Acronym and Term Directory

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ADs[edit]

CAJ's Athletic Directors (ADs) run our extensive sports program and are the liaison between CAJ and the KPASSP league.

ACSI[edit]

Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) is an organization that CAJ is affiliated with that provides training and curriculum materials, sponsors conferences, and provides information about best practices in Christian education.

ACT[edit]

American College Testing (though now they are officially just ACT) is a test similar to the far more common SAT.

AED/CPR[edit]

Many of our staff are trained in first aid including Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training. There are several AED units on campus.

Annex[edit]

The Annex refers to offices and meeting areas located in the former hostel building towards the back of campus. Please check with the business office if you need help finding a particular office or staff person.

AOCR[edit]

The Academic Office Conference Room (AOCR) is a room in the academic office that is often used for meetings.

AP Classes[edit]

Advanced Placement (AP) classes are available for students to in the high school. More information is available in the high school handbook here.

ARK[edit]

ARK stands for Arts, Recreation and Kitchen (or Kiosk). It is the building bordering the playing field housing tha cafeteria and kitchen, the band room, and the multi-purpose room (MPR).

Artscape[edit]

Artscape is a once-a-year opportunity for international school students to have their art displayed downtown (typically at the Children's Castle). It is not a competition, and the artwork is selected and hung by the art teachers from each school.

ASIJ[edit]

American School in Japan (ASIJ) is an international school in Tokyo that is part of the KPASS (Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools) group that CAJ also belongs to.

A-13[edit]

A-13 is the large music classroom in the lower level of the auditorium building.

Bake Sales[edit]

Individual fundraisers often take the form of Bake Sales which involve students making a variety of baked goods to sell to raise money for approved fund raising projects. See also Concessions.

BOCR[edit]

The business office conference room (BOCR) is a room near the main entrance of the school where meetings are scheduled.

Co-curricular[edit]

Activities outside of, but connected to, CAJ's curriculum (extra-curricular) for which students do not receive academic credit (or a grade on their report card). Co-curricular activities include sports, parts of our music program, academic KPASS events such as Brain Bowl and Math Field Day, theater, etc.

Commencement Ceremony[edit]

Graduation ceremony

Concessions[edit]

Food sales at events are often called concessions when they are run by student organizations. The seniors run concessions at many sporting events held on CAJ's campus (home games) to raise money for their senior service project. Individual fundraisers often take the form of Bake Sales which involve students making a variety of baked goods to sell to raise money for approved fund raising projects.

Credit[edit]

Courses in the secondary count as Credits which count toward graduation requirements.

Culminating Events[edit]

Held at the end of each semester in the high school, culminating events include exams, presentations, and other assessments intended to asses progress over that semester or year. High school students are only required to be on campus during their assigned culminating events times.

CSI[edit]

Christian Schools International (CSI) is an organization that CAJ is affiliated with that provides training and curriculum materials, sponsors conferences, and provides information about best practices in Christian education.

Diploma[edit]

The certificate awarded graduating students who have completed all the necessary requirements.

DoDD[edit]

Department of Defense Dependent (DoDD) schools are US military sponsored schools around the world. CAJ regularly competes with DoDD schools in the Asian region. Attending events at DoDD schools usually involves getting clearance to attend in advance. Contact the athletic coordinators or the office if you have questions.

EAL[edit]

English as an Additional Language (EAL) is one of a number of terms to identify students who are learning English as an additional language. We transitioned from the term ESL (English as a Second Language) in the Fall of 2012.

EARCOS[edit]

East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) is an organization that CAJ is affiliated with that sponsors conferences and provides information about best practices in international education. EARCOS hosts major Asian-region conferences for teachers and administrators.

Freshman[edit]

Ninth grader (student in first year of high school).

ES[edit]

Elementary School (ES) division: Grades K-5 at CAJ.

FAC (Fine Arts Coordinator)[edit]

CAJ’s Fine Arts Coordinator runs the extensive Fine Arts program and is the liaison between CAJ and the KPASSP league.

Freshman[edit]

Ninth grader (student in first year of high school).

GPA[edit]

Grade Point Average (GPA): see high school handbook entry on Grading for more information.

GT[edit]

Gospel Team (GT) is a summer outreach program run by hi-B.A. that many of our students participate in.

Harvest Hall[edit]

Harvest Hall is a meeting room in Matsukawa Place, a building adjacent to our campus, that is used for many school events.

HiBA (hi-B.A.)[edit]

High School Born Againers (hi-B.A.) is a very active youth group that many of our high school students participate in. It is not directly affiliated with CAJ, but we support them by allowing advertising and access to our resources and students.

HS[edit]

High School (HS) division: Grades 9-12 at CAJ. Grade 9 = freshman | Grade 10 = sophomore | Grade 11 = junior | Grade 12 = senior

IEP/OAP[edit]

Individual Education Plans (IEP) and Official Accommodation Plans (OAP) are for students with identifiable special needs. These plans are monitored by the Support Team. Contact the Guidance Office if you have questions.

ISSH[edit]

International School of the Sacred Heart (ISSH) is an international school in Tokyo that is part of the KPASS (Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools) group that CAJ belongs to.

JAM[edit]

Jesus and Me (JAM) is a middle school program run by KBF (Kurume Bible Fellowship, a church that rents our facilities). JAM is not directly affiliated with CAJ, but we support it by allowing advertising and access to our resources and students.

JCAA[edit]

Japan Christian Academy Association (JCAA) is an organization that allows US citizens to donate to CAJ and receive a tax deduction receipt.

JCIS[edit]

Japan Council of International schools (JCIS) is an education and advocacy group of English language international schools in Japan that CAJ is a member of.

Junior[edit]

Eleventh grader (student in their 3rd year of high school).

Junior Varsity[edit]

High school sports are typically divided into Varsity (the top team) and Junior Varsity (a team or teams of students at the level below Varsity)

KBF[edit]

Kurume Bible Fellowship (KBF) is an international church that rents CAJ's campus and holds services there each Sunday. KBF is not directly affiliated with CAJ.

KPASSP[edit]

The Kanto Plain Association of Secondary School Principals (KPASSP) is a group of international and local DoDD schools that have joined together to form a league for competition and collaboration in sports, fine and performing arts, and other activities.

Lettering / Letterman[edit]

Students can qualify for "letters" or awards based on their participation in sporting and some fine arts events. See the athletic and student handbooks for more information.

LRC[edit]

The Learning Resource Center (LRC) works with students of all abilities to help them achieve academic success.

LT[edit]

The Leadership Team (LT) is the administration group that includes the head of school, the three divisional principals, the director of the SSS division, and the business manager.

Matsukawa Place[edit]

Is the housing, office, and meeting complex next to the auditorium and dining hall, but it is not officially part of our campus.

Meet and Greet[edit]

A day, usually several weeks after school starts, where parents have an opportunity to learn more about their children's CAJ experience (formerly referred to as “Back to School Day”.

Mini Gym[edit]

Is the small gym area located on the upper floor of the gym building accessible from the lobby.

MK[edit]

Missionary Kid (MK) - an internationally recognized term which identifies the children of missionaries.

MPR[edit]

The Multi-purpose Room (MPR) is a room located on the ground floor of the ARK with multiple uses.

MS[edit]

Middle School (MS) division. At CAJ middle school includes grades 6, 7, and 8.

NHS[edit]

The National Honor Society (NHS) is an internationally recognized group that high school students can seek to become members of. CAJ has an official chapter, and information is available from the Guidance Office.

NIV[edit]

CAJ students use New International Version (NIV) Bibles for schoolwork.

Packets[edit]

Collections of papers or other materials distributed to students or parents.

Pep Rallies[edit]

Pep rallies are occasional events to raise school spirit and often to promote a particular sport. They are often organized by student councils in the secondary.

PIP (Parents in Prayer)[edit]

Parents in Prayer (PIP) is a PTA-sponsored activity open to all parents.

PSAT[edit]

The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) is administered in high school to help students in grades 10 and 11 prepare for the SAT.

PTA[edit]

CAJ has a very active Parent Teacher Association (PTA).

RCE[edit]

RCE is an organization able to receive funds for US-based donations to CAJ or for the support of CAJ staff members

Rubric[edit]

A rubric is a scoring tool that indicates what criteria an assignment or examination will be assessed on.

SAT[edit]

The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is a test that is widely required for admission to western colleges and universities. As a convenience for our students and families, CAJ is a registered SAT testing center. CAJ's Guidance Office has information about preparing for the SAT test. The registrar can answer questions about registering for the test.

Salutatorian[edit]

The graduating student with the second highest GPA (grade point average) while at CAJ. (see valedictorian)

Secondary[edit]

The term secondary refers to the middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12) divisions.

Senior[edit]

Twelfth grader (student in final year of high school).

Senior Comprehensives (Comps)[edit]

The Senior Comps (comprehensives) are a year-long culminating assessment involving research, writing, a hands-on project, and a public presentation on a day in May.

Sophomore[edit]

Tenth grader (student in second year of high school).

Spirit Week[edit]

Spirit weeks are typically run by student councils in the secondary, and involve activities to generate school spirit (dress up days, pep rallies, etc.).

SSS[edit]

School Support Services (SSS) is the division of CAJ that works with homeschool families and affiliated schools.

Stories Plus[edit]

Is a program for SSS (School Support Services) preschoolers usually meeting twice a month.

Support Team[edit]

Our Support Team works with students with identified special needs and operates our Learning Resource Center (LRC).

SWOW[edit]

The School With Out Walls (SWOW) program in the HS is a week in October during which regular high school classes are suspended and each grade embarks on leadership training activities or field trips.

TAP[edit]

CAJ's Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) funds are available by application from the business office.

TCK[edit]

Third Culture Kid (TCK) is an internationally recognized term that identifies someone who as a child spent a significant period of time in one or more culture(s) other than his or her own, thus integrating elements of those cultures and their own birth culture into a third culture. TCKs tend to have more in common with one another, regardless of nationality, than they do with non-TCKs from their own country.

TELL[edit]

Tokyo English Life Line (TELL) is a non-profit counseling center. The Guidance Office can provide more information.

TOEFL[edit]

Test Of English as a Foreign Language. Some western universities require this for international students.

Transcript[edit]

Is the official record of classes, grades, and other key information provided to other schools when students transfer and to colleges upon request.

Valedictorian[edit]

The graduating student with the highest GPA (grade point average) while at CAJ. (see salutatorian)

Varsity[edit]

High school sports are typically divided into Varsity (the top team) and Junior Varsity (a team or teams of students at the level below Varsity)

WASC[edit]

The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is the organization that accredits CAJ. Accreditation serves as an indication that our program is in line with recognized standards.

Wilderness Camp[edit]

Is a multi-day hiking trip undertaken by the junior class (11th grade) during SWOW (School With Out Walls) week in the fall.