Hakuba International School

A new school community is emerging around a driving question: what kind of education enables people and planet to flourish?

Only rarely do new schools emerge, and even more rarely, with the opportunity we have ahead. We are designing a school for the future, built around personal well-being, care for the environment, and deep learning experiences.

How will we do this? We have access to the most effective, research-based learning methods available, like project-based learning and social-emotional learning. We have access to one of the most spectacular places on our planet, the Japanese Alps. But most importantly, we have a remarkable community emerging, full of openness to learn and grow.

Our challenge will be to bring our full selves, our full potential, to this new community. That will mean the invitation to share your honest thoughts. To keep an open mind. To suggest improvements. To take positive risks. To take care of each other. To work hard to keep growing.

If we are successful, then we will each discover new things about who we are, along with the skills to be who we are. That is what we’re aiming for. To gain the awareness and skills to be yourself, authentically and effectively, in this beautiful and complicated world.

Students here will see that while we adults have some adventures and insights to share, we do not always have the right answers. We may change our minds, make mistakes, and ask for your forgiveness. Students are welcome to do the same. We are humans growing together.

If you are inspired by this purpose, then We hope you will join us on this adventure. We believe that more schools like this are needed in our world. Our problems are remarkably complex, but human potential is vast, and so much of it is untapped. Let’s build a school for the future.

We believe that Students flourish in a learning environment that takes care to foster relationships of high integrity, characterised by interpersonal trust and respect.

Students grow a passion for lifelong learning and curiosity when they take ownership to engage in learning as a bold adventure.

Outdoor education, Project Based Learning, Social Emotional Learning, and Residential Life all play essential roles in enabling students to develop the knowledge, skills, values, and perspectives necessary to realise their full potential.

Students should be empowered to actively contribute to building an inclusive and sustainable future.

Vision

• For our future, we want:
• For all students to develop meaningful and balanced relationships with themselves, the immediate community, the global community, and the natural environment.
• For all students to serve in a thriving learning hub manifesting a living model of sustainability.
• For all students to pursue learning adventures that enable and inspire a more sustainable and equitable society for all.

Mission

Through immersion in diverse, challenging, meaningful, and authentic learning experiences, our students will develop their sense of self and build their relationship with the natural environment and their communities. Along this journey, HIS students will discover their potential, become empowered, and positively impact the world around them.

Values

Sustainability

Stewardship of our relationships to the environment and each other is one of the most important values we can instil in our students

Respect

Acting with fairness, courtesy, and sensitivity to others and the community

Integrity

Doing the right thing in the absence of authority and being accountable for one's behaviour to one's self and others

Learning

Learning is fundamental to human flourishing — it is the raison d'etre for HIS (reason for existing)

Community

A learning community requires range of diverse voices and skills collaborating and supporting one another

​Fun

A fun environment optimises learning