初等部入学を決めた理由を教えてください。What were your reasons for entering the elementary school?
我が家は兄と妹の2人が初等部でお世話になりました。兄は希望する履修科目の関係で、高校からは外部の高校へと進学しましたが、2人とも関西国際学園の初等部で学び育つことができてて良かったと、年々感じております。
2人ともベビークラスから KIAに通わせていただきましたが、KIAは子どもたち個々の良いところを認め、それぞれの良さをのびのびと伸ばして下さる教育でした。このような環境なら大切な児童期に自分自身を認める力を養えると感じ、進学を希望しました。先生方と保護者のコミュニケーションの機会も多く、家庭と一緒に育てていただきました。
また、兄妹それぞれに自分らしさと向き合う機会をいただくことができ、思春期の今、それぞれの場で形になってきていると思います。
Our two children, my son and daughter, attended Elementary School. My son, the older sibling, chose a high school outside of KIA because he wanted to take certain subjects. But over the years, we have grown to appreciate the fact that they attended KIA Elementary School more and more.
They have been attending KIA since in their baby class and the school provides an education that identifies unique and positive aspects of the students and allows them to flourish. We were certain that in an environment like this that the children could develop the skills for self-acceptance and chose this school. There is plenty of communication between the teachers and the parents and I feel that school helped the entire family grow.
We have been blessed with the opportunity for my children to reflect on what it means to be themselves and to find their own way to express that as they enter adolescence.
中高等部進学を決めた理由を教えてください。What were your reasons for entering the secondary school?
国際バカロレア教育の良さは初等教育から始め、DPまで継続していく中で、学びにより深みがうまれ、身についていくものだと感じていたことが前提としてありました。また、下の子は課外活動に時間を費やすことが多く、これから進む道がまだ分からない中で、家族で思い悩みながら、色々な学校を検討致しました。初等部の先生方にもたくさんお話しを聴いていただきました。
そのような中、自分が大切にしている活動を認めてもらいながら、安心して学業にも取り組める場所として、 KIAに進学させていただきました。しかし、思い返すと2人とも最後の決めては本人の希望でした。大人は色々考えますが、本人が小学生なりに自分で色々と考え、悩み、希望を伝えてきたこと、そして親としてそれに応えたいという思いが決めてとなりました。
A positive aspect of the International Baccalaureate is that it begins in the elementary school and as it progresses into the DP, the student’s learning becomes richer and more their own. My daughter didn’t know what path she wanted to take and she preferred to spend more time with extracurricular activities and we considered so many schools as we had many discussions.
In that situation, we chose KIA because it is a school that emphasizes what students want to do and can focus on their schoolwork. Looking back on it, they made their own decision. Even as elementary school students, they thought hard and told us what they wanted to do and we wanted to meet their expectations.
関西国際学園のカリキュラムの中で特に魅力的だと思われるものは？What curriculum is particularly attractive at KIA?
The opportunity to study the International Baccalaureate bilingually in Japanese and English in a small group is an irreplaceable opportunity. The children, from a very young age, regard this environment as normal but they go abroad, take part in international workshops in Japan, take lessons from foreign teachers without feeling that language and nationality is a barrier in an open minded manner at their own pace. My children can be introverted so when we see them doing these things, we are so glad that they learned at KIA.
The students are able to learn in a way that suits them is only possible because of the small group of students is also what makes KIA great. My son is no longer in KIA for high school but we received so much emotional support during junior high. Throughout his elementary and junior high, he and us the parents feel that he has learned how to accept different ways of thinking and different cultures and to take on challenges while understanding the risks.
お子さんがKIAっ子だなと実感したエピソードがあれば教えてください。Please share an episode that made you realize your child is a KIA student.
My son lives in a dormitory and often tells us that “I’m made of orange (the color he associates with KIA)”. He based his learning on what he was taught in elementary and junior high school. Because he thinks that way, he often takes on leadership roles without realizing and tells us that he constantly thinks about how to fulfill his responsibilities. In moments like this, we are reminded of his KIA-ness. Maybe we feel that way especially because he’s shy.
My daughter’s KIA-ness comes out when she tries to think on her own to finish what she started. As parents, because we want to give her agency, we try not to be involved, which can be frustrating sometimes. In any situation, whether it is on stage, she is focused on what she can do at the moment at her own pace. Even when she can’t get the results she wants, she’ll keep going. That is something that she learned at KIA. Because her teachers and friends always support her, she feels safe to be herself and be empowered.
KIAの推しポイントがあれば教えてください。What is the best way to recommend your KIA?
先生方の明るい笑顔！
常に前を向いている姿勢！
オープンで広い精神！
The beaming smiles of the teachers!
Forward facing attitudes!
Open and accepting minds!
あなたにとってKIAとは？What is KIA to you?
厚かましいかもしれませんが、
子どもを一緒に育ててくださる大切なチームだと思っています！
KIA is an important team that raises our children, although they can be a bit overbearing.
