Today’s world is complex, interdependent, and fast changing. School should aim at preparing students for responsible citizenship in the globalized society, today and tomorrow.
In addition to the Global Studies mentioned above, the school has been involved in the Global Classroom Partnership project, UNESCO ASPnet (Associated Schools Project Network) and other exchange programs.

The Global Classroom Partnership
The Global Classroom Partnership is an international education project currently based on a network of six schools worldwide (Germany, The U.K., The Czech Republic, South Africa, Sweden, and Japan). It aims to promote global consciousness by extending learning and teaching across curricular and national boundaries. Within and between the network of schools, students and staff share knowledge, information, ideas, and visions using both ICT and traditional means of communication. We have student exchange programs among the GC partner schools which of these periods vary from three months to one year.

The GC Conference in Germany in 2007

UNESCO ASPnet ( Associated Schools Project Network)
Since 2006, our school has been a member of UNESCO ASPnet. UNESCO ASPnet, founded in 1953, is a global network of approximately 8000 educational institutions located in 180 countries (ranging from pre-schools and primary schools to secondary schools and teacher training institutions), who work in support of practical quality education. Currently there are 367 ASP schools (also called UNESCO schools) in Japan, working together in order to improve quality education, particularly its ethical, cultural and international dimensions by developing effective teaching approaches, methods and materials.
ASP schools are encouraged to conduct pilot projects under four main themes of study covering a wide range of interrelated sub-topics. The points of departure should be issues relevant to the student’s own environment, concerns, and aspirations. The themes presented below provide a basis which can be extended to other topics.

1. World concerns and the role of the United Nations system
2. Human rights, democracy and tolerance
3. Intercultural learning
4. Environmental concerns

Two of our students participated as Japanese representatives in the Asia-Pacific World Heritage Youth Forum, which was held in Christchurch, New Zealand in June 2007. 30 high school students from 12 different countries attended. They all learned, worked and had fun together, and gave presentations for the opening ceremony of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee Meeting.

Asia-Pacific World Heritage Youth Forum, 2007

In August 2008, seven of our students took part in Indonesia-Japan Youth Forum in Tokyo. The forum was held in cooperation with ACCU (The Asia/Pacific Cultural Centre for UNESCO), and the students took
lectures on ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) and enjoyed the program through cultural exchange with Indonesian students.

Indonesia-Japan Youth Forum, 2008

In 2009, some students from Busan International High School, one of our partner schools, visited us. The Korean students experienced Japanese school life attending some of the English and Japanese lessons.
Within the framework of ASPnet, we have developed a new partnership with six schools from three countries (the Philippines and South Korea). In July, 2011, six of our students participated in the seminar, “YES for ESD 2011 (Youth and Educators Summit for Education for Sustainable Development 2011)” held in Calapan City, the Philippines, where the participants had discussions under the themes of “Forest Preservation” and “Peace,” and experienced Filipino life through sightseeing and one-night homestay.

YES for ESD in Calapan, the Philippines

 

Exchange students to and from our school
We believe that contact with other cultures provides a valuable opportunity for students’ growth and understanding. We have some Year-4 and 5 students who study abroad. Many of them are hosted by the Global Classrooms partner schools, and they have all gained global perspective through tremendous experiences abroad.
We welcome students from overseas. Extra assistance with Japanese is available to these students.

School Visit
We welcome overseas guest students and teachers. The following schools and organizations visited us in fiscal 2010 and 2011.

2010

• Chungnam Science High School (Korea)
• Busan International High School (Korea)
• UNESCO Children’s Performing Arts Festival of East Asia
• Kaohsiung Municipal Kaohsiung Girls’ Senior High School (Taiwan
  R.O.C.)
• JENESYS Program, AFS

2011

• JENESYS Program, AFS