Kindergarten

Welcome to International School of the Sacred Heart’s Kindergarten! We welcome girls and boys in our K3, K4 and K5 classes for students aged 3 - 5 years old. Our students enjoy learning each and every day from their teachers and with their peers in activities designed to engage all types of learners academically, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually. Our students learn in spacious and well-equipped facilities designed to stimulate children’s curiosity in developmentally appropriate ways both inside the classrooms and outside in our verdant natural setting in the heart of Tokyo.

Our curriculum is internationally minded and language rich, drawing on best teaching practices and research from around the world. We celebrate the many cultural similarities our students and teachers share as well as embrace our differences in our highly diverse community. Students in the kindergarten engage in all aspects of literacy, explore mathematical concepts in hands-on ways, and learn about their world through science and social studies topics in their International Primary Curriculum classes (K5) or Early Years Foundation Stage (K3 & K4) lessons. Our core curriculum is enhanced through specialist classes in art, Japanese language, library, music, and physical education providing students opportunities to explore and express themselves through various means and media.

Technology is intentionally used and taught so that students will create and not merely consume; English Language Acquisition classes prepare eligible students to dive into the rigor of our English academic program; and our student-led, play-based learning hour complements our structured learning environment. In support of working parents, we also offer an Extended Day Program, which unlike traditional daycare, is a continuum of the day offering structure and play. 

I look forward to meeting you during a tour of our Kindergarten and welcoming your child into our engaging educational program developing their love of learning that will last a lifetime!

A Place to Grow 

Each fun-filled day in the Kindergarten programme at ISSH is scheduled to maintain the right balance of structure and creative play for early learners. Our literacy and numeracy curricula develop core skills at age appropriate levels to allow students to express themselves and understand the world around them, building a smooth bridge to Grade 1. The International Primary Curriculum creates a foundation for students to explore the world around them through inquiry-based units centred around themes related to their day to day lives. Learning centres provide a space for students to explore educational crafts, activities, and toys that spark their interest, and weekly art and music classes spark joy and foster expression and creativity. 

Their Own Little World

Our Kindergarten is housed in a bright and spacious branch of our school building, separate from the older girls, in a little world just for early learners. Our kindergarten classrooms all open not to a hallway but to our Open Area, the centre of our Kindergarten learning facility and a joyous space for multi-age play, learning, and exploration. 

A Warm and Welcoming Community

Kindergarten hosts a weekly assembly for songs, prayers, performances, presentations, announcements, and much more. All Kindergarten classes participate, with occasional guests from older students for collaborative and educational activities. Parents are always invited to join this assembly, whether every week or just a few times a year. There are many other volunteering and participation opportunities for parents as well, as Homeroom Parents, storybook readers, and much more.