Vol.5

「少人数教育ならではの個人に合わせた手厚い教育が魅力」

What were your reasons for entering the elementary school?

Our two children, my son and daughter, attended Elementary School. My son, the older sibling, chose a high school outside of KIA because he wanted to take certain subjects. But over the years, we have grown to appreciate the fact that they attended KIA Elementary School more and more.
They have been attending KIA since in their baby class and the school provides an education that identifies unique and positive aspects of the students and allows them to flourish. We were certain that in an environment like this that the children could develop the skills for self-acceptance and chose this school. There is plenty of communication between the teachers and the parents and I feel that school helped the entire family grow. 
We have been blessed with the opportunity for my children to reflect on what it means to be themselves and to find their own way to express that as they enter adolescence.

What were your reasons for entering the secondary school?

A positive aspect of the International Baccalaureate is that it begins in the elementary school and as it progresses into the DP, the student’s learning becomes richer and more their own. My daughter didn’t know what path she wanted to take and she preferred to spend more time with extracurricular activities and we considered so many schools as we had many discussions.

In that situation, we chose KIA because it is a school that emphasizes what students want to do and can focus on their schoolwork. Looking back on it, they made their own decision. Even as elementary school students, they thought hard and told us what they wanted to do and we wanted to meet their expectations. 

What curriculum is particularly attractive at KIA?

The opportunity to study the International Baccalaureate bilingually in Japanese and English in a small group is an irreplaceable opportunity. The children, from a very young age, regard this environment as normal but they go abroad, take part in international workshops in Japan, take lessons from foreign teachers without feeling that language and nationality is a barrier in an open minded manner at their own pace. My children can be introverted so when we see them doing these things, we are so glad that they learned at KIA. 

The students are able to learn in a way that suits them is only possible because of the small group of students is also what makes KIA great. My son is no longer in KIA for high school but we received so much emotional support during junior high. Throughout his elementary and junior high, he and us the parents feel that he has learned how to accept different ways of thinking and different cultures and to take on challenges while understanding the risks. 

Please share an episode that made you realize your child is a KIA student.

My son lives in a dormitory and often tells us that “I’m made of orange (the color he associates with KIA)”. He based his learning on what he was taught in elementary and junior high school. Because he thinks that way, he often takes on leadership roles without realizing and tells us that he constantly thinks about how to fulfill his responsibilities. In moments like this, we are reminded of his KIA-ness. Maybe we feel that way especially because he’s shy.  

My daughter’s KIA-ness comes out when she tries to think on her own to finish what she started. As parents, because we want to give her agency, we try not to be involved, which can be frustrating sometimes. In any situation, whether it is on stage, she is focused on what she can do at the moment at her own pace. Even when she can’t get the results she wants, she’ll keep going. That is something that she learned at KIA. Because her teachers and friends always support her, she feels safe to be herself and be empowered. 

 

What is the best way to recommend your KIA?

The beaming smiles of the teachers!
Forward facing attitudes! 
Open and accepting minds!

What is KIA to you?

KIA is an important team that raises our children, although they can be a bit overbearing.