St. Mary's International School
Encyclopedia
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
school for boys located in the Setagaya ward of Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, 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...
. The primary language of instruction is 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...
. It offers the International Baccalaureate program.
History
The school was founded in 1954 by the Brothers of Christian InstructionBrothers of Christian Instruction
The Brothers of Christian Instruction also known as the De la Mennais Brothers is a Christian educational organization founded in 1819 by Gabriel Deshayes and Jean-Marie de la Mennais for the instruction of youth. Their aim remains that of their Founder :"to educate the young and to make Jesus...
and resides in the St. Francis Xavier district of the FIC. The school serves the sons of expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
s living in or near Tokyo, as well as many Japanese students seeking a Western, English-medium education. St. Mary's offers religious instruction, and Catholic students may attend mass. Although St. Mary's is a catholic school, students don't have to be catholic.
Accreditation
St. Mary's is accredited by the Council of International SchoolsCouncil of International Schools
The Council of International Schools is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which aims to improve international education...
and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges
Western Association of Schools and Colleges
The Western Association of Schools and Colleges is one of six official academic bodies responsible for the accreditation of public and private universities, colleges, secondary and elementary schools in the United States and foreign institutions of American origin. The Western Association of...
. It is a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools
East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools
The East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools is an association of some 100 international schools in East Asia which use English as the primary medium of instruction. Its members have over 53,000 students from pre-kindergarten to grade 12. EARCOS also has associate members including...
and the Japan Council of International Schools. St. Mary's is always recognized by the Kanto Plains Schools Association as a unanimous vote for the best school in Tokyo, and the Kanto Region.
Campus
The 9 acres (36,421.7 m²) campus features a large, lighted indoor swimming pool with a balcony for visiting audiences, an indoor multi-athletic court with a contractable stage + seats, a large multi purpose room, numbers of tennis courts, two outdoor basketball courts, a large soccer field with appropriate synthetic grass, a mass of gardened land, and numbers of other athletic facilities. The three-story classroom buildings hold classes for grades 1 through 12, plus a readiness program and programs for students using English as an additional languageEnglish language learning and teaching
English as a second language , English for speakers of other languages and English as a foreign language all refer to the use or study of English by speakers with different native languages. The precise usage, including the different use of the terms ESL and ESOL in different countries, is...
. Additionally, the school features two large libraries for study, and also four computer laboratories both with computers equipped with the newest intel core. A chapel and on-site residency for the brothers are also available.
The school is served by the Futako-Tamagawa Station
Futako-Tamagawa Station
is located in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. The area surrounding the station is commonly called Futako-Tamagawa, and often refers to the Tamagawa and Seta districts of Setagaya, but there is no precise definition...
(Tōkyū Den-en-toshi Line) and Kami-noge Station
Kami-noge Station
is a train station located in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.-Station layout:Some express trains to Oimachi pass local ones here during the rush-hour. For this purpose the station is equipped with a third track lacking a platform...
(Tōkyū Ōimachi Line) train stations. A fleet of 11 buses owned by the school moves students throughout Tokyo. Seisen International School
Seisen International School
Seisen International School 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...
, a Catholic girls' school, also allows their students to ride on St. Mary's school bus system.
Athletics
St. Mary's encourages its students to join sports teams. The teams' name is the Titans, except the swim team (which also includes students from Seisen International SchoolSeisen International School
Seisen International School 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...
), which is known as the Buccaneers. The St. Mary's teams compete against other KPASSP
KPASSP
The Kanto Plains Association of Secondary School Principals is an organization comprising the principals of various international schools in the Kanto region of Japan....
schools and have won KPASSP
KPASSP
The Kanto Plains Association of Secondary School Principals is an organization comprising the principals of various international schools in the Kanto region of Japan....
titles, and compete against other international schools.
High School Extra-Curricular Athletic Programs
Fall- Cross CountryCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
- TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
- IntramuralsIntramural sportsIntramural sports or intramurals are recreational sports organized within a set geographic area. The term derives from the Latin words intra muros meaning "within walls", and was used to indicate sports matches and contests that took place among teams from "within the walls" of an ancient city...
: Table TennisTable tennisTable tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, BadmintonBadmintonBadminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, HandballTeam handballHandball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
, 3-on-3 BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, Indoor SoccerIndoor soccerIndoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall... - SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
Winter
- Soccer
- Basketball
- WrestlingWrestlingWrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
- Swimming
Spring
- Track and FieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
- BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
- Swimming
Recent Athletic Highlights
- 2011 Kanto League Champions, Soccer
- 2011 Far East Champions, Wrestling
- 2011 Kanto League Champions, Wrestling
- 2011 Guam Invitational Champions, Cross Country
- 2011 Kanto League Champions, Cross Country
- 2011 Far East Champions, Tennis
- 2011 Kanto League, Kanto Tournament Champion, Tennis
- 2010 Kanto League, Kanto Tournament Champions, Baseball
2010 Kanto League, Kanto Tournament, Hawaii Moanalua Thanksgiving Tournament Champions, Varsity Soccer
- 2009 Kanto League, Kanto Tournament, Okinawa Spring Fling Tournament Champions, Baseball
- 2009 Far East Boys Class AA Champion, Varsity Basketball
- 2009 Kanto co-league champion, JV Basketball
- 2009 Kanto tournament champion, Varsity Soccer
- 2009 Kanto league and tournament champion, JV Soccer
- 2009 Kanto co-league champions; CAJ/SMIS tournament champ, Wrestling
Fine Arts
St. Mary's Fine Arts include:- Vocal Music
- Instrumental Music
- 2-D Art
- 3-D Art
- Architecture
- BrainBowl Team
- Debate Team
- Speech Team
- Math Contest Team
- Fall Play
- Musical
Students can earn International Baccalaureate credit in some courses.
The vocal music program features groups such as the Men's Choir
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
, Varsity Ensemble and International Show Choir. These award-winning choirs have performed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, and many other countries. St. Mary's high schoolers may also take part in the Tokyo Area Honor Choir amongst other KPASSP
KPASSP
The Kanto Plains Association of Secondary School Principals is an organization comprising the principals of various international schools in the Kanto region of Japan....
schools, if they are accepted through auditioning. The St. Mary's High Schoolers enroll in contests in the United States with other choirs from Universities, since the level on tone and quality of the choir is very high. St. Mary's has never lost a choir competition in the Kanto Plains.
The instrumental music program features groups such as the Concert Band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
, Jazz Band
Jazz band
A jazz band is a musical ensemble that plays jazz music. Jazz bands usually consist of a rhythm section and a horn section, in the early days often trumpet, trombone, and clarinet with rhythm section of piano, banjo, bass or tuba, and drums.-Eras:SwingDuring the swing era in the mid-twentieth...
, and the Wind Ensemble. Seisen International School
Seisen International School
Seisen International School 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...
collaborates with St. Mary's for the Orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
used in the Musical. Similarly to the choir, high schoolers may take part in the Tokyo Area Honor Band amongst other KPASSP schools, if they are accepted through auditioning.
2-D Art, 3-D Art, and Architecture courses are also provided at the school, with students taking the International Baccalaureate being able to take these classes as credited courses. Notable artwork usually gets into the Tokyo Artscape, an annual exhibit collaborated on by some KPASSP schools, and some other Tokyo Area schools.
The BrainBowl Team competes in the annual BrainBowl tournament, where SMIS has proven to be a powerhouse, capturing the title 30 times out of the 38 championships. The last title it won was in 2011, the most recent tournament, with Henry Litt, Arjav Shah, and Ricky Dasdeb receiving Kanto Plains all star awards.
The Debate Team in St. Mary's is also particularly strong, and competes against Seisen International School
Seisen International School
Seisen International School 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...
, The American School in Japan, and Yokota High School. The team won back-to-back titles in 2010 and 2011, which are the two most recent tournaments.
The Speech Team at SMIS is also a strong team, and they compete in the annual Speech Contest amongst other KPASSP schools. In the most recent tournament, held at Seisen in Fall 2010, the SMIS Speech Team won first place.
Each year, the Math Contest team, composed of students skilled at math, take part in the Math Field Day, a tournament for KPASSP students. St. Mary's tends to do particularly well there too, with usually at least 1 member of the team in the Top 5 at every grade level.
The fall showcases the Fall Play, where selected students perform and help to make it an annual success, while every year in the spring, selected students perform and help in the Musical.
Activities
Activities at St. Mary's include a student newspaper, The Diplomat; a Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
troop, Troop 15; the Yearbook; a television club; the Fall Play; a Musical; and others.
St. Mary's Campus Reconstruction
St. Mary's has completed all phases of a complete campus reconstruction, the St. Mary's Campus Reconstruction project. The main academic and administrative center has opened on the site of the former sports field, in March 2009. Construction of the new pool/cafeteria and gym/art/music buildings was completed in August 2010. The Multi-Purpose Room and Parking Lot were completed in March 2011.| Phase | Dates | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | March 2008–March 2009 | Classrooms/Administration Building & Brothers' Residence |
| Phase 2 | April 2009–August 2010 | Gym/Art/Music Building, Pool/Cafeteria Building, Playfield |
| Phase 3 | September 2010–March 2011 | Multi-Purpose Facility, Parking Lot |
Notable alumni
- M-FloM-flois a Japanese hip hop group consisting of producer and DJ Taku Takahashi and emcee Verbal.Former member Lisa left the group in 2002 to pursue a solo career, and the remaining members then started the M-Flo Loves... project working different vocalists for each song over three albums, including the...
- Miguel MolinaMiguel Molina (swimmer)Miguel Molina is a swimmer from the Philippines. He represented the country in the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics. Attended St. Mary's International School in Tokyo.-References:*...
, Olympic Swimmer - Shin Inouye, White House Director of Specialty Media in the Obama Administration