ISN (International School of Nagano)

Enjoy this short video snippet about ISN (International School of Nagano) from our 2024 Expo.

Transcript

ISTimes Global: (00:00) Hello, we are here with Rie, founder of Nagoya International School. Welcome.

ISN (International School of Nagano): (00:06) Thank you.

ISTimes Global: (00:08) Uh, I hope that you’ve been enjoying the the uh Expo here in Tokyo.

ISN (International School of Nagano): (00:12) Yeah, this is our third time visiting.

ISTimes Global: (00:14) Oh, really? Uh, excellent. Well, this is our third time running it, so works out good.

ISN (International School of Nagano): (00:20) Yeah.

ISTimes Global: (00:21) So I I’ve I’ve passed by your uh booth uh uh several times and one of the things that catches my eye is these beautiful pictures uh that you have of kids out in uh nature and doing things outdoors. I I don’t see one picture indoors. One of the things that I wanted to find out is more about your school. Please, tell me a bit about the um history of Nagoya International School and maybe what your school um philosophy is.

ISN (International School of Nagano): (00:50) Right. Um so we started in about 13 years ago and we started with the kindergarten and then those children grew up. And then now we have elementary school and the middle school. Um we have graduates as well and then they decided to have their own career in the high school in Japan and as well as overseas. So we always wanted to give children and parents as well opportunity to choose um and pursue their dreams. So far, I think we are performing it well in the way that is they go to um schools that they want to go regardless um where the location is and then they um carry on what they like um sports um academics and all the hobbies that they were into. So we are pretty happy about it.

ISTimes Global: (01:45) Well, what is an average day or maybe an average week uh for a child uh at your school? What are some of the things he or she might do or experience uh throughout the day?

ISN (International School of Nagano): (02:00) Okay, so um children come to our school five days a week. Um they have uh usually start the day 8 or 8:30 and then have a lesson from 9:00 to let’s say uh 4:00 in the evening. And then after that, all the campuses which we have five, um offers a uh evening classes. So, um these teachers are going to be with the children till let’s say 7:00 in the evening. So, um most of the parents who work really late, um we want to support those parents as well.

ISTimes Global: (02:41) And uh so is the 7:00, that’s not when all kids end or is uh or is that an uh extended day for for those that are doing additional classes?

ISN (International School of Nagano): (02:55) Um the program finishes at uh 4:00 in the evening, but after that, it’s sometimes they offer stem class. Sometimes we offer like um some lessons are charged. But mostly it’s free to stay till yeah, till the evening, 7:00.

ISTimes Global: (03:17) Now, you now you started out first as a kindergarten, then uh a uh primary school, you expanded into a middle school and a high school. Um obviously, parents have wanted to stay with your school, their kids are growing up, they haven’t pulled them out. What do you think uh attracts parents to your school and what do they stay and uh has enabled you to expand the school like that?

ISN (International School of Nagano): (03:47) Right. Um parents um most of parents are pretty amazed how much education, especially English acquisition uh their children can learn and uh in the preschool. And then after that, um when they’re happy with uh what they do and what how they are, they pursue their education in elementary school. So, um and we have all the unique like professional teachers around. And we basically spend a lot of time inquiring what they like, how they are, and then they boost confidence. I think children purely enjoy their time with their friends. And with that, um higher motivation, they put some energy in academics and then that’s why our children’s performing in their academics pretty high as well. Um it’s good that um at any point end of the elementary school or uh middle school, they have a choice if uh they want to pursue different career, different school, they could do it in Japanese or English. Um if they want to keep their choices, they um come to middle school and then then finally, they usually apply for both Japanese school and then um overseas school in high school. But um it’s up to them which whichever they want to go. So it’s

ISTimes Global: (05:23) And that’s also because you give them the opportunity of taking both the Japanese curriculum as well as the uh um uh PYP for the primary school and then the I the IGCIE for the middle school.

ISN (International School of Nagano): (05:40) Yeah, um we our um elementary schools and Article 1 school. That’s really um helps some parents to decide um coming to ISN. And then in middle school, they have lower secondary and upper secondary and IGCSE, which is a Cambridge program. So uh those academics supports sort of credibility and uh yeah, it supports parents decisions as well.

ISTimes Global: (06:14) Can I ask you about some of these beautiful pictures?

ISN (International School of Nagano): (06:16) Oh sure.

ISTimes Global: (06:17) Uh we have actually talked quite a bit about the academics of the program, but I also see that the kids are outdoors uh uh so much. It seems like it’s one of the core experiences that um you offer at your school.

ISN (International School of Nagano): (06:32) Yeah, um we believe that when they are small, um important thing is they try many things in the nature and then get connected to all the different type of people, local people. So we have it. We have mountains, we have rivers, we have um a lot of local experts and we have skilled people as well for camping and fishing and then playing outside and harvesting things. So those experience means a lot to not only children but the parents. So we work together and then have a good time together.

ISTimes Global: (07:09) Well, just just looking at the pictures, it makes me want to send my kids there. Uh just because I uh you had mentioned about the friendships uh kids build in school and it looks like they have lots of opportunities outside of school to also build uh on uh on those friendships. Yeah. Um what is what’s something that you hope that when kids uh eventually move on to university or wherever they choose to go. What do you think is uh something that they keep with them that they’ve learned at um Nagoya International School?

ISN (International School of Nagano): (07:46) Right. Um one of the most important thing is the trust in themselves and trust in others. And also, um probably the ability to accept the differences. Um so they have all diversity in culture, beliefs, values and they experience it. And when we have one event and one activity, they have different reactions. Some people might not enjoy it, but you might love it. So all those um experiences, there’s no right or wrong. So something like that, um they carry on, they they take it as a souvenir and then they go overseas and then in the university, at their work, they still um grow those capacity of understanding others and building trust in themselves. Yeah, I think those are few of the most important things.

ISTimes Global: (08:50) I think so too. Nagoya International School. Thank you so much.

ISN (International School of Nagano): (08:54) Thank you.

About ISN (International School of Nagano)

Founded in 2012, starting with kindergarten and expanding to elementary and middle school
Operates across five campuses in Nagano prefecture
Offers both Japanese curriculum and international programs (PYP for primary, IGCSE for middle school)
Strong focus on outdoor education with activities like camping, fishing, and nature exploration
Extended day program available until 7pm to support working parents
Emphasis on bilingual education (English and Japanese)
Develops students’ confidence, trust, and ability to embrace diversity
Graduates pursue both Japanese and international high school options
Unique approach combining academic rigor with extensive outdoor experiences