Shinagawa International School

Age: Ages 3-15
Area: Shinagawa (Tokyo)

About

Shinagawa International School (SIS) is an IB PYP-accredited school situated within a walking distance to Shinagawa Seaside station. The school offers preschool classes (ages 3 and 4), primary school (K-G6), and middle school class G7 (2020-2021 Academic Year). SIS was originally established in 2007 in Shibuya, but it was relocated to its current premises in Shinagawa at the end of June 2018.

Nourishing and celebrating diversity

SIS is considered to be a community of learners. The school is fortunate to have teachers and students from over 30 different nationalities which form a great mixture of different experiences and cultures and results in the formation of a multicultural and diverse learning community. SIS celebrates its diversity not only in regular class activities but also by hosting an International Children’s Festival every year.

Teachers design learning activities that empower students’ academic achievement and personal passion for life-long learning. Social development is a high priority at SIS, and its mixed age group After-School Program activities promote interaction among children of different ages. All lessons, activities, and school events are designed based on students’ cultures, beliefs, and backgrounds. SIS’s unique cultural features are respected and celebrated in order to encourage understanding and appreciation of diversity. The result is a challenging, non-discriminatory learning environment which is responsive to the needs of its learners.

Respect for individuality and unity

Teachers plan lessons and learning activities based on students’ needs. A high teacher-to-student ratio allows the school to know its students well and differentiate instruction to best help each child achieve his or her learning, personal, and social goals. Each student is respected as an individual with different strengths and interests.

The SIS learning community includes representatives from a wide variety of backgrounds. Events like Japanese Culture Day and exchange activities with local schools encourage respect and appreciation for other cultures and our local community in Tokyo. The SIS learning community is based on mutual respect and open communication between staff, parents, and students. Parents cooperate in many aspects of school life, such as participating in class activities, volunteering to enhance the library and media center, accompanying classes on field trips and holding fundraisers like a bake sale for International Children’s Day.

Educational Philosophy

SIS Vision: To foster passionate, independent, highly-motivated learners who actively contribute to world peace.
SIS Mission: To provide a multicultural learning community that nurtures passion for academic, social, and personal success.
SIS Educational Philosophy: SIS aims at educating each of its students to be:

Inspired and independent life-long learners
Academically, artistically, socially, and physically balanced
Inquirers and problem-solvers
Multilingual communicators
Responsible and principled internationally-minded citizens
Appreciative of our local community

Profile

Number of Students: 160
Number of Teachers and Staff: 30
Student Population: 47% female, 53% male
Student Nationalities: 30

Facilities

Early Learning Center (3-4 years old)
Kindergarten
Primary / Middle School Classes
Music Room
Art Room
Library
Gym
Samezu Athletic Park (5-min walk)
Samezu Soccer and Baseball Ground (5-min walk)
Konami Sports Center (1-min walk)

Annual events

*Events written in blue are open to the public, as well.

Celebration of Learning (4 times)

Winter Performance

Year-End Performance

International Children’s Day

Science Week

Literacy Week

Japanese Culture Day

Parents’ Morning (2 times a year)

Parent-Teacher-Student Conference (2 times a year)
Family Picnics

Sports Festival (Undokai)

School Trips (once a term)

Exchange activities with nearby schools

Extracurricular activities on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Yearly Schedule 2019-2020

August ’19

8/23 Parent Orientation & IB PYP Explanation, Coffee Time (After Parent Orientation)
8/26 First day of the school/Fall Term begins

September ’19

7 Family Picnic
21 Sports Day

October ’19

14-18 Literacy Week
17 Celebration of Learning/Parents’ morning
21-25 Midterm Break

November ’19

9 Open house

December ’19

16 Celebration of Learning (Class Performances)
13 End of Fall Term
17-31 Winter Break (12/25-1/5 School Closed)

January ’20

6 Winter Term begins
11 Parent Teacher Student Conference

February ’20

18 Japanese Culture Day
7 Celebration of Learning
22 Open house

March ’20

14 Parents’ Morning / Coffee Time
14 Last day of Winter Term ASPs
14 Celebration of Learning
22 End of Winter Term
25-29 Spring Break

April ’20

1 Spring Term begins
6 Spring Picnic
9 Spring Term ASPs Start
20 International Children’s Day/Celebration of Learning

May ’20

1-5 School Closed
8 Teachers’ Day
11 Open house
25 Sports Day
27-31 Science week

June ’20

6 Last day of Spring Term ASPs
19 Celebration of Learning (Class Performances)
20 End of Spring Term
21 Student-Led Conference

July/August ’20

7/8-8/2 Summer School (4 sessions)

Curriculum

As an IB PYP school, SIS offers a comprehensive education that incorporates the five essential elements of the IB program:

Knowledge
Skills
Attitude
Conceptual Understanding
Action

The SIS mission and education philosophy promote a balance between acquiring knowledge, developing skills and promoting positive attitudes and attributes that will contribute to every students’ capability to be inspired, lifelong learners. The students’ action is represented in SIS’ vision statement that will guide them to be global learners who contribute towards world peace.

Classes at SIS are timetabled with Japanese lessons, depending on the ability of the individual. Classes follow the books Kokugo (Japanese as a Native Language) or JAL (Japanese as an Additional Language).

For more details on school subjects and curriculum focus, see here.