Special feature

TOP EYES

February, 2017 / No.294

Chancellor

Two Schools
Together
Musubi Tabuchi
1 TOP EYES



2
Two Schools Together
The Unity of the Whole of

SIS Kwansei Gakuin

OIS

9 SENRI & OSAKA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS OF KWANSEI GAKUIN (SIS and OIS)


SIS

199713
11 KG ! OIS


13 KG


14
SOIS
19

SIS
OIS

SOIS
Two Schools, One campus, One Mission
20 Vol.7


21 KG NEWS

23


No.43 SOIS
We are Kwansei!

Contents

SOIS Aspiring for a True International Education
1 TOP EYES Senri International School (SIS) and Osaka International School (OIS), the two
Musubi Tabuchi


International Schools of Kwansei (collectively known as SOIS), have, since they
Chancellor were first established, engaged in education under the banner of Two Schools,
One Campus, One Mission. Today, local Japanese students, Japanese students
2 Special feature
who have returned from living abroad, and foreign-national students, and teach-
Two Schools Together ers from some 30 countries study and work at the Senri International Campus.
SENRI & OSAKA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS OF
For thirteen years from 1997, I served as University Chaplain
under President Hiroshi Imada. Not long after I started, the then In an educational environment in which a diverse range of values, cultures, and
KWANSEI GAKUIN languages mingle, how do these two schools work together, making the most
Dean of the School of Policy Studies, Dr. Akihiro Amano, rebuked of their respective strengths, to hone the individual characters and talents of
9 Cutting-edge Research
me quite strongly at the Council, saying that I knew nothing about their students? This article will present the education that SOIS provides, with
What is Creative Purchasing
the Kobe Sanda campus. I personally did not think that that was a focus on their highly unique educational programs and activities.
For Pleasure?
Jyunya Ishibuchi
the case, but later, when I transferred to the School of Education at
Professor, School of Business Administration the Nishinomiya Seiwa campus, and then started working at the
Senri International School campus, I finally understood how Dr.
11 KG REPORT
Amano felt back then. Until then, I had not been thinking about
Course Report! Informed, caring, creative individuals contributing to a global
Kwansei Gakuin in terms of its multiple campuses. community
Thinking about Nuclear Power,
from Fukushima Today, Kwansei Gakuin has nine schools on seven campuses, and
each of those campuses has nurtured the individual character and
13 KG REPORT
independent spirit of each school. It seems to me that the unity of
The Clock Tower

Kwansei Gakuin as a whole is created when we make the most of that
Projection Mapping Project


individuality and independence of each school and bring them all
14 Retirees of KG together. My consistent calls of We are Kwansei! since becoming
19 A Letter from OVERSEAS Chancellor are an appeal to you all that, while each school exercises
Valuable experience in New York its own independence, they are all the same Kwansei Gakuin. I would School Mission
urge you all to go out and see as many of the other campuses as you Informed, caring, creative individuals contributing to a global com-
20 Global Academic Port Progress Report munity
can. I want you to experience both this individual character and
Vol.7 The Reform of Academic Affairs for Five Respects
Globalization
the same Kwansei Gakuin with your own being.
The Senri International campus has no detailed school regulations or
student guidance. Instead, it upholds what it calls the Five Respects
21 KG NEWS
respect for self, respect for others, respect for learning, respect for the
23 LEsprit de Kwansei Gakuin environment, and respect for leadership/authority. Students base their
decisions on these principles and take responsibility for their actions.
No.43 Lorne Crescent
and the Crescent Cottage

1 294 2017 February 2

 Special feature
SOIS
SOIS
ASP
Two Schools together
Seymour!
Audrey! with a smile, and say lines
SOIS ASP
ASP
OK!
very good!
Udy ClaireSIS
You look back
All School
Production
Seymour! Audrey! After school,
SOIS students are working hard at
Respecting Each Other
rehearsals for the ASP in the Campus
Theater, which has been set up almost
as it would for the real performance.
While Creating
The conversations during rehearsals,
the instructions, and the actors lines
are all in English. OK! Very good!
Something Together Acting coach, SIS teacher Claire Udy,
calls a stop to the acting. With advice
such as, Look back with a smile,
then say your lines, she uses gestures
Various Initiatives of SOIS and body movements to show the
students ways to improve the delivery
The All School Production (ASP) and Winter Concert,
which SOIS students come together to produce, are of their lines. Detailed advice about
traditional cultural activities that symbolize the Two tone of voice and where to look also
Schools Together ideal. They provide a forum for the flies around the theater. The students
students to present the fruits of their efforts to the public take the teachers advice on board
together. Every year, the students put on performances and interpret it in their own way to
of a high standard. hone their performance. Students not
appearing in this particular scene
also listen to the advice being given
3 294
60
ASP
ASP
Frances Namba
SIS
to the other students and apply it
their own roles, whispering their
own lines to themselves and tak-
ing notes. When it comes to one of
the singing scenes, a highlight of the
show, things really heat up.
Because the time available for re-
hearsal every day is limited, everyone
is completely in earnest. Even so,
the atmosphere is always friendly
and cheerful and full of smiles.
A positive attitude permeates the
group, with students praising each
other when they act a scene well, and
freely giving their opinions when
they have suggestions. Everything
is in English, but there are no bar-
riers of language or nationality, and
the students have no trouble com-
municating with each other. As SIS
Principal, Frances Namba, who has
overall charge of the ASP, says, Ev-
ery day, the group becomes more
tight-knit as the students strive to
create something good together
and develop friendships. There is
no sense whatsoever of any division
between the two schools or between
2016 40
11
ASP10
10
BGM
year levels. The atmosphere that is
created allows the students to take
their own initiative naturally.
The ASP is about four months in
the making, from the auditions in
October until the actual performances
in February.
In the auditions, six teachers test
each applicant on their singing ability,
acting ability, and English language
ability. Ms. Namba comments, Every
year, the students who audition are our
most ambitious students, those who
want to take on a difficult challenge,
lead a fulfilling high school life, or
stretch their special skills further.
All of the applicants are capable, but
we are looking for something more.
Securing a role in this production is
not easy. Forty students auditioned
in 2016, from which 11 were selected
for the main cast, and the rest will
Two Schools Together SENRI & OSAKA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS OF KWANSEI GAKUIN
ASP
appear on stage as the chorus. Thrice-
weekly rehearsals began shortly after
the October auditions, increasing in
frequency to daily rehearsals in Janu-
ary. Although the cast face a tough
schedule every day, they engage in
the task with complete seriousness.
While the acting rehearsals are
going on, the students in the back-
stage crew are busy preparing the
sets, props, costumes, background
music, live band, hair and make-up,
subtitles, advertising, and many other
tasks. Students apply to take part in
this work. This year, there are about
60 students in the backstage crew.
Because these elements play such an
important role in determining the
success or failure of the ASP, the
backstage crew all takes responsibility
for their roles and exchange ideas
with each other.
ASP
2017
16 16:30
17 18:00
18 14:00
18 18:00
Little Shop of Horrors
2017 Performances
Schedule: Thursday, February 16 Curtains open 16:30
Friday, February 17 Curtains open 18:00
Saturday, February 18 Curtains open 14:00 (Matinee)
Saturday, February 18 Curtains open 18:00 (Final performance)
Venue: Senri International Campus Theater
Program: Little Shop of Horrors
Ms. Namba comments, The teach- seems to click and they come out
ers give the students clear instruc- of their shell. By the fourth perfor-
tions only at the very beginning. mance, they are acting and singing
The students will hit a wall many like different people. Sometimes, some
times due to anxiety, nerves, and the students even feel relaxed enough to
stress of juggling their work on the throw in clever ad libs, and they are
production with their schoolwork, all brimming with confidence and
but we encourage them to think for able to enjoy the performance from
themselves and to join forces to over-
come those struggles. In the last days
their hearts. In fact, after the fourth
performance, almost all of the stu-
before the performance, the entire dents burst into tears from the sense
campus goes into ASP mode. of achievement that wells up inside
There are four full performances. them. Many of our students have
Ms Namba says that, no matter how citied the ASP as the best memory
much they have rehearsed, every year, of their school days. The students
many of the students are stiff with English language abilities improve
nerves during the first performance. by leaps and bounds, and they grow
They come up against the kind of as people, developing leadership and
difficulty that can only come from teamwork. More than anything, that
actually performing in front of an experience of success makes them
audience. However, as they perform ambitious to take on new challenges
once, twice, three times, something and gives them self-esteem.
2017 February 4
 Special feature
Winter
Concert
In the Shared Programs, the two
schools conduct arts, music, physi-
cal education, and foreign language
classes jointly. These classes follow the
OIS curriculum and are conducted
in English.
Students taking Music, one of the
most popular courses, learn orchestra,
brass band, and choir in earnest, and
they have various opportunities to
perform outside the school. At the
Winter Concert held in December,
the schools hire out Maple Hall in the
city of Mino, where the seniors (12th
Grade) give their final performance.
Orchestra practice begins with
tuning, led by the student concert
master. The students then begin to
play under the conducting of OIS
5 294
OIS SOIS
ASP
12
12
SOIS
SIS
Villapando Vernon
OIS
music teacher, Vernon Villapando.
The language of instruction is, of
course, English. The ease with which
the students play would lead one
to assume that they have all been
learning the violin since they are
small children. However, many of
the students started learning only after
enrolling at SOIS. This is a testament
to the effort that have put into their
instruments. Although this is a formal
class, it also has elements of a club
activity. Like the ASP, the students
gain confidence from experiencing
the opportunity to perform, and they
make irreplaceable memories with
their orchestra mates.
SIS Head of School, Mayumi Ito,
describes the benefits of the Shared
William KralovecOIS
OIS
SIS
OIS
(IB)
Programs. Even as they clash with
each other, the students learn to ac-
knowledge each others differences
and build personal relationships. This
leads to diversity and self-reliance,
and brings clarity to their future path.
OIS Head of School, William Kra-
volec, comments, Precisely because
the cultures of the two schools are
different, the students and teach-
ers are experiencing cross-cultural
exchange on a daily basis. OIS stu-
dents make friends with SIS students
in their classes and club activities,
giving them real-life models of the
virtues of the Japanese people, such
as their diligence, consideration of
others, and respect for teachers.
Because we live in an age of such
SOIS
2013IBSIS
turbulent change, I want our students
to keep close sight of themselves and
continue to learn new things when
they go on to university and beyond.
The perfect way to achieve this is
the International Baccalaureate (IB)
programs offered by OIS. We will
continue to create an environment
that will bring about favorable changes
in our students lives.
Two Schools Together SENRI & OSAKA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS OF KWANSEI GAKUIN
SGH
SIS 2015
SGH
SOIS SIS12
SGH
SGH
12
SGH
1,000
IBDP
IBDP
SGH SGH
OISCreativity, Action
and Service
CAS IB SISSGH
2015SIS
2016OIS SIS
SISOIS
12
SOIS
SOIS
SGH
Students Moving Forward
Towards Their Dreams
Towards Further Integration
There are moves at SOIS to integrate group of students taking the Peace
various initiatives that, until now, the Studies course, delivered presenta-
1 SGH Program
two schools have conducted sepa- tions in the gymnasium.
rately. One such move took place Ms. Ito comments, We believe in SIS was designated as a Super Global High School (SGH) in 2015.
The SGH Program entails a systematic curriculum, a mentor
in 2013, when the IB program was actively working on the integration of program in which all teachers give the students individual guid-
made available to students at SIS Se- any aspects that we determine would ance, and other school-wide support programs. The students
nior High School. These students be more effective if SOIS were to do research outcomes are of a particularly high standard nationally.
can obtain the IBDP alongside their it together, and we want to produce Fumika Nakayama, a Senior (12th Grade) at SIS attended
the 1st SGH National Forum, held in December at Ochanomizu
Japanese high school diploma, which results in multicultural education.
Womens University, where SGH designated schools and asso-
opens up to them increased options Next academic year, we will start an ciates came together. She was one of six students from SGH
for higher education both in Japan IBDP course in Japanese. We are also designated schools chosen to take part in a panel discussion
and overseas. looking into linking up with SGH in English. In front of an audience of some 1,000 people, she
talked confidently about her research and future, and enthu-
Until 2015, Presentation Day was field studies and with OISs Creativity,
siastically exchanged views with students from other schools.
an event that only SIS students par- Action and Service (one of the CAS
ticipated in, but in 2016, OIS students IB programs, in which the students Nakayama I was very nervous many people at the SGH National
also participated. A total of four stu- themselves plan and carry out extra- at the SGH National Forum, but Forum was a valuable opportunity,
dents from SIS and OIS, along with a curricular activities). thanks to life at SIS and the SGH so I talked about myself, with a focus
Program, I was able to enjoy myself. on the concept of global citizen,
Club Activities I am very grateful for the teachers and remained conscious of the fact
SOIS Students Participate in Club Activities Together and learning environment at SIS. that I was holding a dialogue with
The Student Representative Council, which has a say in school management,
draws its membership from both SOIS schools, and both English and Japanese
From about August of my senior the listeners as I spoke. After I fin-
can be heard in the meetings. There are diering views between Japan and other year, I began to hold my own mis- ished, many people came up to me
countries about issues such as the positioning of school events and their prepara- sion statement of encouraging all with warm comments, saying that
tion, and dierences of opinion and clashes are not uncommon. However, based people to see themselves as global they enjoyed my talk and that they
on the Five Respects, the students nd compromises, think up convincing propos-
citizens. Speaking in front of so were rooting for me, and I really
als, and plan and manage events through repeated trial and error.
2017 February 6
 Special feature
SIS 2016
JuliaT
The STYLES 11
SGH
UNICEF
SIS
SGH
felt that my thoughts and feelings got
through to most people. I was also
inspired by the other five students
and had a very rewarding time.
In the SGH program, I wrote a re-
search paper on the theme of how
to increase the number of children
who are healthy in body and mind in
developing countries. I believe that
this helped me to acquire many skills,
such as logical thinking, creativity,
and communication skills.
In the future, to realize my mission
statement, I first want to be a balle-
rina, and after that, I want to work
at UNICEF. To fulfill both of these
dreams, I will enroll in the Depart-
ment of Political Science in Kwansei
Gakuin Universitys School of Law in
April. Politics is deeply intertwined
with global issues, so I want to learn
about it properly. I also want to deepen
my SGH research further, and draw
closer to my dreams by taking on the
challenge of becoming a UN Youth
Volunteer and going overseas to
study ballet.
7 294
Two Schools Together SENRI & OSAKA INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS OF KWANSEI GAKUIN
ers
Teach
Voice
2016
TPP
SGH
SOIS
KG
SISOIS SIS
SOIS
SIS
SOIS
Marcella CooperOIS
SOIS
SOIS IB
SIS
SIS
11 SOIS
Its OK
KG
The STYLES
How are the Kwansei Gakuin pros and cons of the TPP and submitted useful. in. For this reason, I advise my students about the realities of the world that
Mission Statement and SOIS recommendations to the government. Exchanges between Kwansei Gakuin to experience a variety of environments would be unimaginable in peaceful
principles embodied in educa- During the U.S. election campaign, University and the senior high schools so they can grow as individuals. For Japan. Even so, it is important that
2 Middle School Student Starts Up Fashion Company tion on the ground at SOIS? we had repeated discussions and pre- are wonderful opportunities for our example, SGH, the university-high they research for themselves and learn
We spoke to teachers from
sentations about the impact that the students (and teachers) to come into school connection classes and camps, about the real world, and I think that
SIS Year 9 student, Julia Torieda, established her own company, SIS and OIS.
JuliaT Co., Ltd. in June 2016. Her company started offering The next U.S. administration would have contact with new environments. SIS and the KG All-Stars Camp are all it helps them improve their ability to
STYLES, a service that provides personal fashion coordina- Hisashi Muneo, SIS Teacher on the world, and this culminated in students have grown up in multicul- wonderful opportunities for growth. discover issues, as well as their multi-
tion services and virtual closet services, in November. Anyone the production of guidebook for junior tural environments and are very good Going forward, treasuring the prin- lateral thinking skills and information
who registers as a member can take photographs of their own At university and in graduate school, high school students. By doing more at respecting diverse values and people. ciples of SOIS, I hope to continue to literacy. I also hope that it helps them
clothes and accessories to create their own virtual closet. I researched the theme of cultivating and more of these kinds of activities, On the other hand, when they move nurture young individuals who can discover the joy of learning and that
global citizens, and I wanted to do I hope that students will start to think on to university, some students can contribute in some way to society at they will continue to learn for the
Torieda I first thought up the coming second out of the 11 teams. work in that field after graduation. for themselves more and take action become bewildered by the change in whatever level, be it global, national, rest of their lives.
service when I was in the fifth This really spurred me on to start The aspirations of SOIS and Kwan- as a matter of course. environment and find it difficult to fit or local. At SOIS, the teachers also share
grade. I tried to talk about fash- up my business. sei Gakuin match my own personal I also have a class in which I set large ideas about teaching methods and
ion to my father, but he wouldnt Through this experience of so- motivations. Every day, I stand in assignments, such as essays or research Marcella Cooper, OIS Teacher encourage them to think about these educational perspectives all the time.
listen, and that gave me the idea. ciety, I am experiencing the best front of my students with the hope papers of over 10,000 characters, as a issues not as someone elses problem I am from Canada, so I share with SIS
When I was in the eighth grade learning. In the future, I want to that they will become young people way of encouraging reasoning ability At SOIS, we have many students who in a faraway land, but as their own teachers the teaching methods and
at SIS, I participated in the KG become a business person and be a who pave the way in the future and and creativity. Of course, the students say that they want to make a con- problem, and get them to present case studies I built up in Canada and
Business Plan Contest. I proposed success in the international arena. contribute to society. struggle with this, but I hope that, by tribution to the world in the future. their own opinions in class based on in IB programs. Conversely, the SIS
The STYLES as a cloud-based In my classes, I am particularly overcoming that struggle, they will For this reason, I want to provide research of many media sources and teachers teach me about wonderful
personal fashion coordination ser- conscious of reasoning ability and become the type of students who will them with communication and criti- other literature. Our discussions are aspects of Japans education system.
vice, and I was awarded the grand thinking. I believe that the ability pull other students in their seminars cal thinking skills, so they can face quite lively, and even if someone gets Many of the teachers at SOIS have
prize in the junior high school to reason is important and, indeed, and laboratories in the right direc- any problem they encounter in this something wrong, I cheerfully tell graduate degrees. The opportunity
division. I won the right to enter necessary in any situation. Specifically, tion when they go on to university. turbulent world squarely, and come them, Its OK! to convey to them the to share in academic discussions at a
the Entrepreneurs Koshien, a I put great store in discussion time, It makes me happy when graduates up with the answers themselves with need to respect the opinions of others. doctoral or masters level gives teach-
national contest for high school and I make an effort to offer projects of my classes tell me that they were an international outlook. By constantly sharing their different ers the chance to inspire each other.
entrepreneurs that was held the and assignments that will make the able to get into their university classes In my classes, we cover a variety of ideas with each other, the students I enjoy my work every day. I will
following year, and I was awarded students translate their thoughts into smoothly and that they are enjoying topics from around the world, such become more and more interested in continue to treasure my time with
the Special Adjudicators Prize for actions. In 2016, in one of my senior their research, or that even though as conflicts, atmospheric pollution, finding things out. Sometimes, they my students and to create a space for
high school classes, we discussed the my class was hard, it is now proving and elections in various countries. I receive quite a shock when they learn enjoyable learning.
2017 February 8