Why Choose NIS?
NIS was founded as a community school and holds this legacy core to our values, striving to be responsive to the needs of our diverse community through the education we offer. We understand that choosing a path for a child’s education is one of the most important decisions a parent can make. We also know that a good school is more than just having a good mission. A lot more. In fact, below are nine important reasons why NIS could be the best option for your child:
Because of
Who we are
Our Mission
"We inspire and empower our students to think creatively and critically, pursue lifelong learning, and contribute positively to the global community."
Our mission guides every facet of our school. These words, distilled within the tagline ‘Inquire, Inspire, Impact’ represent our offer to parents and to students. It is our goal that through our mission, NIS students come to understand themselves and their world, develop confidence as life-long learners and thinkers - and embrace a personal dream for their future beyond NIS. Both in the taught and extended curriculum we strive to deliver on this offer for all students, regardless of age, nationality, academic need or length of enrollment.
Our History
NIS was formed with only one purpose – to meet the needs of the community we serve.
Founded by parents and community members in borrowed facilities in 1964, NIS opened doors in our permanent home in Moriyama in 1968. In the 54 years since, much has changed - not only in the field of education but also here in the Chubu region. While NIS has kept pace with these changes, it is our founding philosophy that has remained a guiding constant. As a not-for-profit institution, NIS was formed with only one purpose – to meet the needs of the community we serve. This enduring truth remains with us as important today as we strive to cater to the increasingly diverse international community of Nagoya.
Our Connections
Our connections with the community are invaluable in ensuring our ability to support the ever-changing educational needs of the greater community.
In addition to full WASC and CIS accreditation, ensuring that we are able to meet rigorous standards for international education, NIS is also authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP, MYP and DP programs. NIS is also a member of the Japan Council of International Schools, the IB Association of Japan, the Chubu Economic Federation (Chukeiren), the Aichi America Japan Association, the Aichi British Japan Association, the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ), and actively involved with SENIA (Special Education Needs in Asia), a network dedicated to supporting special learning needs.
Because of
Who we serve
Our Students
Our diversity enables us to celebrate and nurture different perspectives and ways of learning that benefit all students.
Since opening our doors in 1964, NIS has served the needs of thousands of young students of the bicultural, international and internationally-minded community of Nagoya. NIS serves students whose parents work in the international business community, as well as Japanese nationals and other long-term foreign residents of Nagoya. As an inclusive school, NIS enrolls students with diverse gifts, talents and dreams. From this diversity of nationalities, backgrounds and abilities, our community is able to celebrate and nurture different perspectives and ways of learning that benefit all students.
Our Community
Collaboration with our community enriches the learning environment for all our students, helping them develop a better understanding of themselves and their world.
At NIS, we are a community of educators, families, friends and businesses working together in partnership to ensure the success and happiness of our students. By participating and involving our greater community, students are able to learn and grow in an environment that supports our mission. Our parents play a vital role in this process by supporting students at home and in the classroom, and by getting involved in Parent Partner-related activities that bring diverse perspectives and, in so doing, help our students develop a better understanding of themselves and their world.
Because of
How we serve
Our Teachers
NIS recruits staff inspired by the mission of our school to empower students to think creatively and critically, pursue lifelong learning, and contribute positively to their communities.
NIS staff are recruited from a global pool of candidates selected for their proven track record in education as well as for their qualifications and experience. A diverse staff, NIS teachers represent nine different nationalities and include veteran educators as well as those nearer to the start of their careers, and also includes those qualified as external examiners, workshop leaders or consultants for the IB. With safety a priority, all NIS staff undergo child protection training and are subject to ongoing performance management – and as life-long learners, all NIS staff participate in professional development programs.
Our Curriculum
NIS seeks to make our mission the reality for every student, in every classroom, every day – by design.
We have chosen to frame our curriculum through the International Baccalaureate (IB) PYP, MYP and DP programs to help students develop the ability to reason and think critically as they uncover the world around them. A focus on enduring concepts and transferable skills means that while important, content (facts, dates, topics) exist to support deeper understanding as opposed to simply being an ‘end point’ in learning. Learning in this way gives students a conceptual lens with which to view the world which, combined with a strong set of 21st century skills and the emotional intelligences connected with global citizenship means that NIS students are ready for success in a rapidly changing world.
Our Facilities
Set on a park-like campus of approximately 7.5 acres, NIS consists of five modern buildings connected by terraces, gardens, and covered walkways.
The NIS campus includes architecturally distinctive buildings that provide safe and comfortable spaces to encourage learning in all areas, including classrooms for all ages, specialist areas, outdoor spaces, a design lab, a sports field, and play equipment for the younger students. All classrooms have interactive white boards, and students utilize technology with a robust school-wide wifi network. A new building planned for 2020 will create spaces for a multipurpose hall, a second commons/eating area, additional science labs and additional rooms for mathematics, music and and art, and will also include a new rooftop play/PE area.
Our Activities
A rich offering of co-curricular sports, clubs and activities is available to NIS students
We believe that a rich offering of sports, clubs and activities is indispensable to a healthy student experience. Primary students are encouraged to take part in our diverse After School Activity offerings in addition to finding ways to take principled action on issues that evolve from their learning. Secondary sports teams compete within the Western Japan Athletic Association (WJAA) and our talented artists engage in musical, theatrical and visual arts experiences. Beyond sports and the arts, NIS secondary students participate in regional activities such as Robotics and the Model United Nations and also in many other student-led or student-initiated service learning activities.