Japanese International School Hong Kong

Playtimes embarks on a tour of the Japanese International School with charismatic school Principal Joshua Blue. Discover more about the “small school with a big heart” below

Table of Contents

Japanese International School’s Hidden Oasis Campus

Situated amidst lush greenery and located near Tai Po in the New Territories, the Japanese International School (JIS) campus is a hidden oasis. Much to the delight of its young students, the area is frequented by playful monkeys. Principal Joshua Blue aptly describes JIS as “a small community school with big school facilities and opportunities.” And he’s spot on.

JIS School Facilities

Despite its modest enrolment of approximately 170 students, JIS boasts an impressive array of facilities. “For a school our size, we have exceptionally well-equipped spaces for learning and growth,” shares Principal Blue.

Notable facilities include a heated indoor swimming pool (for year round lessons), a fully equipped gymnasium, a spacious outdoor playground with covered sections for heat and rain protection, an Astro-turf field, a running track, a computer lab, a food and textiles room, and dedicated music rooms.

An Inclusive Multilingual Education

JIS welcomes students of all nationalities from Reception to Primary 6, offering lessons in English, complemented by additional language classes in Mandarin or Japanese. Families can choose their preferred language of study, with native-speaking teachers and Educational Assistants ensuring effective language acquisition.

The Primary Years Programme

As an authorised International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, JIS has been offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) since 2007. Principal Joshua Blue, an IB expert (workshop leader, school evaluator, field representative and consultant), shares his insights into the program’s learner-centric approach, emphasising skill development and critical thinking.

“My role with the IB grants me the opportunity to engage with diverse learning communities. As the pedagogical leader of our school, I observe innovative practices in other institutions and bring these insights back to enhance our educational approach. This experience is a privilege.”

“The reason I love the IB is for its learner-centric focus. It’s not about the memorisation of facts or information but the development of learning approaches, skills, and dispositions crucial for a student’s success. While traditional subjects like reading and math remain fundamental, our focus is on nurturing the skill set required for effective learning, rather than repetitive problem-solving.” explains Joshua. “Our students embark on a unique educational journey. We recognise and harness their individual strengths, building upon their existing knowledge. I think the PYP sets a robust foundation for understanding the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of learning while fostering higher-order thinking skills like synthesis, analysis, and creativity.”

“JIS, as a small school, has the flexibility to implement the PYP effectively. We tailor our interpretation of the program to align with our vision and maintain consensus on its implementation. Our single-level entry system further promotes collaboration among different year levels and between teachers and classes.”

Tailored Support at JIS

While internal assessments are conducted to inform instruction, rigid testing is eschewed in favour of holistic student development. Overall, students perform “at or above age level,” which Principal Blue credits to the small class sizes. The school augments its teaching staff with full-time Educational Assistants (EA) and dedicated Student Support and Well-Being Teachers, ensuring comprehensive student support for Reception, P1 and P2. In P3 and P4 the EA is available four days a week, and in P5 there is one EA between the two classes. “We have the resources to be able to provide what students need. And if we don’t, we’ll seek support from external agencies. We’re not afraid to say, ‘actually, in order for your child to be successful, this would be really helpful.’”.

Seamless Transition to Secondary Education

JIS maintains a direct link with International College Hong Kong, guaranteeing a seamless transition for a third of its students. Others opt for international schools, particularly ESF, for their secondary education.

Cultural Heritage and Language

JIS pays homage to its Japanese heritage by integrating Japanese festivals and traditions into its curriculum. Joshua envisions enhancing language diversity through “translanguaging” and emphasising the cultural significance of language.

The Japanese Tatami room in the library is just one of the touches that reminds us of the schools Japanese roots. “As an IB PYP school, we have a focus on the culture and the language of the of the home country – Hong Kong – but because we are the Japanese International School, we also celebrate Japanese festivals and traditions and make sure that’s part of our curriculum and the messaging that we give.”

“I think there’s a conception that respect and very orderly lines exist within Japanese culture and community. It’s very interesting, if you go into a Japanese primary school in Japan, there’s some of that, but culturally in Japan, primary age children are meant to be children and to run around and to be kids and to test boundaries, because once you enter a secondary school, the expectation is ‘now you are here to study’. We see a mix of that here, children still need to be reminded to be quiet!

One of Joshua’s ambitions is for JIS to “really tap into the power of language with translanguaging. When you’re an English medium school the other languages are present, but how are they valued? How are they celebrated?” Over the course of two weeks, students in Primary 1 to Primary 6 enjoy seven language lessons. Reception starts slower with languages but that’s something Joshua hopes to increase. He also wants to utilise and build on home languages “because language is identity, it’s belonging.”

Nurturing Individuality and Belonging

Central to JIS’s philosophy is the promotion of student well-being and a sense of belonging. Creating a safe, inclusive environment is paramount for effective learning.

“Coming to JIS, the moment I stepped into the school, I thought ‘this is this is going to be my happy place. This is where I am going to be able to learn and grow, but do so on my terms. Somewhere I can authentically be myself.

“That’s what we want from all of our teachers and students, we want them to be themselves. We want them to be individuals knowing that they have a place where they belong. I think that’s really important.”

Well-being and the social and emotional aspects of learning are clearly key. “If you don’t feel safe, if you don’t feel like you belong, you’re not going to learn. I think that’s really where our emphasis is. As much as you have an obligation to teach reading, writing and maths, and to run units of inquiry; our students need to know that they belong. They have attributes and characteristics and skills to contribute to the community at large. And we want them to have fun doing it.”

Active Parental Engagement at JIS

JIS encourages parents to actively participate in school life, fostering a vibrant and engaged community. Principal Blue, who has a child enrolled at JIS, epitomises this commitment.

“We want parental involvement. We want parents on campus, we want them to be engaged and active in what we do.” Being able to have my son at a school where I believe in the community 100 per cent, and know what is happening and know that I can advocate not only for him, but for everyone else to make sure that we’re doing the best that we can is very special.”

A Distinctive Educational Destination

JIS stands as a unique educational institution known for its distinctive ambiance. Prospective families often describe it as “the right place to be,” emphasising the school’s exceptional appeal.

“Different schools have different feelings but I do think this is a very special place. I get people who come for interview and have been to other schools and they say, ‘We want to be here because we just feel like it’s the right place to be.’”