Kaleidoscope blog

KIS Kaleidoscope Blog

Fun at the Futsal Tournament

“We had a wonderful time in Kobe. The kids had a blast and demonstrated some great sportsmanship.

We cleaned up with all three teams making it to the finals. Two came in first place and the other came in second, so quite a successful day for KIS!”  ~ Mr Ammon (Gr4/5 teacher)

(Photo: One of our teams who played in the second annual Futsal Tournament hosted by Marist Brothers International School.)

The education at KIS

For many decades, the Kyoto International School was an association of parents and teachers, educating children in Kyoto city.  At times we have been referred to as being an American school, yet KIS is an International School.  We are also an IB World School.  So what exactly does that mean for the children being educated with us?  For our students this means they can depend on a high quality of education, where international-mindedness and communicating in at least two languages is part of our everyday life, as we inquire and make meaning of our world.

Through the ideas that our students inquire into, study skills are taught, critical thinking is encouraged, and meaningful action is explored and supported.  This allows our students to walk on a path in becoming independent learners, while also learning how to work in collaborative teams.  These life skills help prepare our students to transfer with greater ease into other educational systems around the world, and more importantly to hold them in good stead for what life may bring them beyond their school days.

Being authorized to run The Primary Years Program, one of the three programs offered by the IB, International Baccalaureate, means that students and teachers at KIS also know the benefits of being in a network of 3,083 IB World Schools in 139 countries.  www.ibo.org/

We welcome you to come visit us, here in Kyoto.

~ Annette Levy (Head of School)

Switching the spotlight on…

Hello Mrs Levy!
I haven’t visited in a while, I hope everyone is well.
I have some exciting news to share:
I have been selected by the NZ Government as one of three people to represent New Zealand for two years overseas at an United World College, on scholarship. These colleges are headed honorarily by Nelson Mandela, and bring together 200 students from over 80 diverse countries with the aim of fostering world understanding and peace. There are 13 of them worldwide in places like India, Costa Rica, and Norway. I will be attending a UWC in Hong Kong, crossroads of Asia. The curriculum taught is IB, and whilst half the time is spent on campus with a strong focus on school work, the other half is dedicated to community service, whether it be helping villages in mainland China, monitoring coral reefs, or going on goodwill trips to North Korea. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I am very lucky to be part of it.  (http://www.uwc.org/)

I am sending this email to let you know that the time I spent at KIS played an important role  in both my inspiration and my selection. I first started KIS as a member of two cultures, and by the end of my three years there I had adopted many more. The multicultural aspect of KIS was fantastic – always interesting, always fun, and most importantly, always positive. Curiosity was encouraged, and my passion for global awareness and peace began to grow there. KIS had an amazing energy and optimism, and it allowed me to be inquisitive and grow my dreams in a safe, caring environment. Going to KIS was an awesome experience, and it lives with me to this day – so I would like to say a hearty “thank you”.

The little fledglings who came to KIS have started to spread their wings, and are taking the name of KIS all over the world!

Lots of love to you, Sasaki-san and Miss Sue and whoever else remembers me,

Nina Whittaker

(Photo above -  Ms Levy with Nina and Nina’s brother, Toby when they visited KIS, in April 2008.)