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SCHOOLS

IN FRANCE, 2020 T R Learning is a continuous process and it is very important to consider who your teachers are going to be in life. Good teachers are found everywhere if you harbor a tendency of self-learning while observing others or shadowing what the other person is doing. Sometimes it is more evident in people who are close to us.

We try to emulate our elders and do what they are doing in order to satiate the curiosity within. Most of the times we might not enjoy it or we might not end up with the situation we thought at first. But the important thing to take away from such experiences is that there is always one thing or the other that we learn from it. We imbibe gestures, actions, and expressions through the people around us.

People who we have grown up with and their behavior shapes our image in the society. The most impact that we have on our lives is that of the friends we make along the way. Friends influence our lives in such a dynamic way, that it redefines our lifestyle and molds us into something we were never before. That too, for the better or worse.

There is one such institution motivating the philosophy of friendship and inculcating the same in its process of imparting knowledge called the Japanese School of Paris. Institut Culturel Franco-Japonais - Ecole Japonaise de Paris (French-Japanese Cultural Institute) also known as the JSP is a Japanese International School located in Montigny-leBretonneux, France, in the Paris Metropolitan Area. It is located near Versailles.

Excellence Redefined

The school is approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, in accordance with the School Education Law of Japan and related laws and regulations aligned with elementary and middle schools. JSP promotes cultural and educational exchanges between Japan and the French Republic and focuses on educational activities to deepen mutual understanding. “We are committed to the spirit of respect for human beings, and we are working to expand the infinite possibilities of each child,” states the staff of JSP.

This school is the only Japanese school in France that has been approved by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology for conducting a curriculum based on the Japanese curricular guidelines. Students can take French classes in the school even though the primary language of instruction is Japanese. Its goal is to educate children who return to Japan after several years of living in France. It also helps the students who live long

Takashi Onoe

Principal

enough in the country under various circumstances and various positions and do a back and forth from Japan to France.

JSP educates the students of the age group 6 to 15 years. Marie Conte-Holm, author of The Japanese and Europe: Economic and Cultural Encounters, wrote that “the bus route to and from the school ‘essentially determines’ where Japanese families with children are settled in Greater Paris. She adds, “While some Japanese children attend local schools for a proportion of their time in France, even the more internationally minded Japanese parents will transfer their offspring to the Japanese School for reorientation during the latter part of their stay.”

Cultural Diagram of JSP

JSP has been approved as a ‘cultural activity organization’ for the purpose of ‘Japanese-French cultural and educational exchange’ in France. Japanese School of Paris was established on 1 October 1973 with just 101 students. st There are now 217 students in the school as of February 2020. The of JSP, Principal Takashi Onoe is commissioned by the Board of Directors for ‘school management,’ ‘budget execution,’ and ‘personnel affairs for faculty and staff.’ The current Chairman of the Board is Takeshi Goto (Paris Branch Manager, Mizuho Bank).

“Our school has no school rules,” says Mr. Onoe. The children judge their behavior on their own and act as the model students of the school. The classrooms are full of gentle air with gentle voices and compassion for children. JSP is an institution where each and every student has a dream and it grows while learning with their friends. It is a school that values friendships beyond the geographical boundaries and helps students in deciding who are the people that can make a home in their heart with the goal of being ‘bright, friendly, and strong.’

“Many children leave our school every year and move out without waiting for graduation,” shares Mr. Onoe. Still, there are many students who come to the school later, and all of them show a peaceful expression to the atmosphere of the institute prevailing at that time. This story tells a lot about the children who always accept the forthcoming students warmly. The feeling is the same when the students move out and part with a smile, believing that they will someday be able to meet somewhere else in the world. “We hope that these children will remain school friends for a lifetime,” adds Mr. Onoe.

JSP’s Dynamics

Based on the significance and value of living in France, JSP

is promoting cultural and educational exchanges between Japan and France. By doing this, it is enhancing educational activities with an emphasis on mutual understanding.

Starting from the first grade of elementary school, French and English conversation classes have been introduced. In junior high school, the number of English lessons has been increased with a particular emphasis on teaching foreign languages. There are regular exchanges with several local schools every year.

Moreover, to promote local understanding, JSP is actively conducting extracurricular activities in the local Saint-Quentin area, in Paris, and widely in France. In the first semester, children from elementary school upper grades to junior high schools engage in hands-on learning and lodging learning with accommodation in the western and southern French areas.

In the fall of this year, the elementary school will take an excursion to the Palace of Versailles, visit the Orangery, Rodin, Pompidou and Orsay museums. There is a tour. Various events are also held inside the school, but the three major events that standout the most are athletic meet in June, the presentation of the Japanese School in Paris in October, and the Japanese School Festival in Paris.

Also, ‘Exploration time’ is provided as a place for children to learn about their own problems and solve them. This is a trial method of learning that combines learning programs such as IB (International Baccalaureate), PYP, and MYP. “We are also focusing on ICT education, such as tablets and electronic blackboards, to promote collaborative learning,” explains Mr. Onoe. T R

A memoir of a Junior High Schoolgirl describes her journey in the school in an exquisite way.

She says, “I came to France for the rst time in the fall of May. It was my rst overseas trip ever. I was nervous in the beginning and felt that it was becoming too difcult to maintain a smile while talking to others. I attended the entrance ceremony in April and received greetings from the freshman representative of the school. This greeting proved to be a big step for me in becoming a new self. Later, through active learning, I was able to deepen my bonds with juniors as well as seniors.

During the sports meet, I was able to gel with seniors who were active sports players and it also helped me in speaking with the staff members, inevitably maintaining good communication with all the bodies of the school. The Paris Day presentation was my best memory. In this course of activity, I worked very hard to become a leader while organizing team members. I wanted to make use of the leadership skills that I acquired along the way through this experience in Japan.

Also, the drama and chorus project that I collaborated on with my seniors also made me come up with ideas that helped me in delivering a very good presentation. I spent about two years in

France and made a lot of memories there at the Japanese School in Paris. It's a miracle and I feel happy to be able to meet friends who can't be found in Japan or who never met in Japan. I am sincerely glad that I came to France and to JSP.”

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SCHOOLS IN FRANCE, 2020 T R

Creating a Free-Minded, Highly Spirited Community Languages help us communicate with other humans easily. The world right now communicates in almost 6500 languages. Understanding more than Why Choose Kaleidoscope? Like its name, the family-run school, headed by Sandrine one language or being bilingual or multilingual proves to be Bevan (headteacher) and her husband Christopher Bevan, advantageous in many aspects. It augments brainpower, is a vibrant mix of cultures. It educates and nurtures the gives an academic advantage, improves our development of its pupils with enthusiasm, professionalism, competitiveness in the job market, improves our social life freedom, and care. In Kaleidoscope, every child is and more. celebrated as an individual. This creates confident, Of the 6500 languages, English is regarded as the most immensely proud. widely spoken and understood language. It is also the dominant language on the internet and is the most preferred By gaining the bilingual advantage children can pursue language of scientists and tech enthusiasts. This makes their secondary education in either language and are learning English, along with our native language and as equipped for full integration into French life. The school many others as we can, important. This is also the emphasis teaches French and English with total immersion. of Kaleidoscope Ecole Bilingue. The school understands that giving children the chance to days in English and 2 full days in French. Primary children become bilingual from an early age brings them an (ages 6-11) have a 4 ½ day week: enjoying half a day, every undeniable asset in their life, whether it is for the pursuit of day, in each language. By working in English and French their studies or their personal and professional every day your child will develop a natural ability to development. The educational program of Kaleidoscope transition between both languages. bilingual school is entirely in accordance with that dictated empowered, bilingual young people, of whom the school is In Maternelle (ages 3-6) your child has a 4-day week: 2 full by the National Education, and the EYF (Early Years Kaleidoscope offers an optional English fun club on Foundations). Wednesday in Maternelle, and its Primary students can stay

on with the school into Wednesday afternoon for a pure language focus – in either French or English.

Carefully Chosen Teachers

Kaleidoscope Ecole’s carefully chosen teachers are sympathetic to the adventure of learning in two languages. This may sound like a challenge for the child, but they enjoy real success in Kaleidoscope. The school has demonstrated over the last seven years that, with its small classes and experienced teachers, its fully bilingual teaching method is not only successful from an academic point of view but also creates happy, well-rounded children.

It is completely normal for there to be an initial period of adaptation and integration, and the school is fully prepared to support children empathetically and patiently as they embrace their new language skills. Kaleidoscope also understands that school life needs to work with the parents’ life, so it offers wrap-around care with its breakfast club (from 7.30-8.30am) and afternoon club (from 4.30 to 6.15 pm) if required.

High-Quality Education

The pupils follow both the French National and the British curriculum. This means that the child is educated to appropriate level to attend either a French College (Secondary school), English Secondary school, International or Bilingual school – entirely as they wish or circumstances require. The school has good relationships with other local schools to ensure smooth transitions for its graduates.

The high quality of Kaleidoscope is recognised by France’s Education Nationale. Very satisfactory inspection results

have been maintained since opening in 2012 to the most recent in June 2019.

Education Nationale conducts detailed inspections of the teachers and their teaching methods, the children’s work, and the school’s health and safety. Kaleidoscope has dedicated curriculum coordinators who ensure consistency in quality and subjects, across both languages and in both schools.

Raising happy children

Kaleidoscope aims to create an environment beyond what one would expect. As well as supporting the children on their learning journey, it is important to the school that he or she is happy, confident, and can enjoy many different experiences.

Each year, the whole school adopts a learning theme. This theme is shared by every child and evolves with the individual and collective passions of the student community. It is an exciting and spontaneous way to frame every subject within the two curriculums and enables broader investigation.

Kaleidoscope Ecole Bilingue works hard to build connections and relationships within the local community, and collaborates on initiatives, to give your child the widest possible experiences available. Kaleidoscope also facilitates partnerships for fun, out-of-school, activities, like dance, martial arts, and music.

Expanding the Reach

Thanks to the success of the Kaleidoscope ethos, academic results in French and English, and its nurturing community – the current school campus simply cannot meet the everincreasing demand. The school did not want to expand and compromise the friendly, safe, environment that it has already created. So, it is opening a second, separate school with the same vision in September 2020.

The new extension of Kaleidoscope will also be in Plaisance-du-Touch. The core team behind Kaleidoscope will be present in both schools. The philosophy, atmosphere and standards will be carried forward into the new school by them both, and an already established team of professional managers. Prospective parents can have full confidence that everything they love about Kaleidoscope will be maintained. T R