AWIStories: Toyonaka May 2026 Issue

As we settle further into the school year, I have been reflecting on a simple but important question:

Where does learning truly happen?

For many of us, our first thought may be the classroom. While classrooms provide important foundations for learning, some of the most meaningful growth happens when children apply their learning in authentic and purposeful ways beyond the classroom walls.

This month, our students have participated in a variety of experiences that demonstrate this beautifully. Whether travelling to the farm, engaging in conversations with students from another country, collaborating with families during Family Day, participating in emergency drills, or collecting data through classroom inquiries, students have been developing skills that extend far beyond academic knowledge.

As educators, we are often reminded of an iceberg. What we see above the surface is only a small part of the whole picture. Families may see children harvesting strawberries, participating in a Spirit Day, creating a graph, or meeting students from another country. These experiences are important and memorable, but beneath the surface, something even more significant is taking place.

Students are learning to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, take risks, show empathy, and navigate unfamiliar situations. They are learning how to ask thoughtful questions, work through challenges, appreciate different perspectives, and contribute positively to a community. These are the skills and dispositions that are not always visible, yet they have a lasting impact on a child's development.

At AWIS, we believe that education is not simply about acquiring information. It is about helping children learn how to think, communicate, collaborate, adapt, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them. These skills are developed through experiences that encourage students to engage with their environment and see themselves as active participants in their own learning journey.

What makes these experiences especially meaningful is that they are connected to real life. Children learn responsibility by navigating public transportation. They develop empathy through intercultural exchanges. They strengthen resilience by facing new challenges and unfamiliar situations. They build confidence by asking questions, expressing ideas, and taking ownership of their learning.

As you read through this month's newsletter, I invite you to look beyond the activities themselves and consider the learning that lies beneath them. Behind every farm visit, classroom investigation, celebration, or conversation is an opportunity for children to develop the knowledge, skills, and character that will support them not only in school, but throughout their lives.

As educators, our goal is not simply to prepare children for the next grade level. Our goal is to help them become thoughtful, capable, and compassionate individuals who can navigate an ever-changing world with curiosity and confidence.

Thank you for your continued partnership in supporting experiences that inspire authentic learning. Together, we are building a community where learning extends beyond the classroom and into the world around us.

Warm regards,

Darlin Okada

Head of School
AWIS

Throughout May, our campuses have been alive with curiosity, collaboration, and discovery, creating countless moments of learning and growth for our children.

School Spirit Days are one of the many ways we intentionally foster a sense of connection across our campuses. Through simple acts of participation, students experience what it means to be part of a larger community while expressing their own personalities and interests.

At our Toyonaka Campus, students gathered for a special assembly where curiosity led the day through questions, observations, and appreciation of one another's unique choices. Through classroom discussion circles, students explored both the similarities and differences reflected in the hats they wore, developing a greater awareness of how diversity enriches our community.

Hat Day served as a simple yet meaningful prompt for inquiry. Students observed different types of hats, discussed their purposes, and explored how design can help solve everyday problems. From protecting us from the weather to supporting specific jobs and activities, hats became a window into conversations about creativity, function, and individual expression.

As students shared the stories behind their hats, they also practiced listening to different perspectives and appreciating the uniqueness of others. These conversations helped students recognize that while we may make different choices, each person's ideas, experiences, and interests contribute to the richness of our school community.

Whether wearing a favourite hat, a hat connected to a hobby, or one chosen simply because it brought joy, students were reminded that our differences strengthen our community and help make AWIS a vibrant place to learn, grow, and belong.

Family Day serves as a powerful reminder that education is most successful when schools and families work together.

Children thrive when they experience strong partnerships between the important people in their lives. By bringing families, students, and educators together in a shared space, Family Day strengthened the relationships that support learning, wellbeing, and belonging throughout the year.

At our Toyonaka Campus, families enthusiastically participated to win games such as Guess the Teacher and Charades, where teamwork, communication, and shared laughter brought everyone together. These activities encouraged families and children to draw upon their knowledge of one another while creating joyful memories as a community. Families also enjoyed opportunities to sing, play, and celebrate together, creating moments of connection that extended beyond the classroom and into the heart of our school community.

The celebration was made even more special by the wonderful variety of food, snacks, and drinks shared by our families. Parents brought a rainbow of dishes that reflected their family's favorite meals, traditions, and cultures. Through food, conversations, and shared experiences, families had the opportunity to learn more about one another and celebrate the diversity that enriches our school community.

Beyond the activities themselves, the event reflected one of the core values of our school community: that learning flourishes when we build meaningful connections with one another. When families and schools work together, children experience a stronger sense of belonging, security, and confidence—creating the foundation for lifelong learning.

Student wellbeing remains at the heart of everything we do. Annual health checks are an important part of supporting children's overall development and ensuring that they are able to participate fully in their learning experiences.

By caring for children's physical wellbeing alongside their academic and social-emotional growth, we reinforce the understanding that learning and wellbeing are deeply connected.

While evacuation drills focus on safety procedures, they also provide opportunities for students to practise self-management, responsibility, and resilience. Throughout the drills, students demonstrated their ability to follow instructions, remain calm, and work together to ensure the safety of the community.

These experiences help children understand that preparation builds confidence and empowers us to respond effectively when challenges arise.

At AWIS, learning begins with helping children understand themselves, their relationships, and the world around them. Across our early years classrooms, students are engaged in age-appropriate inquiries that nurture both personal growth and critical thinking skills.

Our youngest learners have been exploring the unit Who I Am: My Family and I, developing an understanding of themselves, their families, and the relationships that are important to them.

Through stories, songs, discussions, and creative activities, students are building language skills while strengthening their sense of identity and belonging. As they share about their families and learn about others, they are beginning to develop empathy, appreciation, and respect for the unique experiences that make each family special.

At AWIS, we believe that a strong sense of self and belonging provides an important foundation for future learning and relationships.

As part of their inquiry into Who We Are, students have entered the investigation and discovery stage of their learning. Using tools such as bar graphs, Venn diagrams, surveys, and comparison charts, children are learning how to gather information, identify patterns, and communicate their thinking.

Before collecting information, students are encouraged to ask meaningful questions about what they notice, how things are similar or different, and what they would like to learn more about. These questions help children become active participants in their own learning while developing important inquiry, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

While each class began with the same central idea, students are now branching into different areas of exploration based on their questions and interests. Because our Units of Inquiry span approximately three months, students have the opportunity to explore concepts in greater depth, revisit ideas, and develop deeper understanding through sustained inquiry.

At AWIS, we believe meaningful learning happens when children are given the time and tools to wonder, investigate, and discover.

This month, we had the pleasure of welcoming the leadership team of Ascot International School to our Shukugawa Campus.

Our conversations centred on a a belief that meaningful learning happens when students engage in authentic experiences, inquiry, creativity, and hands-on exploration.

As international schools, opportunities to build professional relationships and educational partnerships strengthen our ability to learn from one another while creating future opportunities for our students and communities.

School exchanges help broaden perspectives, encourage innovation, and reinforce our commitment to preparing students to thrive in an interconnected world. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn together and look forward to continuing this meaningful relationship.

One of the most meaningful ways children develop international-mindedness is through authentic relationships with others.

During our recent exchange with students from GD Goenka International School in India, our Kindy learners engaged in conversations with peers whose experiences were both familiar and different from their own. Students asked thoughtful questions, shared their own perspectives, and listened with curiosity and respect.

Through these exchanges, students learn that understanding another culture begins with genuine human connection. These experiences help foster empathy, open-mindedness, and appreciation for the diversity that enriches our world.

At AWIS, we believe some of the most meaningful evidence of learning comes from listening to our students. Their reflections help us understand how experiences become understanding and how curiosity becomes learning.

What was something that made you think differently this month?

We are excited to celebrate the International Day of Play, a special occasion that highlights the vital role play has in children's learning, wellbeing, creativity, and development. Throughout the day, students will engage in experiences that encourage imagination, problem-solving, collaboration, and joyful exploration. We look forward to celebrating the power of play and the many ways it supports meaningful learning.

A Garden of Expression

Growing ideas, creativity, and community together.

Our annual Creative Inquiry Week is just around the corner. This year's theme, A Garden of Expression, invites students to explore their ideas, creativity, and learning through a variety of engaging experiences and projects.

Families will also have opportunities to participate in Open Days, where parents can gain insight into their children's learning journeys and experience firsthand the inquiry, creativity, and thinking that take place within our classrooms.

Registration is now open for our Summer School Program, running from July 27 to August 6. This program offers students an opportunity to experience the AWIS learning environment through engaging inquiry-based activities, creative projects, and community-building experiences.

Spaces are limited, and we encourage interested families to contact our office for further information.

The Summer School Program will conclude with our annual International Festival on August 7, a celebration that brings together families, cultures, and our wider community in support of the initiatives of Save the Children Foundation.

Families interested in contributing a cultural booth or activity are encouraged to contact our Office Coordinator. We would be delighted to work together to make this year's event a meaningful celebration of diversity, community, and global citizenship.

Field trip planning for our Junior Kindy and Kindy students is currently underway for July. To provide more targeted and meaningful learning experiences, future field trips will be organised separately by grade level, allowing activities and learning opportunities to better align with students' developmental stages, interests, and curriculum goals.

Please refer to the announcment in CODMON to learn more about this new field trip structure.

Key events and important dates for the coming weeks will be shared through Codmon. We encourage all families to regularly check announcements to stay updated.