Saint Maur International School
| Saint Maur International School サンモール インターナショナルスクール | |
|---|---|
| File:Saint Maur Emblem 2013 v2.0.png | |
| Address | |
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83 Yamate-cho , | |
| Coordinates | 35°26′7″N 139°39′9″E / 35.43528°N 139.65250°E |
| Information | |
| Type | International (private) |
| Established | 1872 |
| Founder | Mère Mathilde Raclot |
| Head of school | Catherine O. Endo |
| Faculty | 60 |
| Grades | Preschool - Grade 12 |
| Enrolment | 460 |
| Color(s) | Grey and red |
| Slogan | Life’s most persistent and urgent question, “What are you doing for others?” - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. |
| Mascot | Cougar |
| Website | www.stmaur.ac.jp |
Saint Maur International School, established in 1872 in Yokohama within the Greater Tokyo Area, is the oldest international school in Japan. The school, which is co-educational, caters to students of all nationalities and faiths from ages 2½ through high school age. Saint Maur International School is located in a historically international district in Yokohama, Japan, one of the few places where foreigners were allowed entrance into the country during the closed - country policy of the late Edo period.
According to the Good Schools Guide International, "This is a small school which offers a quality education in a nurturing environment."[1]
School Motto and Emblem
The school motto of Saint Maur is Simple Dans Ma Vertu, Forte Dans Mon Devoir (Simple in virtue, Steadfast in duty). The spool of string in the lower sector of the school emblem represents the hard work and commitment of students, and the rosarium (on the top right) represents the exploration of knowledge and prayer to God. The white margaret flowers adorning both sides represent pureness of heart, and the shield in the center is a representation of enduring hardship through putting the school motto and teachings in practice.
History and Facilities
Established in 1872 by the missionary Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus from the Saint Maur Rue in Paris, France, Saint Maur began with "direct support received from over 15 legations, such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Austria, Holland, and Germany." Although it is a Catholic school, the school emphasizes the philosophy and approach of "acceptance of all." In 1884, the buildings were devastated by a typhoon and in 1894, an earthquake demolished the school. Its sister school, Futaba Gakuen, was founded 1901 for Japanese girls.
The Fine Arts Center consists of a 400-seat auditorium, specialist rehearsal and practice rooms for band class. In addition, the school purchased property located three minutes away from the school campus in 2003, "to serve as a practice field enabling students to further develop their sporting skills.
Extracurricular activities
Fine Arts
After-school fine arts extracurriculars include drama, art, handbells, senior band, jazz band, senior choir, chamber orchestra, and more.
Other
Students can also participate in three full seasons of sports (MS/HS), the elementary, middle or high school student councils, brain bowl teams, math clubs, robotics club, speech contests, and hiking clubs. Except for the latter, students also have the opportunity to participate later on in KPASSP-wide (Kanto Plain Association of Secondary School Principals) competitions or the KPSC (Kanto Plain Student Council).
Local social service opportunities (such as the Sanagitachi Project and Seeing Is Believing), intensive summer marine biology courses at the Yokohama City University, close relations with Ishikawa prefecture and Atami city, and summer European concert tours of the highly acclaimed concert and jazz bands are offered to students.
Notable alumni (in alphabetical order)
- Thane Camus
- De Lencquesaing Nozomi (ja:ド・ランクザン望) Actress, model
- Karen Kirishima (Japanese actress model and singer of Sadistic Mika Band)
- Nicola Pagett
- Yuki Shimizu
- Shanti Snyder
- Mie Yamaguchi (ja:山口美恵)
- Yuka Itakura (CNN Announcer)
- Hana Kamihara (Japanese Radio, TV host) [2]
- Kaoriko Kokuge (Fuji TV in New York)
- Yuuki Kurei (Singer in Kimaguren) [3]
- Marcia Lise (Social researcher) [4]
- Vera Ozawa (Wife of conductor Seiji Osawa)
- Haruko Wakabayashi (Researcher on mythology) [5]
See also
- Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus
- ja:学校法人雙葉学園 (Gakkō Hōjin Futaba Gakuen)
References
- ^ http://www.gsgi.co.uk/countries/japan/yokohama/st-maur-international-school?form.submitted=1&country=japan&countryCity=&submit=Go&city=
- ^ http://sixthsense.jp/hana/
- ^ http://www.generasia.com/wiki/Kimaguren
- ^ http://www.hafujapanese.org/eng/about.html
- ^ http://www.japantimes.co.jp/print/fb20120826a1.html
External links
- Saint Maur International School, official website
- From IBO website
- Saint Maur International School, from the World Wide Schools Directory of International Schools
- Template:Ja icon History of Futaba Gakuen
- The Good School Guide