Enjoy this short video snippet about Learning Tree International School from our 2025 Tokyo Expo.
Transcript
We spoke with Fumi Masaki, Ph.D. (Principal and Representative Director), Emily Ruane (Headmistress), Elizabeth (Music Teacher), and Ronnell Brown (Head Teacher).
School History
ISTimes Global: (00:00) Hi, I’m here at the Learning Tree International School booth and we’re going to ask them some questions about their school. Fumi, could you tell me about your school’s history and background?
Learning Tree International School (Fumi): (00:12) Actually, about 22 years ago, I made this school for my own children. And it grew as my children grew. And then a lot of parents really liked the school. I think because I had a point of uh mother’s, you know, perspective, right? And so that uh it’s very warm and it’s small, but look at our teachers, they were like our family and parents and they were like friends, you know.
Academic Life
ISTimes Global: (00:41) That sounds great. Emily, can you tell me a bit about academics at your school? What’s learning like at the Learning Tree school?
Learning Tree International School (Emily): (00:48) Yeah. Our school is um, like Fumi said, very small, very intimate. So we really value small classroom sizes so that each uh child can be catered to individually. Um, we have multi-grade classrooms, so students who want to push and challenge themselves more can go up to higher grade levels. Um, and students who need foundational skills can work on those at at their own pace. Uh, our curriculum is American Common Core, but we incorporate things like research and inquiry. We do a lot of um hands-on learning and students uh are guided by their teachers and teachers are also guided by their students. So if students, for example, are really excited about uh a specific topic, whether it be science, then that is kind of where that might take them. It’s a really collaborative um environment for our students to learn and they really enjoy that element of things.
Extracurricular Activities
ISTimes Global: (01:38) Awesome. Learning sounds great. Elizabeth, could you tell us a bit about extracurricular activities? How do the students get involved in the community?
Learning Tree International School (Elizabeth): (01:46) So, that’s actually one of my favorite things about our school. Um, so basically, what sets us apart, I think, is that our extracurricular activities are included in our curriculum. So, for instance, a student doesn’t have to choose if they want to take a music class or a drama class or a dance class, they can do all of it. It’s part of their daily schedule. So we have an arts program, we also have a PE curriculum, and then an arts program. They can choose all within the arts, like actual drawing, like artistic endeavors, music, I’m the music teacher. Music, uh music, drama, all kinds of things. And then in the PE category, we’ve got all kinds of sports. We have baseball, basketball, uh like running, track, whatever, all these different activities. So it’s, yeah, table tennis. That’s that’s a big favorite. Cheerleading, karate. I mean, it’s really everything and the students get an opportunity to choose term by term, you know, what they want to dabble in when it comes to those sorts of things, karate and baseball. And so they really get a a full picture of like maybe when you’re seven years old, you don’t know if you want to be a cheerleader or a baseball player, but it gives you a chance to try out all of these things with your friends in a really friendly way. And anyway, it’s a great part of our school.
Lasting Memories at Learning Tree International School
ISTimes Global: (02:57) That sounds like a lot of fun. Ronnell, can you tell us about the students who graduate from the school? What are some of the memories that you imagine they take away with them?
Learning Tree International School (Ronnell): (03:07) You know, um I’m also a parent of a Learning Tree student who has graduated from our school. She’s in high school now, but I know some of her fond memories were some of the Christmas concerts we do or or uh things where we collaborate with parents, our Halloween parties and their their times at camp as well where they get to do a lot of outdoors things and really um participate with their friends in ways that aren’t always academic. I think a lot of the memories are just the bonds they form and you know, we have a kind of familiar kind of feel in our school. It’s a small school, but it it gives them a real personal touch. And I think um most of the memories are are shared and uh not totally academic. I think a lot of it is um just about um growing up together, you know, in a in a real cozy way. And my daughter values that. She still keeps her friendships from Learning Tree.
ISTimes Global: (04:01) Awesome. Well, thank you so much everyone for your time.
Learning Tree International School (Fumi): (04:03) Thank you.
Learning Tree International School (Emily): (04:04) Thank you.
Learning Tree International School (Elizabeth): (04:05) Thank you.
Learning Tree International School (Ronnell): (04:06) Thank you.
About Learning Tree International School
- Founded 22 years ago by a parent for her own children
- Small, family-like school with warm, nurturing environment
- American Common Core curriculum with multi-grade classrooms
- Hands-on, inquiry-based learning approach
- Extracurricular activities integrated into daily schedule
- Strong arts program (music, drama, visual arts)
- Comprehensive sports program (baseball, basketball, karate, etc.)
- Emphasis on student choice and exploration
- Memorable annual events like Christmas concerts and Halloween parties
- Focus on building lasting friendships and community bonds
- Located in Tokyo serving international and local families
