Greetings from the Head of International Division

I am honoured to welcome you to The Sydney Japanese International School. We are located in lovely bushland surrounds at Terrey Hills on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.

Our school is unique as we have two curriculums working harmoniously in the one school. Our international students follow the NESA NSW syllabus from Kindergarten to Year 6 while our Japanese students follow the Japanese MEXT syllabus from Year 1 to Year 9. And our students meet in the middle for mixed physical education, art and music lessons.

It never ceases to amaze me just how talented our International students are. They receive one lesson of Japanese a day so they leave for high school with such a strong Japanese language and cultural understanding.

Many people believe you have to be Japanese to come and enjoy our school. We actually have many nationalities attending the school because we have a rigorous academic program partnered with a holistic approach to learning including wellbeing programs, enrichment programs, sport and the arts.

Our school values are at the core of everything we do – Courtesy, Honesty, Responsibility, Generosity, Justice, Perseverance and Respect. Through our school values we reflect a school community the students, teachers and families can be proud of.

We look forward to you visiting our school for a school tour or at our Open Day or at our Family Fun day sometime in the future.

The spirit of Kakehashi.

Connecting the present to the future.

Connecting our students to the world.

Connecting cultures without borders.

Through the unique learning experience we offer at SJIS, we are guided by the idea that we are nurturing our students to become bridges. The Japanese word Kakehashi literally means “bridge”, and as a school, we celebrate the spirit of global connectivity.

Melita Abraham

Head of International Division

Greetings from the Deputy Principal (Japanese Division)

Be Kakehashi in the peaceful world – Two curriculums, One school. 

Once you enter the school gates, you will be welcomed by children and an environment which is synonymous with a truly international school.

SJIS was founded by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology as an overseas education facility to provide the education as is undertaken in Japan, as well as being the registered private school accredited by the Ministry of Education of NSW. We have two curriculums in one school.

We offer the Japanese curriculum from Years 1 to Year 9 in the Japanese Division. Experienced Japanese native teachers, selected and assigned to our school from Japan, are teaching the curriculum to the children one by one with care.

Children living in the coming era have acquired solid academic ability that is useful for living while recognizing and respecting the cultures and differences between the two countries. It is truly a school where you can receive education that goes beyond Japanese school education while you are in Australia.

Please let me introduce our Japanese Division.

  1. A world-class curriculum with strength in Mathematics and Science

Not only can students build Japanese as their mother tongue, but they also learn the Japanese curriculum which is popular for permanent residents in Australia. In particular, we maintain a high academic level for Mathematics and Science. 

  1. Mixed lessons with the International Division

Classrooms of both the Japanese Division and International Division are next to each other. The Music, Arts, PE lessons, and Programming (coding) lessons are held together with the International Division. These lessons also help students to understand both the Japanese and Australian culture, whilst also having an opportunity to put into practice their language skills with their peers through natural interaction.

  1. Daily English lessons with our native English teachers

The real added benefit of the curriculum is the comprehensive daily English language program. Students learn English every day in one of three English language level classes. Students have an annual TOEIC Bridge test to monitor their English proficiency in the middle of the year. The English Language Festival (Primary) and the English Speaking Competition (High School) are annual events where students are able to showcase their skills in English language and drama. 

SJIS provides a great opportunity for our students in the Japanese Division to be in an environment where English is used everyday.

  1. Strong pastoral care

We offer a nurturing learning environment to all students depending on each student’s needs. Students have a chance to talk with a School Counsellor anytime. We also offer assistance in various areas if a student should require it.

  1. Development of  ICT skills

We offer Coding lessons to all students as a Mixed Lesson on SJIS supplied i-Pads. Students are also required to use LoiLo Note and Google Classroom, as their online learning tools. Therefore, they are developing their ICT skills with technology integrated into their learning.

  1. A wide selection of Japanese books

Our school library boasts the largest selection of Japanese books in the Southern Hemisphere. Children can choose their favourite books from more than 23,000 titles (Japanese books : 12,000, English Books: 11,000). It’s a great opportunity that they can borrow a Japanese book, even whilst living outside of Japan. Parents can also borrow our books.

  1. We follow 4 terms like Australian schools 

There are 4 terms in the school year in NSW and we follow it so our Japanese Division has 4 terms as well but the school year commences in April, as in Japan. Children have their favourite snacks at morning recess. This is a foreign culture and life that we won’t see at schools in Japan.

  1. Career path

Many students go to highly selective schools in Japan after they graduate from SJIS. We also connect with some high schools with endorsement and with plans to expand it.  By studying at our school, students will have more possibilities to choose a destination that suits them when they are back in Japan.

Sydney Japanese International School is a school where you can learn “Japanese education not found in Japan”. Students spend a strict and warm time by taking advantage of the small number of people. I believe that the children who have learned here will surely become a “Kakehashi” in a peaceful world. 

I warmly welcome you to SJIS, and look forward to seeing you.

Yuzo Otsuki
Japanese Division Deputy Principal