New International School of Japan

New International School of Japan was founded in 2001, as the first international school in Japan specifically established to meet the needs of permanent, international marriage, and/or long-term residents of Japan, regardless of nationality, in the clear and research-based recognition that dual language and multiage education are good for children!

In addition, the school offers a smooth transition for children moving from a Japanese based educational system to an English one, or vice versa, and families temporarily in Japan but with an interest in Japanese as well as English are also welcome.

The school began for children from age 3 to Grade 9 and extended to Grade 12 from August 28, 2014. It is accredited through grade 12 by both the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), and it is a member of the Japan Council of International Schools (JCIS), the Progressive Education Network (PEN) and the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES).

At New International School, the children maintain and develop their social and academic skills, creativity, and independence in a child-centered environment they can participate in with great enthusiasm. Knowledge, skills and attitudes are developed through an inspired dual language implementation of Scotland’s Curriculum for Excellence.

Our students learn bilingually through team-taught multiage classes, a resource-based thematic approach, and a combination of whole group, individual, center-based and project-based activities. There are two full time teachers for about twenty children in each exceptionally well-resourced classroom.

Multiage education, like Montessori education, is constructivist, meaning that the children construct their own knowledge and understanding based on experience. It is, however, a Vygotskian style of constructivism which emphasizes learning and language acquisition as a social process. The students learn from one another as well as from the teachers in a highly interactive style of education. The children thrive in an environment where they can progress unimpeded by traditional grade level limitations.

Social and environmental studies, math and science, the language arts, fine arts, performing arts, and physical education are all an essential and integral part of the life of every child and are directed to the development of life skills: collaboration, teamwork, mutual respect and appreciation, inquiry, problem-solving, attention to audience, and effective use of language, as well as technical skills and academic and artistic inspiration.

The children retain and/or develop self-motivation, a healthy self-image, and an appreciation of others by virtue of what they are able to learn and accomplish within a school environment designed for their enjoyment and success.

As a non-profit international school with "Gakko Hojin" status, New International School is eligible to participate in a Corporate Scholarship Program originally established in 1978, under an authorized agreement with Japan's National Tax Administration Agency. The school is also a founding member of the Corporate Contribution Program Association (CCPA) which was established to assure consistency in how the program is implemented.

Under this program, corporations and other organizations who support the educational expenses of their expatriate employees may make tax free donations directly to the school instead of having to cover the tuition and applicable fees as taxable educational benefits to those employees, and possibly having to cover their additional tax burden as well. The donations are used to fund corporate scholarships for the employees of the participating organizations and to provide supplemental support in the development of the school's facilities and resources on behalf of the families it serves.

The school fees must be paid according to schedule in any event, but should a decision to participate in the program be made after a child is already enrolled, prepaid fees will be refunded, including the entrance fee.

For the group orientation option, you may sign up on-line using the link on the orientation page of this website at http://newis.ed.jp/seminarsorientations.html. For the individual orientation option, please call 03-3980-1057, indicate whether you would prefer an orientation in English or in Japanese, and be ready to provide your name, the gender and exact birthdate(s) of your child (ren), and a contact telephone number.Children will be accepted subject to availability of space, provided that the records are complete, we are confident that the child will be able to substantially benefit from our program, and that the parents will support the mission of the school and abide by the school policies.

Upon receipt of an acceptance letter and financial statement, payment of the entrance fee within about ten days is required to hold a place, with the remainder of the fees paid according to the schedule and payment options provided!