Acronym and Term Directory

ADs

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

ACSI

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

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

AED/CPR

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

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

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

AP Classes

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

ARK

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

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

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

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

Bake Sales

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

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

Co-curricular

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

Graduation ceremony

Concessions

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

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

Culminating Events

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

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

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

DoDD

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

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

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

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

ES

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

FAC (Fine Arts Coordinator)

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

Freshman

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

GPA

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

GT

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

Harvest Hall

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.)

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

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

IEP/OAP

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

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

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

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

JCIS

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

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

Junior Varsity

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

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

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

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

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

LT

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

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

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

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

MK

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

MPR

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

MS

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

NHS

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

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

Packets

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

Pep Rallies

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)

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

PSAT

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

PTA

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

RCE

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

Rubric

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

SAT

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

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

Secondary

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

Senior

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

Senior Comprehensives (Comps)

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

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

Spirit Week

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

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

Stories Plus

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

Support Team

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

SWOW

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

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

TCK

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

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

TOEFL

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

Transcript

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

Valedictorian

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

Varsity

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

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

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

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