What Sacred Heart Means to Me
Hear directly from our community members about what makes their Sacred Heart experience special.
Our family’s experience at the International School of the Sacred Heart has been truly excellent. Our daughter feels genuinely supported and encouraged by her teachers, and we appreciate the balance of academic excellence and a caring environment. We like the wide range of subjects and the strong after-school activities program, which gives students many opportunities to explore their interests.
Our daughter loves the robotics program and participating in competitions; we can really see how her confidence is growing.Philip and Joanna
Parents of Isabelle, Class of ’32
Sacred Heart is a wonderful school with numerous opportunities to expand and create a wider future for myself. Classes are engaging, and I really love the teachers and the curriculum at this school. Personally, I love and am proud of the Fine Arts curriculum and activities in Sacred Heart. Ever since I was little, I have been passionate about music. There are many music-related opportunities and experiences available at Sacred Heart, such as Choirs, Orchestras, Tri-school Musicals, and performances/concerts that allow us to showcase our talents. Fine Arts at this school is one of the highlights for me. Through these opportunities, I was also able to gain more friends and peers with whom I share my interests!
Overall, Sacred Heart, being a girls' school, has helped me a lot in various ways. It helped me gain confidence in myself, learned how to become an independent woman, and helped me learn a lot about women's presence and empowerment.
I am very grateful and proud to be part of the Sacred Heart community.
Yuma, Class of ’29
High School Student
One reason why I love this school is that you can participate in many sports and play at your own level. Everyone in a sports team is so supportive and helps you learn new things. Every teacher at ISSH makes sure you understand what you are learning about and gives you some feedback on how you are doing in the specific subject. The students at this school are all encouraging and make sure you are welcomed.
Eva, Class of ’32
Middle School Student
I attended ISSH from K5 to 9th grade, and it really was an extended family. The older girls would look out for the younger ones, and the excursion I loved as a 4th grader, I got to help out with as an 8th grader. I was fortunate to have small class sizes, and teachers who cared, and an international community. But the friendships I made were the most valuable. I have attended many schools, but I still am closest to my ISSH friends. Just this past year I've been to a baby shower, a wedding, and celebrated my baby with classmates. We have mini reunions multiple times a year, and it's been that way for over 20 years.Izumi Devalier ’03
Chief Japan Economist, Bank of America Merrill Lynch
Sacred Heart is a hub of opportunities, bonds and growth. The support system from the teachers, sponsors and peer students you get in Sacred Heart is incomparable to any place I have been to. Every class, project, discussion and interaction prompts you to grow and be a leader. Not only do we grow academically but we flourish in the arts: visual, music, and sports too. Personally, I owe so much to this supportive Sacred Heart family, because there are so many things that I would not have gotten the chance to do without them.Sarah, Class of ’29
High School Student
One of the things I really appreciate about ISSH is how supportive and approachable the teachers are—they truly care about helping us grow both academically and personally. I also love the strong sense of community at our school; whether it’s through clubs, athletics, or school events, there are so many opportunities to connect with others and try new things. ISSH encourages us to be curious and think independently, which makes learning feel meaningful and exciting.
Maya, Class of ’30
Middle School Student
As an alumna of ISSH, I always hoped our daughters would attend when the time was right. I have not only kept fond memories of my school days and school friends, but many of us have kept in touch and maintain a strong bond. As an adult, I realised that the years at Sacred Heart, long or short, represent a source of belonging, confidence, and an openness to the world.
Our daughter joined in fourth grade, the final year of junior school. One of the highlights of that year was the open invitation for parents to join the weekly assembly, where the girls were given a platform to lead—providing practical, cultural, inspirational, and sometimes spiritual content to the rest of the junior school in an organic and fun way. It spoke to the approach of empowering the students at a young age to develop innate tools that will certainly be of great use to them throughout life.
As for our daughter, she is loving Sacred Heart—middle school has been great so far—her friends, the environment, the classes, and the experiences. We’re excited about her years to come!
Anne-Yoshié NArahara Visser ’92
Parent of Ottoline, Class of ’33
One thing I really love about ISSH is the huge variety of extracurriculars available — there’s something for everyone, and it really allows students to explore their interests and better understand themselves outside of academics. I also appreciate how culturally diverse the school is; being surrounded by people from so many different backgrounds gives us exposure to new perspectives and helps us grow more open-minded. Additionally, the teachers at ISSH are incredibly supportive and always willing to help, whether it’s academically or personally, which makes a big difference in students’ overall experience.
Aadya, Class of ’29
High School Student
One special thing about ISSH is that we can connect across different grades through activities like Kris Kringles, reading buddies, and music events like the Christmas Concert. Reading buddies is especially memorable because it starts with an older student reading to you, but then you eventually get the chance to share this memory by reading to a younger student in the future. Being able to connect across the grades and across time is really neat.
ISSH is amazingly full of school spirit, not just the students but also the teachers. During free dress days such as spirit week, One World Day, and Book Character Day, the teachers often come dressed in the most fabulous and interesting ways. I always have lots of fun watching how the teachers dress, and even get good hints about how to dress in the future.
I feel that the Option Classes offer many interesting activities in addition to our main subjects. There is great variety, such as dance, sports, crafts, technology, debate, and more. These classes offer great skills to learn, but also provide a chance to relax and take a break from our normal academic work.
Hina, Class of ’31
Middle School Student
I have been a student in ISSH since I was three years old, and this school is where I belong. I think the magic behind ISSH is the warm community. I feel supported by my classmates, teachers, upper and lowerclassmen, staff, and parents, which makes ISSH feel like a second home.
ISSH helps you find your unique identity and encourages you to become the best version of yourself. I am now in High School, and I love the variety of opportunities that you can choose from. There are many options of extracurricular activities you can join which helps you find what you are truly interested or passionate about. Some examples include sports, art, music, robotics, debate, activities that benefit society, etc.
I am involved in several music activities in ISSH, which is where I found my passion for music through choir and piano performances. If I was not a student in this school, I would not have found this important part of myself.
Ruowei, Class of ’29
High School Student