Nishimachi Annual Report 2019-2020
Tomo No Kai 2019-2020 Kaaren Kunze
TNK President 2019-2020
Congratulations to Nishimachi International School on celebrating its seventieth anniversary this last school year. Tomo No Kai (TNK), the parent association of Nishimachi International School, has supported and enhanced the Nishimachi community since 1981. TNK has several functions, but its core mission is to run social, educational, and fundraising events for the community, to enhance the school through the TNK Grants program, and to donate annually to Outreach Scholarship Program. TNK is a parent-led organization, and every parent is automatically a member. All TNK events are organized and run by parents with hands-on assistance from the TNK Executive Board and committee chairs. Volunteers donate countless hours of their time through one of TNK’s seventeen committees. Each committee has a unique focus and creates opportunities to bring students, teachers, staff, and parents together through TNK events. This tight-knit community feeling has been a cornerstone of our school since it was founded by Tané Matsukata. The 2019–2020 school year started with that same focus, working to connect everyone together. August is always a busy time as we prepare to return to campus, and this school year began as usual with a flourish of exciting annual events. The New Families Committee hosted a welcome picnic in Arisugawa Park. This picnic, a TNK event only in its third year, was organized as a way for returning families to meet and welcome new families before the start of the school year. In spite of the heat and humidity, the event was a great success with many families beginning new friendships and reaffirming existing ones.
15
