Seisen International School
Encyclopedia
Seisen International School (SIS) is an all-girls' Catholic school
located in Setagaya, Tokyo
, Japan
. Students and faculty from over sixty countries are represented at Seisen, with English
being the main language of instruction. It offers the International Baccalaureate program.
It is accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
, New England Association of Schools and Colleges
and the European Council of International Schools
.
It teaches Montessori kindergarten (coed, ages 3–6) and grades 1-12 (girls only, ages 6–18).
According to the Good Schools Guide International, "The school is popular and has a good reputation."
in response to requests from United States Air Force
families seeking an education for their children. The school began as a kindergarten
in 1949 with four American students, moved to Gotanda
in 1962 with 70 students and added a first grade. By 1970, the school was up to grade 9 and in 1973, a year after Seisen was moved to the present location in Yoga
, the school was extended to include Grade 12. Today there is an enrollment of over 700 students with 55 nationalities represented.
In addition to classrooms, the facilities include three science laboratories (for biology, chemistry, and physics classes), a cafeteria, a drama room, a music room, an art room, a pottery room, a media center, and a computer center which includes a large computer classroom, a smaller, drop-in computer lab which is available both during and after school, and an Information Technology room. The school has an infirmary and a full-time nurse on duty. The facilities also include a convent building and a chapel.
The school’s libraries together have a collection of more than 18,000 volumes and subscribe to 65 periodicals and 6 newspapers. The media center houses filmstrips, records, cassettes, maps, transparencies, and audiovisual equipment.
The school’s sports facilities include tennis courts, three playgrounds, a kindergarten play area (with sandbox and play equipment), and a full-size gymnasium with a locker room. The swimming pool and Astroturf
field at St. Mary's International School
are used for the swimming team and the soccer team.
, a popular female Japanese Pop Singer, who later transferred to the American School in Japan
Catholic school
Catholic schools are maintained parochial schools or education ministries of the Catholic Church. the Church operates the world's largest non-governmental school system...
located in Setagaya, Tokyo
Setagaya, Tokyo
is one of the 23 special wards of Tokyo in Japan. It is also the name of a neighborhood within the ward. The ward calls itself the City of Setagaya in English...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Students and faculty from over sixty countries are represented at Seisen, with English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
being the main language of instruction. It offers the International Baccalaureate program.
It is accredited by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
The , also known as MEXT or Monkashō, is one of the ministries of the Japanese government.The Meiji government created the first Ministry of Education in 1871....
, New England Association of Schools and Colleges
New England Association of Schools and Colleges
The New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc. is the U.S. regional accreditation association providing educational accreditation for all levels of education, from pre-kindergarten to the doctoral level, in the six-state New England region. It also provides accreditation for some...
and the European Council of International Schools
European Council of International Schools
The European Council of International Schools - ECIS is an association of international schools founded in 1965. ECIS is a collaborative network promoting the ideals and best practice of international education....
.
It teaches Montessori kindergarten (coed, ages 3–6) and grades 1-12 (girls only, ages 6–18).
According to the Good Schools Guide International, "The school is popular and has a good reputation."
History
The school was founded in 1949 by the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of JesusHandmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Institute of the Handmaids of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a Roman Catholic religious order that was founded in Madrid in 1877 by two sisters, Pilar and Raphaela Maria Porras y Ayllon. Rafaela Maria became its first Superior General in 1877 and in the same year, the congregation received papal...
in response to requests from United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
families seeking an education for their children. The school began as a kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
in 1949 with four American students, moved to Gotanda
Gotanda
is a busy neighbourhood in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo, Japan. The name "Gotanda" can be literally translated as "a paddy of half-hectare's size"...
in 1962 with 70 students and added a first grade. By 1970, the school was up to grade 9 and in 1973, a year after Seisen was moved to the present location in Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, the school was extended to include Grade 12. Today there is an enrollment of over 700 students with 55 nationalities represented.
Campus overview
There are 35 general classrooms, 3 indoor playrooms, a multipurpose room and a kindergarten hall.In addition to classrooms, the facilities include three science laboratories (for biology, chemistry, and physics classes), a cafeteria, a drama room, a music room, an art room, a pottery room, a media center, and a computer center which includes a large computer classroom, a smaller, drop-in computer lab which is available both during and after school, and an Information Technology room. The school has an infirmary and a full-time nurse on duty. The facilities also include a convent building and a chapel.
The school’s libraries together have a collection of more than 18,000 volumes and subscribe to 65 periodicals and 6 newspapers. The media center houses filmstrips, records, cassettes, maps, transparencies, and audiovisual equipment.
The school’s sports facilities include tennis courts, three playgrounds, a kindergarten play area (with sandbox and play equipment), and a full-size gymnasium with a locker room. The swimming pool and Astroturf
AstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
field at St. Mary's International School
St. Mary's International School
St. Mary's International School is a Catholic school for boys located in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo, Japan. The primary language of instruction is English. It offers the International Baccalaureate program.-History:...
are used for the swimming team and the soccer team.
Alumni
Utada HikaruUtada Hikaru
, known by her stage name Utada in America and Europe, is a Japanese-American singer, song writer, arranger, and producer. Since the release of her Japanese debut album First Love, which went on to become the best-selling album in Oricon history, Utada has had three of her Japanese studio albums...
, a popular female Japanese Pop Singer, who later transferred to the American School in Japan
American School in Japan
The American School in Japan was founded in 1902 and is an international private day school located in the city of Chōfu, Tokyo, Japan. The school consists of an elementary school, a middle school, and a high school, all located on the Chōfu campus...