Meet Our Community

The close friendships and cooperation between our students, staff, parents and alumni lie at the heart of YIS. A host of events and activities are offered by and for all the people that form the fabric of our multicultural and multilingual community. Through the diverse selection of activities offered by the Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA), families form friendships, parents support learning opportunities and staff and students are buoyed by a common purpose. Events such as the popular Food Fair unite the YIS community and the surrounding neighborhoods in a gala of food, music and a joie de vivre. After graduating, our students remain closely connected to their school days with visits to campus and participation in school events as part of a growing network of alumni. Indeed, some have returned as staff members, while others now have children at the school. Explore our community's vibrance through the links above and through our social media. We hope you'll find a connection to the people and experiences you'll discover, and look forward to you joining our community soon.

 

Japanese elementary school girls sitting on the floor in front of book shelves holding a hard back book in each hand

Rina

Elementary School Student

I like the school building and the structure of the school, it has lots of good learning spaces and it is easy to move around. The field and the playground are great too.

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Japanese middle aged male with grey sweater and blazer sitting at desk and looking at the camera

Junichi Yamakawa

PYP, MYP & DP Japanese Language Teacher

The inquiry-based approach to learning and teaching is invaluable and leads to a fostering of lifelong learners who can take positive action to make the world a better place.

 

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White middle aged male wearing a blue checked shirt posing for photograph in front of Japanese tori gate

Alex Patient

Class of 1996

The Hiroshima field trip was one of my most memorable moments as a student at YIS. It was really emotional being there in the city, but I also remember making some lasting friendships. I still have a photograph in my study from that trip.

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Asian University female student in blue top standing in front of red sports banner

Eileen Chen

Class of 2019

I tried sports like tennis but honestly sports was not really my thing. I did like the Chowa yearbook committee, where I felt a sense of belonging.

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White female student standing on turf field wearing a black soccer uniform with her left foot on soccer ball

Veronika

Middle School Student

My favorite YIS event is definitely Spirit Week. It happens right before our winter break when everyone is hyped for the holidays. I have good memories of coming to school dressed as a Minion during my Grade 5 Spirit Week.

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Male Asian teenager wearing black and red soccer shirt sitting down with red and white soccer ball

Mio

Middle School Student

I love the new Honmoku campus for its modern and spacious build. My favorite place to spend time is the fourth floor deck.

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Female Asian woman standing in front of a community room in a dress with black, white and orange pattern

Jessie

Parent

I feel completely welcome and relaxed at YIS, I have found soulmates here. That’s how wonderful this community is.
 

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Female Asian high school student standing with painting in front of shelves

Harumi

High School Student

The amount of freedom and flexibility the school gives us really shows the trust teachers have in us as students. There are so many opportunities to get involved and to discover new interests. 

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Filipino man wearing yellow lifeguard t-shirt and holding red lifesaver float by swimming pool

Rod Malig

Head Lifeguard/Swimming Coach

I volunteered and helped with water safety when I was still in the Philippines, so for most of my life aquatics has played a large role.

 

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parent library volunteer

Miyuki

Parent

Since my time as a student at YIS I have wanted my children to get educated in the same wonderful environment I grew up in.
 

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Larissa Sears

Larissa Sears

Gr. 2 Learning Assistant & ES Service Learning Coordinator

I love being able to share my passion for gardening with our Grade 2 students through our hands-on kitchen gardening for Service Learning.

 

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Nikita Modekurti

Nikita Modekurti

Class of 2015

YIS has a very international environment and teaches values of not just tolerance, but acceptance. Truly a school that embraces and celebrates all cultures, faiths, genders, orientations, and abilities. It’s a little more difficult to find that out in the ‘real world’, and I would like my future children to experience similar respectful values that YIS has.

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Kate

Kate

Elementary School Student

I am a part of service learning and I like that because we get to help the homeless and poor. I am also involved in drama production. I haven't done it before but it will be a new experience for me and I am excited to start.

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