MIS children singing at the school’s International Day. MAKUHARI INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
Makuhari International School (MIS) continues to grow, and this year’s International Day was even bigger, with even more varied events than last year.
The day began with groups of classes working together on performances that centred on four of the world’s continents. Children explained, sang, danced, and gave wonderful shows for the parents to watch. There were football dances from South America and a dragon from China, along with other performances inspired by different parts of the world.
Outside guests from Ghana, Hawaii, and other countries were also invited to perform, and the highlight of the day was possibly the taiko drumming. The whole school reverberated to the amazing sounds of a hall full of taiko drums — the children beamed and simultaneously covered their ears.
Parents had prepared food from around the world; after the children had eaten, they performed more shows. This was followed by an “eco assembly” where children renewed their vows to Renew, Reuse and Recycle, and were treated to a visit from Eco Man!
The sponsored Litter Hunts began in the afternoon, when children explored the local school area to collect as many bags of litter as they could find. All proceeds from this sponsored event went toward helping those affected by the disaster in Tohoku.
To finish off the day, the PTA held a Mystery Movie Night, where tired children could relax while watching a movie, and even more tired parents and teachers could enjoy refreshments and a chat together. It was a wonderful day!
Makuhari International School opened in 2009, offering international education to returnee Japanese and non-Japanese families. It is located halfway between Narita Airport and the centre of Tokyo, and school buses are available. The school is supported by the Chiba prefectural government and is the first international school in Japan to be granted Article One status, making it possible for students to join the Japanese education system at a later date, thus giving them more options in addition to international education.
For more information about MIS, see http://www.mis.ed.jp or call 043-296-0277. The school frequently holds open days, to which members of the public are welcome. — PAUL ROGERS
