Did you know that the Sydney Japanese International School once operated from a single room in a church? This school stands as a bridge between cultures. It is not just a school. It is a unique blend of Japanese and Australian education.
Let’s step onto the grounds of the Sydney Japanese International School abbreviated as SJIS. Founded in 1969, it began in a Lindfield church. This was due to Sydney’s growing Japanese population. The school moved to its current location in 1971.
Originally known as the Sydney Japanese School, it is located in Terrey Hills. This is within Sydney’s Northern Beaches area. The school now spans 6 hectares. That is about 14 acres.
What makes SJIS special? It is a co-educational school. It offers both primary and secondary education. SJIS is a Nihonjin Gakko, a Japanese international school. It uniquely integrates two curricula.
The Sydney Japanese International School has two divisions. One follows the New South Wales curriculum. This caters to students from Kindergarten to Year 6. The other division uses the Japanese curriculum. It serves Years 1 to 9. This dual approach allows students to benefit from both educational systems.
Interestingly, SJIS is the only Japanese international school globally with an English language division. This attracts not only Japanese families. Local Australian families also seek its bilingual environment.
In 2014, the international division had 87 students. The Japanese division had 79. As of 2018, the school had 226 students.
The curriculum is designed to promote bilingualism. Students in the Japanese division have five hours of English lessons per week. International division students receive five hours of Japanese instruction weekly. All students join together for music, physical education, and visual arts. This promotes integration and friendships across both divisions.
Bilingual assemblies are held weekly. All students study and play on the same campus. This creates a sense of unity.
SJIS has a strong focus on language acquisition. It partners with Macquarie University’s Centre for Language Teaching Research. This ensures advanced second language teaching methods.
The campus features modern facilities. Classrooms have smartboards and telephones. There are computer rooms and science laboratories. Special rooms cater to music and home economics. Sports facilities include a soccer oval and a 200-meter running track.
The Sydney Japanese International School strives to develop students into leaders. They aim to be a ‘kakehashi’. This means ‘bridge’ in Japanese. The school wants them to connect cultures without borders. They should link the present to the future.
So here at the Sydney Japanese International School, students learn to appreciate both Australian and Japanese cultures.