KIST’s Elementary School is a vibrant, supportive community that caters to over 300 students from K1 (three-year-olds) through Grade 5. Every aspect of the Elementary School program is designed to cultivate children’s natural love of learning by providing opportunities that allow students to acquire knowledge and develop basic academic skills that they will need as they progress to higher grade levels, and to build on the foundation begun by families in the home in nurturing children to become responsible, caring individuals who make meaningful contributions to society. Each grade level is divided into two classes with a maximum of 24 to 25 students in each, with the exception of the early childhood classes (K1, K2, K3) which normally have around 16, 18 or 20 students respectively. The Elementary School is located in the West Building of our Shirakawa campus—a purpose-built, 4-storied building containing general and subject-specific classrooms as well as the Elementary Library.
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There is a buzz in the air in the Elementary School each morning as students arrive, eager to start a new day of learning with their teachers and friends. Core classes for Elementary students start at 8:45 a.m. and finish at 3:25 p.m. on Tuesdays to Fridays, and 2:35 p.m. on Mondays.
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The curriculum in the Elementary School follows the International Baccalaureate’s Primary Years Programme (PYP) which KIST was authorized to offer in January 2002. The PYP offers a comprehensive inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning. Subject content is presented in an integrated approach through units of inquiry that are structured around concept-based key questions.
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The daily schedule in the Elementary School is centered around the PYP units of inquiry as supervised by the regular classroom teachers, interspersed with single subjects (Art, ICT, Japanese, Music and Physical Education) as led by subject-specific teachers. Weekly allocations for single subjects are shown in the table below. All classes also take part in a weekly library session with the Librarian.
| Art | ICT | Japanese | Music | PE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| K1, K2 | 3 x 40 mins | N/A | 3 x 40 mins | 3 x 40 mins | 2 x 40 mins |
| K3 | 2 x 40 mins | 2 x 40 mins | 3 x 40 mins | 2 x 40 mins | 2 x 40 mins |
| Grades 1 to 5 | 2 x 40 mins | 2 x 40 mins | 4 x 40 mins | 2 x 40 mins | 2 x 40 mins |
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As English is the language of instruction at KIST, various support systems are in place for students whose English language skills are not sufficient for them to be able to access the curriculum independently. One such system is the English language support (ELS) program through which our specialist ELS instructors provide support to students through various methods during regular lessons. No additional fees are required for this service.
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The Learning Enhancement Academic Program (LEAP) also provides academic support for Elementary students from K3 through Grade 5 in the areas of English and mathematics. LEAP classes are conducted before and after school and are designed to provide additional opportunities for students to further develop academic skills that will transfer to the regular classroom. For some students, participation in LEAP classes is mandatory depending on their academic level as determined through classroom observation and diagnostic testing results. Additional fees apply.
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Elementary students usually take part in learning excursions once per semester to locations in the local community or wider Tokyo metropolitan area to provide hands-on, real-world academic experiences and deepen their understanding of lesson content. All excursions link to specific aspects of the school curriculum and so provide important learning opportunities for all students.
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The information on this website provides only a glimpse of the many wonderful experiences students have in the Elementary School at KIST each day. If you have any questions regarding the school’s programs or services, please feel free to contact us for more information. We also welcome visits by prospective families to view our classes in action and get a better feel for the school environment, and for families who are interested in joining the KIST family, we look forward to receiving your application!
