![Looking Back on 2024]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1733703553/yokohama/nhpsnw4ceuihsnkewdrn/untitledshoot-28073.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1733703553/yokohama/nhpsnw4ceuihsnkewdrn/untitledshoot-28073.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1733703553/yokohama/nhpsnw4ceuihsnkewdrn/untitledshoot-28073.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1733703553/yokohama/nhpsnw4ceuihsnkewdrn/untitledshoot-28073.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1733703553/yokohama/nhpsnw4ceuihsnkewdrn/untitledshoot-28073.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1733703553/yokohama/nhpsnw4ceuihsnkewdrn/untitledshoot-28073.jpg","width":2200}])
by Craig Coutts, Head of School
Looking Back on 2024
Once again I find myself looking back at the year so far and feeling like the first 4 months of this school year have really flown by. Our school seems to be getting busier and busier with the number of events that are going on during the school day, in the evenings and weekends.
One thing that has struck me in particular over the past few weeks are the variety of opportunities students have been involved in, that really do stretch across all aspects of our learning program. There have been Service events, sports, MUN, productions, concerts and dance recitals along with trips and events that are directly curriculum related. Last weekend alone we had a swim meet, MS football and the High School production, with people from all over Japan in attendance. It is this range of opportunity that I think separates YIS from many other schools, as they all play an important part not just in the experience our students have, but it is also important to understand that these are all learning opportunities, which is the reason we value our holistic learning program so much.
One of the differences we have seen over the past few years is the autonomy and leadership that our students are showing. Our Service program is a good illustration of this, where our High School and Middle School Service teams are led by the students and they are taking responsibility for making connections within our community and ensuring they are taking action and meeting the needs of people within and beyond our community. But more than this, we are also seeing our students create and develop opportunities for themselves and their classmates. This co-creation of learning between students and teachers is a great example of autonomy that we are looking for through our Impact Strategy and I hope that it will continue to provide not just great learning opportunities, but explicit Leadership growth for our students.
We have an exciting week ahead with spirit week that our Student Council members from Elementary, Middle and High School created and it is sure to create a lot of fun but also collaboration across the grades. I hope that you all have a wonderful winter break and get to spend some special time together as a family and I very much look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.
Regards,
Craig