SCHOOL VISIT

Japanese International School

Located in Tai Po, JIS is a small school with a big impact. By Charmaine Ng

Japanese International School (JIS) may be a small IB World School in the New Territories of Hong Kong, but it has been making big impressions on parents, staff and students for over two decades.

Founded in 1997, the international section of the school has around 170 students representing 25 different nationalities. Its mission is to create educated, compassionate, active and empowered global citizens.

Housed in a dynamic, spacious campus close to the Tai Po Kau Nature Reserve in Tai Po, the school incorporates the International School and a Japanese Primary School within the same building. The proximity allows both sections to share the school’s superb facilities.

These include a gymnasium, all-weather astroturf field and running track, swimming pool, specialist facility rooms and access to all aspects of computing and digital technology.

The school’s playground areas have been designed to encourage inquiry-based play

and learning through access to loose parts equipment – students can design their own play area and change it every day, fostering creativity.

Being located on the edge of Tai Po Kau Country Park also comes with many benefits. Access to the country park and the nearby Bride’s Pool nature reserve ensures many opportunities for outdoor education. Forest school programmes are an integral part of the curriculum and environmental sustainability is evident throughout the school.

Environmental awareness programmes form a central part of what the school’s curriculum has become. For example, JIS uses UN Global Goals as a direct link to learning. It also has a significant recycling programme and students are encouraged to bring in their recycling from home. School furniture has been rebuilt out of wood by local Hong Kong craftsmen to replace existing plastic and outdated furniture.

Academic performance and community involvement are also reflective of the school’s student-centred approach. In November 2020, JIS received 18 commendations for outstanding performance in its IB school evaluation.

While the past year has been challenging for students and parents across the globe, JIS has made a conscious effort to engage its community by arranging community visits to make sure students had enough books and resources to keep them active during online programmes.

Education professionals of Hong Kong know a good school when they see one – which is why, in the results of the inaugural Hong Kong Education Awards, JIS took home the title of the Primary School of the Year for the school year 2020-21.

The results were decided after a week of intensive judging by an independent panel of education experts, academics and consultants.

Accepting the award, Principal Simon Walton says: “The community of Japanese International School - International Section were delighted to hear the news that we have been chosen as Primary School of the Year. The award gives us recognition for the work and vision that has gone into creating such a lovely school for our students and our community. JIS has developed from the days of being a ‘hidden gem in the New Territories’ 10 years ago into a school recognised for its excellence, creativity and strong values.”

Indeed, today JIS is a competitive school offering a high-quality IB and PYP curriculum developed to suit the needs of a diverse international population in Hong Kong.

“Thank you to the judges for noticing what we do and inspiring us to keep striving forwards into the future to create more excellent learning opportunities and experiences for our students.”

What the parents and community said in recent surveys:

100% – agreed that the current school mission statement clearly represents the International Section of Japanese International School

98% – agreed that JIS - International Section upholds the three key values of its vision for the staff, students and community – respect, commitment and kindness

95% – agreed that the school is developing its curriculum in a positive way for the benefit of students

97% – felt informed and that their child’s class teacher gives relevant curriculum information about the work in their class

95% – felt that as a parent they can approach their child’s class teacher to arrange a meeting or gain information through email

94% – felt confident that JIS - International Section is continually developing into an excellent IB primary school

Japanese International School

4663 Tai Po Road, Tai Po Kau, Tai Po Tel: 2834 3531 Email: esinfo@jis.edu.hk Website: es.jis.edu.hk