About Kindergarten

<Introduction>

Aichi International School (AIS) was founded in the spring of 2000 with the mission of providing children with a more global-oriented style of education. As the 21st century begins, it is easy to see that the strong push towards globalization is changing the set of skills now required to be successful. The 3 main pillars of this new "Global Society," will be strong communication skills, healthy self-confidence, and a respect for others, and AIS is determined to foster these attributes within its students.

From its humble beginning of 14 students and 2 teachers, AIS is now growing upwards of 80 students and over 9 teachers. To meet this demand, a new state-of-the art facility is under construction and is scheduled to be complete by February 2006.

Although the school is primarily designed for Japanese families, AIS also welcomes its international friends. Roughly 30% of the student body is from overseas, and to date, the school has welcomed children from the US, Germany, Holland, India, Brazil, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Korea, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and Russia.

<Facilities & Location>

Aichi International School is located in central Nagoya, just 10 minutes from Hoshigaoka station on the Higashiyama subway line. A new state-of-the-art building was constructed in 2005, and houses 12 classrooms, a library, concert hall, open-area learning centers, heated floors, and a courtyard. Furthermore, in an attempt to lead through example, the school has placed solar panels on the roof to help generate some of its own electrical needs. Directly across from the school is a large treed park (Nijigaoka Koen).

The school building is an original design, which beautifully blends rigorous safety standards with artistic Canadian log-work. The building's frame and floors are built from natural wood, and an abundance of windows and skylights allow for natural sunlight. The school's concert hall has a 2-storey high cathedral ceiling, balcony, and decorative stained glass.

To help create a more international atmosphere within the school, almost all of the school's educational furnishings and materials (from chairs and tables, through to paint and markers) have been imported from overseas.

<Staff>

The teachers at AIS are young, responsible, highly energetic and very dedicated to their profession. The entire elementary staff hold degrees in education and are certified in their respective countries. The current staff members are from Canada, Australia, the US, and Japan.

The school's headmaster, Mr Kim Lutz, holds an undergraduate degree in Music Education from the Lionel Hampton School of Music (US), a masters degree in Advanced Japanese Studies from Sheffield University (UK), and has attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has also published an educational reference book for teachers of young children.