Nagoya International School

Founded by parents and community members in borrowed facilities in 1964, NIS opened doors in our permanent home in Moriyama in 1968. In the 54 years since, much has changed - not only in the field of education but also here in the Chubu region. While NIS has kept pace with these changes, it is our founding philosophy that has remained a guiding constant. As a not-for-profit institution, NIS was formed with only one purpose – to meet the needs of the community we serve. This enduring truth remains with us as important today as we strive to cater to the increasingly diverse international community of Nagoya.

Since opening our doors in 1964, NIS has served the needs of thousands of young students of the bicultural, international and internationally-minded community of Nagoya. NIS serves students whose parents work in the international business community, as well as Japanese nationals and other long-term foreign residents of Nagoya. As an inclusive school, NIS enrolls students with diverse gifts, talents and dreams. From this diversity of nationalities, backgrounds and abilities, our community is able to celebrate and nurture different perspectives and ways of learning that benefit all students.

At NIS, we are a community of educators, families, friends and businesses working together in partnership to ensure the success and happiness of our students. By participating and involving our greater community, students are able to learn and grow in an environment that supports our mission. Our parents play a vital role in this process by supporting students at home and in the classroom, and by getting involved in Parent Partner-related activities that bring diverse perspectives and, in so doing, help our students develop a better understanding of themselves and their world.

NIS staff are recruited from a global pool of candidates selected for their proven track record in education as well as for their qualifications and experience. A diverse staff, NIS teachers represent nine different nationalities and include veteran educators as well as those nearer to the start of their careers, and also includes those qualified as external examiners, workshop leaders or consultants for the IB. With safety a priority, all NIS staff undergo child protection training and are subject to ongoing performance management – and as life-long learners, all NIS staff participate in professional development programs.

NIS seeks to make our mission the reality for every student, in every classroom, every day – by design. Our teachers are dedicated to nurturing the talents and dreams of students who come from diverse backgrounds and abilities. Our students are the beneficiaries of the generous support of a dedicated group of volunteer Trustees and Directors who ensure that our facilities, finances and programs work in concert with teachers and staff to provide the best possible foundation for learning and growth.

Our curriculum is framed by the programs of the IB and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). NIS has chosen the IB programs because we feel it best supports students to nurture the skills needed to both expand their knowledge and encourage them to critically analyze, reflect upon, appreciate and contribute to the world around them. While the curriculum is taught through the medium of English, we feel strongly about the importance of studying the Japanese language and the customs and traditions of Japan as a window to our regional culture.

This is actually a difficult question to answer as many of our students have two passports and some even have three. For the 2014-15 school year, school-wide there are 34 nationalities represented with the largest groups of students from the U.S., Canada, Korea and Japan (as of Sept. 1). Roughly 70% of all our students have non-Japanese passports. The number of children who have dual citizenship continues to rise, as does the number of Japanese “returnees” who have spent time abroad.

NIS offers "ASAs" (After School Activities) for certain days in quarters 2,3 and 4. Since these activities rely on the particular skills of teachers or parents who are available, the type of activities offered vary each quarter and each year. Parents are asked to pick children up shortly after the activities finish.

NIS has a four-week summer program which offers a chance for students to engage in activities focusing on arts & crafts, drama, music, sports, games, science, media, culture, language and leadership. NIS does NOT offer other evening or weekend remedial programs such as English or SAT prep courses.

NIS accepts applications at all times of the year, and depending on availability students can enroll at any time. However, school policy regarding transferring seniors requires one full year spent at NIS as a senior.

The school requires ample time to review the application and the transcripts submitted, and we ask for a minimum of two weeks from between receipt of the application and an interview. To ensure a smooth transition for both the student and the class they will enter, the school requires some preparation time after the interview as well. Since many students enter the school at mid-year, we have found that it is important to not only properly inform any and all involved staff but also the applicant’s peers – their classmates. Typically the applicant will start 2-5 days after the family interview!