News and Updates

What makes a successful graduate of YIS? For students entering Grades 11-12, a major shift has been the further expansion and establishment of expectations in regards to the YIS Diploma pathway.

For over twenty years, the Japanese Music Program at Yokohama International School (YIS) has provided students with unique opportunities to develop and showcase their musical talents.

Grade 11 student Kae learns the vital role of education, not just for personal growth but for global impact, through an inspiring personal project aimed at supporting children in Africa.

Contrary to the common belief that play is only for children, research shows that humans are biologically driven to play throughout life. Play improves mental health, communication, and creativity, while also fostering resilience and confidence. 

Our library is a place where our community lives, learns, and reads, but what is not so often talked about is how much our community works to keep our library thriving, and what it feels like to be a part of this.

With the Centenary festivities fast approaching there is growing excitement throughout the YIS community as Dragons from around the world start preparing to to unite and celebrate together.

Welcome and welcome back! I hope you all had a wonderful break and took advantage of the time to take a breath and reconnect with people.

It's that time of year again when we come together to celebrate all the wonderful milestones at our school: Grade 12 Graduation, Grade 8 and Grade 5 Celebrations, end of year concerts and performances, and of course, the many farewells that are part of our vibrant and ever changing community.

This past Saturday we recognised the Class of 2024 at their graduation ceremony. This unique group of young people were our fifty second graduating class. 

At YIS, we make it a priority to pause, observe, and truly listen to our students. Young people have incredible stories to share, especially after they’ve faced a stimulating challenge or delved into a mastery experience.

The YIS swim team has continued to make a splash with its outstanding achievements and dedication. Our team, consisting of 72 swimmers from Gr. 2 - 12, is a testament to the school’s commitment to allowing students to display their skills in differing environments. These swimmers are not only improving their skills and setting personal best times, but also embodying our LIVE LEARN LEAD culture.

This statement was created by students of the high school Gender Equity Movement and LGBTQIA+ Advocacy Team. It started during one of the LGBTQIA+ Team meetings, where a question sparked: 
"How many clicks does it take to find our community's commitment to diversity?". 

The Elementary School Activities (ESAs) program has been an integral part of the YIS curriculum for several years, consistently highlighting many of our students' elementary school experiences. 

The YIS Service Learning program began this year with a powerful theme: strengthening the quality of our relationships, both from within our school and local community to the broader global context.

YIS will be celebrating its centennial milestone this year and there are many events planned to recognize and celebrate this exciting time. 

In the enchanting corridors of Victor’s Hotel, a place where everyone is welcomed with open arms, an extraordinary event is set to unfold. Every visit promises an unforgettable experience, brimming with spooky fun.

This intimate performance and recording will showcase the talent of five Grade 11 students.

It’s no coincidence that the High School Student Council rhymes with pencil; after all, they both bring ideas to life. But how does the pencil factory make its pencils?

The YIS school community is invited to join the exhibition opening on April 5 in the Auditorium. The exhibition is also open for community viewing on Saturday April 6, 10:00am - 4:00pm. 

Bursting with fun, learning, and enriching activities, YIS Summer School beckons students and parents who are not quite ready for summer vacation to begin, promising an unforgettable experience for children from K-12.

The 2024-25 school year marks 100 years of the existence of YIS. This is an incredible milestone in the history of our school and it will be an opportunity for our whole community, both present and past, to come together and celebrate what it means to be a Dragon.

First event in the series:
Embodied Learning: Sculpting Future Innovators through Art Education
Speaker: Mioko Mochizuki from EduArt
Friday, March 8, 7pm
Momiji / Sakura
Drinks and nibbles provided

This year, our journey to deepen connections with the Honmoku community has unfolded through a variety of innovative service and exchange programs.  

The new IBDP curriculum of music is designed around the many verbs that apply to the modern musicians' experience. It might seem obvious that the subject of music should focus on what professional musicians do everyday but that hasn’t always been the case.