Safeguarding and Child Protection
Purpose
St. Mary’s International School is committed to student safeguarding, child protection, and promoting the welfare of children. St. Mary’s expects those working within and connected to our community to share this commitment to:
- protect each child’s right to be safe
- ensure that all adults share the responsibility to safeguard and protect children
- prevent and report abuse, neglect, and harassment
St. Mary’s International School endorses the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which Japan is a signatory, and complies with Japanese Child Protection Laws.
Responsibility
All stakeholders at St. Mary’s International School must protect children from and report suspected incidences of child abuse or neglect. Reporting and follow-up of all suspected incidents of child abuse or neglect will proceed in accordance with administrative regulations. Furthermore, cases of suspected child abuse or neglect may be reported to the appropriate agencies.
St. Mary’s International School has a designated Safeguarding and Child Protection Team that facilitates all aspects of Safeguarding and Child Protection.
Reporting Process
At St. Mary’s International School, we prioritize student safety and have established a robust reporting system for safeguarding concerns. Staff members use CPOMS (Child Protection Online Monitoring Systems), a secure online platform, to document any disclosures or safeguarding concerns. Students and community members can also report concerns in person, through an anonymous QR code, or via an online link, all directed to our Child Protection Officers.
Education
Students from K-12 will receive age-appropriate curricular and extra-curricular instruction on Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) health and safety topics relevant to their age and developmental level. In the Elementary section, K-5, a comprehensive Social-Emotional Learning curriculum, which includes Child Protection and Bullying Prevention Units, is taught.
Training
Throughout the school year, St. Mary’s International School provides in-person and online child protection training for all faculty, staff, and parents, utilizing resources from the National College and ChildSafeguarding.com. Advanced training is conducted for designated staff members in roles specific to safeguarding and child protection.
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy
The St. Mary's International School Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available to view here.
Ms. Hiromi Sawamura
Safeguarding and Child Protection Coordinator
Hiromi Sawamura is the Safeguarding and Child Protection Coordinator at St. Mary’s International School, where she also serves as an Elementary School Counselor. Prior to joining St. Mary’s three years ago, Ms. Sawamura spent 13 years as an Elementary School Counselor at the American International School of Guangzhou in China. Originally from Hong Kong and Japan, she attended Seisen International School and has been a Designated Child Protection Officer since 2014. Ms. Sawamura is fluent in English, Japanese, Mandarin, and Cantonese.