Rokkasho International School

Rokkasho International School is run on a commission by the Aomori Prefectural Government to offer an international education primarily for the children of researchers and technicians for the Broader Approach (BA) Activities. It is located in Rokkasho Village, Aomori Prefecture in Northern Japan. Children at Rokkasho International School follow an international style of education based in the English language, setting the groundwork for success wherever their families decide to relocate to after their time in Japan.

The BA Activities is an international collaborative fusion energy research project between Japan and the European Union. It runs in parallel to the ITER Project, based in Cadarache, France, which aims for the early realization of fusion energy.

The Aomori Prefectural Government, tasked with caring for the educational needs of children of foreign researchers and technicians in Rokkasho participating in the BA Activities, set up a school for the children of those affiliated with the BA Activities. The school first opened in September 2008, under the management of an existing international school in Japan, but had to close in July 2012 along with the relocation of all the students.

Under the management of a private company in Japan, the school re-opened in May 2013 with a new preschool section.

Our Preschool class at Rokkasho International School implements The Creative Curriculum™. A comprehensive, research-based curriculum designed to help educators at all levels of experience plan and implement a developmentally appropriate, content-rich program for children with diverse backgrounds and skill levels. It guides our teachers to generate high-quality learning experiences that enable all learners to become imaginative, confident thinkers. Using exploration and discovery, it enables our children to grow in confidence, creativity, and lifelong critical thinking skills. The 38 research-based objectives at the heart of the curriculum and the corresponding assessment system define the path teachers take with children in their classrooms. The objectives cover 10 areas of development and learning, including age-related content areas, and English language acquisition. The curriculum acknowledges differing learning styles and exposes each child to a variety of learning techniques including audio, visual, and tactile methods.

Rokkasho International School implements the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) in the Elementary School Section and the International Middle Years Curriculum (IMYC) in the Middle School Section when these sections are offered. The IPC and IMYC are comprehensive thematic curricula that use current research into how children learn and encourage them to be students of the world. They guide teachers in developing thematic units so that three main aims can be achieved. Helping students:

• Learn subject content, skills and the understanding they need to become aware of the world around them.
• Develop the personal skills they need to take an active part in the world around them.
• Acquire an international mindset alongside their awareness of their own nationalities.

They are based on careful attention to student needs and allow us to develop a unique path for every child we have the privilege to educate. Welcomed to a community that promotes trust and teaches character as intentionally as core academics, students quickly find faculty and staff are ready to support them as they explore a rigorous academic program and develop as lifelong learners.