The International School of the Sacred Heart takes great pride in the quality of its academic program; the cornerstone of which is the belief in nurturing the whole child. Studies are academically challenging and foster reflection and thought, while at the same time, providing for the development of the creative and the aesthetic. Students are viewed as responsible citizens with contributions to offer society. Students are encouraged to share with others, to adopt an outlook that respects the needs of others, and inculcates service as a natural part of life. The school provides an experience in diversity, which is designed to develop an understanding and appreciation of various races, religions and cultures, and especially the heritage of Japan itself.

The five goals of the school are:
To educate to

1. A Personal and Active Faith in God
2. A Deep Respect for Intellectual Values
3. A Social Awareness Which Impels to Action
4. The Building of Community as a Christian Value
5. A Personal Growth in an Atmosphere of Wise Freedom

The curriculum is drawn from current international curricula (Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States) and is continually being broadened to include the current best practices from around the world.

Kindergarten and Junior School (Kindergarten-Grade 4)
The curriculum in the Kindergarten and Junior School (KG/JS) includes an integrated balanced literacy language arts program, (reading, writing, speaking, and listening), enquiry based mathematics program, and integrated science and social studies program delivered through the International Primary Curriculum. Our values education is respectful of various religious backgrounds with an emphasis on building community. Art, languages (French or Japanese for Grades 3 and 4), Japanese culture (K-Grade 4), library, music, physical education, and technology are important specialist areas of our curriculum. We have a strong English as a Second Language program as well as Student Support program for students demonstrating need. Integration of skills and thematic teaching occurs throughout the curriculum. The delivered curriculum includes strategies in differentiated instruction, multiple intelligences, learning styles, cooperative learning and higher order thinking skills.

Middle School (Grades 5-8)
All Middle School students study English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Art, Drama, Foreign Languages, Music, Options, Physical Education, Pottery and Values. The Grade 5, 6 and 7 students also take Computer courses and Grade 7 and 8 students complete a Personal Education class.

Grade 7 is the first year that the students' assignments will be graded and also the first year they will take an end of year exam.

High School (Grades 9-12)
The High School offers a highly academic college preparatory program, which enables students to enter colleges throughout the world. Students are encouraged to take the challenging Advanced Placement program. The AP Program gives students the opportunity to pursue college-level studies from the United States while still in high school and to receive advance placement or credit, or both upon entering U.S. colleges. For U.K. universities and universities in some European countries, AP is a matriculation requirement for entrance. Students intending to enter UK and European universities are advised to take three or more AP courses. The ISSH diploma is granted to students who have earned a minimum of 22 credits and have successfully fulfilled all of the requirements. Almost 100% of our graduates are accepted into their first choice colleges and universities.

The International School of the Sacred Heart is located in Hiroo, central Tokyo, on an expansive site surrounded by vegetation and near Hiroo subway station.

The Kindergarten has a newly renovated, state of the art, self-contained Bornelund playground. The space is tree lined and includes swings, climbing frame, slides, a wooded area, sand and water play, as well as open space for running and bicycle riding. The Junior School playground is spacious, with a large open area for running and sport as well as swings, climbing frames and a slide.

The Junior, Middle and High Schools share a large area, which provides age-appropriate equipment for the younger students, as well as a meeting area for the older students. Junior School recess and lunch times are held at different times to the Middle and High School to allow maximum freedom of play for the younger students.

All students are welcome to participate in the school lunch program. Kindergarten students enrolled in the program receive lunch boxes in their classroom and Junior, Middle and High School students all receive their lunch in the dining room. The school lunch program has been developed in accordance with the school's commitment to a well balanced diet, the social development of students and our responsibility to the environment. The ISSH Kitchen operates entirely nut free.

Reading is emphasised throughout ISSH, which has two libraries resourcing the curriculum, and fulfilling the literature and research needs of our students and faculty. They also service parents and others in the school community with over 50,000 books, videos and audiotapes, periodicals, DVDs and CDs.

The school has over 200 computers located in four computer labs, libraries, and in the classrooms. Access to the Internet and e-mail facilities is available for students, while technology as a learning tool in education is stressed throughout the school.

The Junior School provides science in the classroom through implementation of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and there are four well-equipped science laboratories in the Middle and High School designed for biology, chemistry, physics and Middle School science. In addition there is a chemical store and preparation room adjoining the Chemistry Lab. The science offices are well stocked with teaching resources from the US, UK and elsewhere.

Two art rooms and a pottery studio support instruction and growth in creative arts. Separate music rooms for the Kindergarten/Junior School and the Middle/High School provide the appropriate venues for music instruction and extra-curricular music. In addition, there is a drama studio for Middle and High School students, as well as two large performance rooms available to all grade levels.

There is a fully equipped main gymnasium, which is used by all divisions of the school, as well as a mini-gym for weight training and fitness available to the older students, parents and faculty members. ISSH is one of the very few central-Tokyo schools to have a large open grassed area used for physical education lessons, sports training sessions and other extra-curricular activities. There are two floodlit tennis courts at ISSH and an outdoor all weather practice court.

We have access to two Chapels. Our School Chapel comfortably accommodates approximately 80 people, with Liturgies every Thursday that are open to the ISSH community. The Campus Chapel hosts our opening and closing school liturgies and the Christmas concert.

Visitors are always impressed with our wonderful food lab. Five well-equipped kitchen units allow students to learn kitchen skills as they develop an understanding of nutrition and healthy eating. Our K-12 students use the food lab in a variety of cooking experiences.

We invite you to visit our website for additional information.

GD Links
International School of the Sacred Heart Website
Curriculum
Admissions
Alumnae Association
Contacts

Inquiries
The International School of the Sacred Heart
4-3-1 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku
Tokyo 150-0012
Japan
Tel: 03-3400-3951
Fax: 03-3400-3496
Contact via E-mail