Waseda International School’s summer students at the end of the first week of summer school. WIS
Waseda International School (WIS) is in the middle of its summer school fun. Each week consists of four mornings of intensive language arts lessons filled with custom-designed lessons for each child. There are individualized worksheets for students attending for just one-week, and specially selected textbooks for those staying for the whole summer. Guided one-on-one reading and sight words are provided for each child.
There are two afternoons of water play on the school’s sunny roof, which also features a flower, herb, and vegetable garden; water tables; and plastic pools. One afternoon included a jam session with Samm Bennett, a country and western style musician who concocted an amazing drum, chant, and dance class based on one week’s theme, African Animals.
The students spent a day at Yokohama’s Zoorasia to see the majestic creatures of Africa for themselves. The week’s theme song was ‘In the Jungle’ from ‘The Lion King,’ which was presented to the parents in the lobby on the Friday during an informal concert. The children wore handmade masks fresh from their intensive art class with Guy Millward, Waseda’s in-house artist and art program director. The lobby was decorated as a jungle and parents were pleasantly surprised by how well their child performed with only four days of rehearsal.
Students are looking forward to the next few weeks of summer school fun, with great themes and cross-curricular activities, including weekly field trips. — NATASHA DYTHAM
