Thank You
To our teachers, families, and students:
you for your commitment, trust, and belief in our vision.
We look forward to growing together as a proud IB World School.
Reflections from our Head of School on AWIS Achieving IB PYP Authorization
At AWIS, curiosity fills every learning space. In one classroom, a group of students gathers around
a display about octopus tentacles, excitedly sharing what they already know and asking questions
about how these fascinating creatures move and explore their environment. During this investigation
stage, students notice how each movement connects to survival—how the creature hunts, hides, and
interacts with other marine life. Moments like this remind Ms. Darlin Okada, our Head of School, why
every step toward concept-based matters. The recent achievement of IB PYP authorization is more than
a milestone—it is a celebration of the community, the students, and the vision that guides the
school.
For families, this milestone is a reassurance of the trust they have placed in the school. “Over the
years, we have been steadily transforming our learning, our culture, our environment, and our shared
purpose,” she explains. “Everything we do is guided by the belief that every child deserves a place
where curiosity is nurtured and their voices are heard.”
The transformation is evident throughout the school. Classrooms are thoughtfully designed to inspire
exploration, while the curriculum challenges students and encourages them to think critically and
creatively. “We have always strived to create an excellent learning environment—challenging yet
inspiring, structured yet open to wonder—where children feel supported, motivated, and excited to
explore,” Ms. Darlin notes. With the IB curriculum fully in place, the program is even stronger,
deepening AWIS’s commitment to an education that is thoughtful, responsive, and rooted in what young
learners need to thrive today and in the world they will help shape tomorrow.
This journey has been a collective effort, and Ms. Darlin emphasizes the importance of support from
beyond the school walls. “We are deeply grateful to the schools that have supported our activities
and encouraged our journey, as well as the local communities that have welcomed us and enriched our
programs,” she shares. She also expresses heartfelt appreciation for the IB organization itself: “We
thank the IB for believing in AWIS’s vision and supporting us as we worked toward authorization.
Their guidance and trust have been invaluable.”
Reflecting on the personal significance of this journey, Ms. Darlin adds, “As both a principal and a
parent of an AWIS alumnus, I’ve watched our whole school community come together for a shared
purpose: to grow, to understand the meaning of learning, and to connect with our local, national,
and global contexts.”
To the staff, families, and students who have contributed to this achievement, her gratitude is
immense. “To our dedicated staff, our supportive families, and most of all, our remarkable
students—thank you. Your trust, energy, and spirit have made this possible. Together, we have built
something special, and together, we will continue shaping a school where children learn with joy,
teachers teach with purpose, and every day becomes an opportunity to grow, connect, and shine.”
AWIS’s journey toward IB PYP authorization is both a culmination and a beginning: a celebration of
what has been achieved and a commitment to the future. Every day, in classrooms and learning spaces
like the one where students explore the mysteries of octopus tentacles, the vision of inquiry,
curiosity, and global-minded learning comes alive—reminding everyone that this achievement belongs
to the entire AWIS community, and that the best is yet to come.
Message from School Director
Mijiah Iwamoto, School Director and CEO of All for Kids Co., Ltd. (the operating company of Aiwin
International School)
and School Director of AWIS, praised the dedication of the school’s staff and community in achieving
the IB PYP Authorization. In a statement, Ms. Iwamoto commented:
“We are honored to earn the IB PYP authorization, which is a testament to our team’s hard work and
our school’s unwavering commitment to educational excellence. Becoming an IB World School at the
primary level demonstrates that Aiwin meets the highest global standards in curriculum and
instruction. More importantly, this achievement benefits our students and their families – it means
our children are getting a truly world-class education that will open up future opportunities. We
will continue to invest in our teachers, facilities, and programs to uphold the IB philosophy and
our own BASIC values. Our mission is to nurture globally minded, compassionate young learners, and
this IB authorization energizes us to strive even further in delivering on that promise.”
