Saint Maur International School

Saint Maur International School
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Simple Dans Ma Vertu, Forte Dans Mon Devoir
Simple in virtue, steadfast in duty
Address
83 Yamate-cho
Naka-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa
 Japan
Coordinates 35°26′7″N 139°39′9″E / 35.43528°N 139.65250°E / 35.43528; 139.65250Coordinates: 35°26′7″N 139°39′9″E / 35.43528°N 139.65250°E / 35.43528; 139.65250
Information
Type Private, Day, College-prep
International school
Religious affiliation(s) Roman Catholic
Founders Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus
Head of School Catherine O. Endo '72
Deputy Head of School Annette Levy
Grades P–12
Enrollment 449 (2015-16[1])
Language English
Color(s) Grey and red
         
Team name Cougars
Accreditation NEASC, IBO[2]
Affiliations CIS, EARCOS, JCIS[3]
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."[4]

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

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 Japanese medium sister school, Futaba Gakuen, was founded 1901 for local girls. The school was closed during World War II. In 1947 Sister Carmel O’Keeffe (1918-2011) was sent to Japan to reopen the school and would serve as principal from 1967 to 1991.[5]

Campus and facilities

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 and built an outdoor sports complex called Peverley Place.[6]

Curriculum

Saint Maur follows certain aspects of the American school system, such as age group nomenclature and academic calendar.

In addition to the Montessori Preschool, the school is subdivided into the Elementary School (Grades 1 to 5), Middle School (Grades 6 to 8) and High School (Grades 9 to 12). An Ecole Française ("French School"), accredited by National Centre for Distance Education (CNED), was opened in 2007 and is available to children from maternelle to cours moyen 2 (ages 5/6 to 10/11). The ecole also provides programs for students in middle and high school who wish to continue learning French as a second language.[7]

Students entering Grade 9 (first year of high school) prepare to take the IGCSE in Grade 10 and go on to the IB Diploma Programme for Grades 11 and 12. There are options to take Advanced Placement classes and the PSAT or SAT exams.[8]

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.

Outreach Activities

Students and faculty at Saint Maur International School are invited to participate in several outreach opportunities. St. Maur currently supports the efforts of a wide range of organizations. Students organized a club to support Room to Read, an organization which helps developing countries provide educational opportunities by building libraries and schools. This club currently raises both money for Room to Read and awareness within the community. Support for Haiti, tree planting, The Chi-Ki Foundation (which collects school supplies for under-equipped schools in Laos,) and a rice drive also hold the hearts and are supported by the St. Maur community.

Notable alumni (in alphabetical order)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "School Profile 2015-16". Saint Maur International School (via Google Drive).
  2. ↑ "Directory: Saint Maur International School". International Baccalaureate Organisation.
  3. ↑ "At a Glance: Accreditations & Affiliations". stmaur.ac.jp.
  4. ↑ http://www.gsgi.co.uk/countries/japan/yokohama/st-maur-international-school?form.submitted=1&country=japan&countryCity=&submit=Go&city=
  5. ↑ "Sister blazed a trail for international education". The Japan Times. November 1, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Campus Tour". stmaur.ac.jp.
  7. ↑ "Learning: Ecole Française" (in French). stmaur.ac.jp.
  8. ↑ "Learning: High School". stmaur.ac.jp.
  9. ↑ http://sixthsense.jp/hana/
  10. ↑ http://www.generasia.com/wiki/Kimaguren
  11. ↑ "Japanese-American singer SHANTI making sound waves". Japan Today. May 11, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Former TV presenter Mie Yamaguchi dead at 51". Japan Today. March 9, 2012.
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