Message from the Principals 10/31/2025

School Account
5 days ago
4 min read

Today's Topics:

1: Important Reminders

2: Teacher Highlight

3: House Points

4: Learning Highlights

1: Important Reminders

🎃🍬👻 Happy Halloween! 🧛🧟🐈‍⬛

Nov 10 - NO SCHOOL (Veterans' Day)
Nov 21 - NO SCHOOL (Teachers' work Day to prepare report cards)
Nov 26 - Sports Day
Nov 27-28 - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving)
Dec 1-5 Student MAP testing

2: Teacher Highlight

Recently, a group of our Hope Teachers attended the International Curriculum Associations Annual Conference. This year it took place in Bali, Indonesia. The purpose of the conference is for our school to network with others who teach the IPC and IMYC curriculum, learn more about the curriculum implementation, and for our leaders to build networks between Hope and other like-minded schools.

This year, out of our 4 attendees, we had two teachers nominated for teacher of the year awards in their respective curriculums. Mr. Jay-R for IMYC and Ms. Angie for IPC. To be nominated means that you have been nominated by your peers from around the globe and then voted on by a panel of global experts who are affiliated with the IPC and IMYC curriculums. To be nominated also means you are considered to be in the Top 3 teachers in the world for your curriculum, which is a fantastic achievement in itself! This speaks volumes to the fantastic work our teaching team does at Hope and we could not be more proud! Ms. Angie narrowly missed out this year, though we are confident she will win it next time - congratulations to Ms. Angie for being an excellent role model for our learners and for providing such wonderful IPC leadership and teaching! Mr. Jay-R was the recipient of the IMYC Teacher of the Year Award this year and we are delighted by this as we know how much time and effort Mr. Jay-R puts in to support our Middle School teachers and learners. Congratulations Mr. Jay-R on your wonderful achievement; we could not be more proud! He was also selected to be an Ambassador for the IMYC!

Not only did we collect awards and nominations but a number of our staff presented at the conference. Mr. Jay-R was busy delivering a conference on how to teach Mathematics in a real world context - a workshop which received high praise from those who attended and is further proof as to why Mr. Jay-R deserved the IMYC Teacher of the Year. Mr. Daniel presented a workshop on "Glocalaisation" - this means he taught other teachers and schools how to integrate local issues or interests with their global counterparts. This workshop also received high praise and further helped to consolidate Hope International Academy Okinawa's dedication to taking action as a school and promoting the SDGs as well as being a global leader in both the IPC and IMYC curriculums. The lessons that the conference attendees took from the workshops delivered by our Hope teachers will now support other teachers and learners from countries as far reaching as Bermuda all the way to Zambia!

Lastly, all of our teachers were able to establish connections with other schools and create networks of sharing that will benefit our learners in numerous ways. Thanks to the hard work of our teachers, we will be able to develop stronger bonds with other schools in Japan, Asia, South America, Europe, North America, Africa, Australasia and the Middle East.

The conference is truly global and at the forefront, leading the way, is Hope International Academy Okinawa!

3: House Points

Basilisk: 2527

Hydra: 2293

Phoenix: 2156

Dragon: 2126

4: Learning Highlights

Prep Class Art:

Unit: The Earth: Our Home

Learners began brainstorming ideas for their upcoming design project: The Bee Hotel. We began our lesson by introducing the concept of interdependent relationships, using examples such as grass and zebra, or flowers and bees. Through discussion and reflection, learners identified why these relationships are vital for the balance in nature. After our discussion, they learned the importance of bees in an ecosystem and what we can do to help bees to thrive in our ecosystem. Learners connected these ideas to their project—recognizing how making a personal bee hotel can support the environment around us and promote sustainable living. Learners started to draw their blueprint for their bee hotel. Since the learners are planning to use a can, they drew a cylinder to design the outside. Each learner planned how their structure would provide a safe functional habitat for bees while reflecting their artistic style to attract those busy bees.

Grade 3 class: This week grade 3 completed their Entry Point in their unit "Temples, Tombs and Treasures". They had to act as archeologists to find the secrets hidden in the earth. Then they completed a bit of research on the importance of the Nile River and ancient Sumer and Egyptian artefacts.

Grade 6 Action Ambassadors are designing their own Water Purification Plant and City in small groups. Connecting it with the SDG 6, learners will create a plant with different filters (such as gravel, sand, bigger and smaller stones, tissue etc.) to clean dirty water that can we reuse. The city, they are asked to build around it, will symbolize the water cycle. They can include a farm, parks, factories, houses, malls, cars etc.

Learners reviewed what PLGs they are going to use in this project: Collaborator, thinker, ethical, adaptable and communicator.