2024 KIS Festival – Saturday, May 18th, 2024

Come along for a day full of fun, food & drink, games, performance, and connection.

Date: Saturday, May 18th, 2024, 11am – 4pm
Venue: Kyoto International School
317 Kitatawaracho, Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto, 602-8247

The day will include:
International food booths, game booths, children’s market, bake sale, performance & music – KIS’s Got Talent!

出店、ゲーム、パフォーマンスなど、地域の皆様と集い、催し物あふれる一日を過ごしに、是非誘い合ってご参加ください。

日時: 5月18日(土)11時ー16時

場所: 京都インターナショナルスクール

    〒602−8247 京都市上京区北俵町317

イベント内容:

世界の料理&ドリンク、ゲーム、子供マーケット、ベーク・セール、タレントショー・パフォーマンス(KIS’s Got Talent!)

The vendors joining our Festival are as below. 

< Food & Drinks>

Omusubi Kakinoki (Rice ball)

ovgo Baker (Cookies)

SUNSHINE JUICE (Cold pressed juice)

Chop Chop Banh Mi (Banh mi)

Thai Terrace Kyoto (Boba tea)

KURASU Coffee (Coffee)

Honke Owariya (Japanese Treat)

Mogu Mogu Kyoto (Fish & Chips) 

Yoroshiku Pizza (Pizza)

Atelier Pages  (Financier & Gelato)

Que Pasa (Burrito & Nachos) 

Yoko’s Kitchen (Karaage)

<Sales & Workshop>

Vivobarefoot Japan (Shoes & Slackline)

Pagong (Apparel)

Momoko Nakamura (Rice Cooking)

ASHTANGA YOGA KYOTO (Kids Yoga) 

Hair Salon Ozaki (Hair Arrangement)

Kids’ Handmade Project (Finger Knitting Workshop)

xe xe meditation (Tea Meditation)

Lions Club (Top Craft)


Make Me Glow (Kids Dance)

Relive the Cultural Delights of the 2023 KIS Festival

Here are a few captured unforgettable moments from the 2023 KIS Festival, the beloved annual event organized by Kyoto International School’s dedicated Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). Immerse yourself in a vibrant tapestry of international flavors, captivating art, a bustling children’s market, and the wonderful participation of local shops. This extraordinary festival was a celebration of diversity, uniting the local and international community.

The festival showcased breathtaking student artwork. Parents and children were delighted by the lively children’s market, where young entrepreneurs had handmade crafts, recycled toys, interactive games, and engaging activities filled the market.

The participation of local shops added an extra flair to the festival, highlighting the strong bond between the school and the surrounding community. Attendees engaged with local vendors, discovered their products, and experienced the warmth and hospitality that make Kyoto such a remarkable city.

The 2023 KIS Festival was more than just an event; it was an opportunity for people of all backgrounds to come together, fostering cultural understanding, friendship, and unity. The festival created lasting memories and celebrated the power of community, culture, and togetherness.

IB Education Symposium (Online Event)

IB関係者各位

「第8回国際バカロレア推進シンポジウム」を3月26日(日)にオンラインにて開催いたします。

今回は「なぜ日本において国際バカロレア教育が必要なのか?」をテーマに、
基調講演、トークセッション(登壇:IB修了生、IB教員、大学関係者)、IB教育実践共有、IB教育に関する研究成果発表等を予定しています。

主 催:文部科学省

協 力:国際バカロレア機構

運 営:文部科学省IB教育推進コンソーシアム事務局

開催日:令和5年3月26(日) 9時30分~ 16時15分

開催方法: オンライン開催(Zoom Webinar)

対 象:国際バカロレア教育に関心を持つ学校、教育委員会、自治体、教育関係者、保護者、生徒等

費 用:参加費無料(〆切 3月24日 17時)

申 込:下記リンクの申込フォームより受付中
https://www.bbt757.com/svlEnquete/jsp/user/top?id=8thsymposium0326

The 8th International Baccalaureate Promotion Symposium, sponsored by MEXT, will be held on Sunday, March 26, 2012. The symposium will be online via Zoom Webinar.

The theme of this year’s symposium is “Why is the International Baccalaureate Education Necessary in Japan?

The contents will include keynote speeches, talk sessions (speakers: IB alumni, IB teachers, and university representatives), sharing of IB education practices, and presentations of IB education research results.


Date : 2023 March 26th (SUN) 9:30~16:15

Place : Online (Zoom Webinar)

Subject : Schools, school boards, local authorities, educators, parents, students etc, with an interest in IB education

Fee : Free of charge (Advance registration required)

Apply : Please apply from IB Consortium Website Form


The event will include keynote speeches, talk sessions (speakers: IB alumni, IB teachers and university staff), sharing of IB education practices and presentations of research findings on IB education.

(This event will be held in Japanese)

Please visit the IB Consortium website for further details.

Invitation to the ‘Horikawa Regatta’!!

It has been a few years since the KIS Horikawa Regatta was held but the time has come to bring the house event back! Please come and join the students who will be finishing off the first week back to school with a fun community activity. ‘Regatta’ is defined as a sporting event consisting of a series of boat or yacht races… for KIS it will be handmade boats from Milk/Juice cartons.

When: Friday, Aug 26th, at 10:45 am.

Where: Horikawa River, across the street from Family Mart

Who: Whole school community, parents/guardians and other family members welcome!

Additional Note: Please provide an extra change of clothes as some students occasionally get wet. Everyone attending should wear a mask as we look to have a community time but limit risks of covid transmission. Non-enrolled children or family members are welcome to join but are under parent’s care and responsibility. 

Thank you Muromachi Lions Club

It is with very humble gratitude that KIS would like to thank Muromachi Lions Club for their ongoing support of the school.

Over many years the Muromachi Lions Club has been supporting the school with various activities and always had a presence at the KIS Festival. As recently as this May the Muromachi Lions Club invited KIS to the annual dinner, to be part of the celebrations of all the work the club has undertaken. Two board members attended and reported back on a what a lovely evening was had by all.

In spite of the challenges that the global pandemic has presented, in 2022 the Muromachi Lions Club is donating ¥100,000 to the school. For this magnanimous gesture the entire KIS community thanks the club for their generosity.

The school hopes the next year will again be a time of fruitful cooperation between Muromachi Lions and Kyoto International School.

今年も京都室町ライオンズクラブ様よりKISに対してご支援を頂戴しました事を皆様にご報告させていただきます。京都室町ライオンズクラブ様からは長年に渡ってKISの様々な活動にご支援をいただいており、特にフェスティバルに関しては毎回ご参加・ご協力をいただいています。また京都室町ライオンズクラブ様のチャーターナイトにKISは毎年ご招待をいただき、この5月にもKIS理事2名が出席し素晴らしい会合だったとの感想を聞いています。2022年も世界的なパンデミックの混乱が続く中にも関わらず10万円のご寄付をいただきましたことに、KISコミュニティーを代表してここに室町ライオンズクラブ様の寛大なご支援に感謝申し上げます。

KIS AGM – Thurs June 9th @ 2:30 pm

On Thursday 9 June the KIS Executive Board will review the school year at the Annual General Meeting. 

The main source of this meeting will be the KIS Annual Report 2021-22. 

This will be published on Tuesday 7 June via the school website and ManageBac.

The community is invited to join the board on this day at KIS from 14:30. Room 12 will be the venue.

Please indicate your intention to join the join via the form – https://docs.google.com/forms/…

The school will record the meeting and post later.

Looking forward to seeing you at the AGM.

2022 Summer Camp Registration Open


2022 Summer Camp

4 Weeks
2022 Dates: June 20th (Monday) to July 15th (Friday)

The program is all about providing students with an engaging and fun experience. The focus of the camp is to make sure students are engaged in fun and interesting learning activities based around a theme. 

Overview

Monday to Friday (9 am to 3 pm)

  1. First week: June 20 – June 24
  2. Second week: June 27 – July 1
  3. Third week: July 5 – July 9
  4. Fourth week: July 11 – July 15

Students are placed in their appropriate course according to their age.
3 years old (as of 1 Feb. 2022) to Grade 6.

Program Costs

Current/Former KIS students and Saturday School students:

  • ¥70,000/2 weeks
  • ¥100,000/3 weeks
  • ¥130,000/4 weeks

Non-KIS Students:

  • ¥90,000/2 weeks
  • ¥130,000/3 weeks
  • ¥170,000/4 weeks

*Minimum 2 weeks participation required*

External Event: Spring Camp for English Language

 Spring Camp for English Language

If you are interested in a Spring Camp (not run by KIS) here are the details:

Kyoto Lesson is pleased to announced that they will be having a Spring Camp for their English Curriculum, from 29th March to 2nd April, daily from 10am to 4pm. Please do not hesitate to contact Kyoto Lesson for more details.

Also as a reminder, they will start their weekly English program: Emerging Fluency in April (right after the Spring Camp). The regular price will be jpy 20,000 per month and will offer a special discount for the launch and the fee will be jpy 15,000 for any registration happening before May.

Here is the link to the registration form:
https://forms.gle/H9Aio9zFnguc2YvZ8

Welcome to 2021

Important inclusions:

  • All students return to school on Tuesday 12 January.
  • Situation Report
  • Updated health procedures
  • Changes to Bukatsu/ Lessons/ Afteschool care
  • Semester Two events

Greetings everyone,

Year of the Ox
KIS wishes everyone a healthy and prosperous 2021. As we approach the Year of the Ox (ushi), we are informed the ox is epitomised as gentle; loyal in virtue; being trustworthy and grounded. I am sure you would agree, recalling recent times, looking for stability and confirmation are areas our entire community will once again try to establish.

Situation Report
As of this communication, areas of Japan are in a State of Emergency (SoE) and Kyoto Prefecture is also considering what are the safest next steps. The school is monitoring these situations and reviewing the latest communications from the Ministry of Education (MEXT) which have been updated this week. A common point of these updates is that schools are being encouraged not to close but to continue to minimise risk behaviour for the transmission of COVID-19.

Over the holiday break, the school has maintained continuous updates from JCIS and with Dr Lomax. In his most recent presentation (January 7) the doctor reinforced that schools are places where there has been the least transmissibility in the age groups up to high school age students. This continues to support the KIS response to the pandemic.

A newer development from Dr Lomax is that potential symptoms for COVID-19 are not as consistent as previously identified. As more research is completed it is now evident not all COVID-19 patients had:
● Increased temperature
● Cough
● Runny nose
● Body aches
● Tiredness

When to stay at home?
As a result of this information, the school asks that parents keep students at home if there are any signs of being unwell, until there is an absence of any symptoms for 24hrs. This is an update from previously published information. When in doubt keep your child at home.

Bukatsu, Lessons and After School Care
For the first week (Tuesday 12 Jan – Friday January 15) KIS will suspend ALL after school activities. This is consistent with all other schools in the JCIS network. The outcome of this will mean less time for interaction outside of the essential delivery of teaching and learning. KIS is committed to continuing to offer face-to-face lessons until it is deemed unsafe. This is one step that will help support our commitment.

Looking forward
What can we look forward to in 2021? The second semester is a significant one for KIS. The school will go through a number of validation processes being our IB evaluation; the WASC re-accreditation and the renewal of our Guiding Statements (Vision, Mission and Values). As well we are continuing our journey for membership with the Council of International Schools (CIS). All key aspects in reinforcing who we are as school and what we strive for students in their education.

Events
What types of events the school can provide will be mixed in comparison to previous years. Rest assured the Senior Leadership Team continues to reflect on ways to support the community and maintain connection.

Of course the KIS Festival will be held but not necessarily in its traditional format. It is important that the school continues to celebrate the community and culture that makes us KIS.

Experiential learning opportunities for students will look different as students will not be able to go to camps this year. This does create opportunities to work on different models whereby students can continue to have authentic experiences inside and outside the classroom, with a true reflection of our culture.

More online community events will be on offer. Coffees mornings, online education sessions and of course we have the option for parent conferences online if face-to-face is not available.

It will be a busy Semester Two but the school approaches it with excitement and enthusiasm. We look forward to connecting with everyone over the course of the year.

Best
Michael Taylor