conference for Returning JETs (CRJ) to help people prepare for their post-JET lives. Information has recently been sent out to all JETs in their 2nd year and above via email and your COs, but CLAIR has asked PAs to remind JETs as well.

This year's CRJ will be held in Makuhari (near Disney in Chiba) from March 5-7, 2012. If this is something you are interested in attending, please visit the following link for more...

]]> http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/2012_conference_for_returning_jets#When:00:16Z Mon, 12 Dec 2011 00:16:58 GMT Travel During the Winter Holidays http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/travel_during_the_winter_holidays I'm sure many of you are beginning to plan for travel during the long winter holiday (be it home, other destinations in Asia, or elsewhere). For some of you, this will be your first trip abroad since coming to Japan, so I would like to remind everyone of a few important documents/procedures to take care of before leaving the country or taking more than three days off of work.

1) Overseas Travel Notice Form (海外渡航届 kaigai tokō...

]]> http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/travel_during_the_winter_holidays#When:04:39Z Wed, 09 Nov 2011 04:39:06 GMT Skill Development Conference Elective Summary http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/skill_development_conference_elective_summary Brief summaries of the elective workshops held at this year's SDC conference on Friday Nov 25th as written by the presenters:

Workshop A

Practical Communication Skills: Thriving in the Workplace
A crash course on workplace communication skills on how to make your ALT/JTE relationships thrive. Develop creative and practical solutions to everyday communication challenges.

The Re-Contracting Decision
The decision to leave JET or...

]]> http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/skill_development_conference_elective_summary#When:00:10Z Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:10:47 GMT Re-contracting Paperwork Notice - (Restricted to current ShigaJETs) http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/recontracting_2011 http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/recontracting_2011#When:02:16Z Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:16:59 GMT Shiga ALT Skill Development Conference 2011 http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/shiga_alt_skill_development_conference_2011 Greetings, Shiga.

This is in regard to the Shiga ALT Skill Development Conference (previously known as Mid-Year Seminar) for the 2011-2012 year. The official notifications of the confrence have not been sent out to your schools yet, but should be in the next few days. However, I wanted to post some information to give you an idea of the schedule planned for this year.  As many of you are aware, there has been a third day (held in October)...

]]> http://shigajet.org/pa_ajet/comments/shiga_alt_skill_development_conference_2011#When:04:13Z Wed, 28 Sep 2011 04:13:44 GMT