JIES is considered to be a community of learners. It is fortunate to have teachers and students from all over the world, resulting in a multicultural and diverse learning community. We celebrate our diversity not only in our regular class activities, but also by hosting an International Children’s Festival every year. Teachers design learning activities which empower students’ academic achievement and personal passion for life-long learning. Social development is a high priority at JIES, and our mixed age group After-School Program activities promote interaction among children of different ages. All lessons, activities, and school events are designed based on our students’ culture, beliefs, and background. Our unique cultural features are respected and celebrated in order to encourage understanding and appreciation of diversity. The result is a challenging, non-discriminatory learning environment which is responsive to the needs of its learners. Teachers plan lessons and learning activities based on students’ needs. A high teacher-to-student ratio allows us to know our students well and differentiate instruction to best help each child achieve his or her learning, personal, and social goals. Each student is respected as an individual with different strengths and interests. The JIES learning community includes representatives from a wide variety of backgrounds. Events like Japanese Culture Day and our participation in Jingumae Elementary School’s Annual Sports Festival encourage respect and appreciation for other cultures and our local community in Tokyo. The JIES learning community is based on mutual respect and open communication between staff, parents, and students. Our parents cooperate in many aspects of school life, such as participating class activities, volunteering to enhance our library and media centre, accompanying classes on field trips and holding fundraisers like the bake sale for International Children’s Day.