Tokyo International School

[EduCativ]

Welcome to Tokyo International School, one of the most exciting schools in Japan, located right in the center of Tokyo. TIS is a nonprofit school, which is accredited by the Council of International Schools and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. We are a fully authorized, International Baccalaureate World School, catering for students from Kindergarten 1 (four years old) to Grade 8 (fourteen years old). TIS is truly international with children and staff representing fifty-six nations. Our admissions policy ensures that we stay true to the international families which we serve and to the international ethos which we value. In partnership with parents, we successfully live our mission every day:‘to nurture confident, open-minded, independently thinking, well-balanced inquirers for global responsibility. The school’s mission is completely compatible with the goals of the two IB programs offered. When our students move on to other schools, we consistently receive feedback that they are confident, excellent communicators, participatory, collaborative, independent learners, and academically able.
What I truly believe stands us apart from other schools, is that we successfully combine contemporary, yet rigorous teaching, learning, and assessment practices, with family-like relationships between teachers, students, and parents, creating a very special friendly climate - something that impresses and surprises our many visitors.
Our students understand the concept of a global society, they take action on global issues and are encouraged to be leaders. Learning is focused, fun, engaging, challenging, and authentic with opportunities for students to be innovative and relate their learning to the world they will be employed in.
TIS is an extraordinary school, with wonderful teachers and where we foster learning that pushes the boundaries of creativity, academics, and innovation. For more information about what makes Tokyo International School the school of choice, please browse this website.
TIS is fully authorized to deliver the prestigious International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Program and Middle Years Program. The two programs provide an internationally recognized education and prepare children for easy transfer to the IB Diploma or other education systems. For more information about the IB Programs and their transferability, please click here for the IB website and download this document to learn about IB education.
TIS is not just any IB school, our commitment to the IB and our expertise in IB philosophy and teaching practice is deeply rooted at all levels of our organization. We are committed to developing IB leadership capacity in our faculty and as such we actively support our teachers to become part of the International Baccalaureate Educator Network. Our school is also an agreed teacher training center for the University of Tsukuba's IB Educator and Leadership Certificate programs.
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Organization mandates the curriculum framework for learning at Tokyo International School. Our international program emphasizes deep, These include the recently developed Common Core State Standards from the U.S.A., the new Australian Curriculum, and ‘Development Matters’ the United Kingdom’s learning continuum for early childhood education.
In addition to IB criteria, the Tokyo International School curriculum is also aligned to rigorous and innovative standards from national education systems. The purpose of assessment is to inform teaching and to improve learning. Assessment is a continual process.
It involves reflecting upon learning, giving purposeful feedback about performances, and setting new learning goals. At TIS, our assessment is guided by a variety of standards. We use international academic benchmarks including the U.S.A Common Core and the learning outcomes prescribed by the IB. This facilitates rigorous teaching and learning take place.
Individual goal-setting ensures each child is challenged to their potential. Learning intentions and success criteria for assessments are shared with students. Students are integral to their assessment and growth. Parents are informed of their child’s progress through extensive student reports and student/parent/teacher meetings. At conferences, and throughout the year students explain their progress using an e-portfolio with samples of their work in conjunction with their learning targets.
Our Kindergarten1 classes have a maximum of 12 students. Children must be able to interact positively with both children and adults, have an appropriate degree of self-control and listening skills, and be fully toilet-trained before entry. Kindergarten 2 classes have a maximum of 18 students. From Grade 1 to Grade 8 we have a maximum of 20 students, with a maximum of five children who share a common language other than English.
In each Kindergarten1-Grade 4 class, language support is available to a maximum of three students with no or limited English ability. In Grade 5, language support is available for students with limited English on a case-by-case basis. In Middle School students are expected to be proficient in English, only minimal support is available.
Language support will take place during Japanese lessons until the support teachers deem the student ready to have support only inside the classroom and therefore to start Japanese. Students who have a strong grasp of the host country's language (Japanese) are required to speak, understand, read and write English at their grade level at the time of application. At least one parent is required to be able to communicate in English without the help of a translator.
TIS Kindergarten 1 students have automatic enrollment into primary classes unless there are issues identified and addressed before March of their Kindergarten 1 year. Siblings of currently enrolled students have priority over other applicants when all other entrance criteria are met!

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