The Montessori School of Tokyo  BRANCHING INTO THE FUTURE OUR GUIDING DIRECTIONS Foreword This Branching into the Future  document captures the collective hopes, dreams, questions, and imaginings of our school community. Throughout the 2024-2025 school year, students, staff, and families reflected together during sessions facilitated by Kira Donnelly, consultant for MST. These conversations invited us to envision what our school could become at its very best. As we considered

I just wrapped up an energizing week at MST, diving deep into the visioning work for our 15-18 Adolescent Program. I spent time with students in both the Eucalyptus and Willow classes, facilitated our Parent Visioning Session, and I'm excited to share what emerged from these conversations.   Working with Our Students The Eucalyptus students shared with me what makes their current experience meaningful:  the freedom to choose their own work,  the balance of individual and coll

Elementary teacher Rosie Said graciously stepped into the Ginkgo classroom this fall and stilled the waters of a community in flux. With a veteran partner in Shukuko, a platoon of supporting teachers and a full pot of strong coffee, the class has been in good hands. While juggling her own transition moving to Tokyo from Hawai’i and adjusting to working in a new school in a foreign land, Rosie has generously given it her all, gathering energy from her background in science, t

Melanie Schalock’s (sha-LOCK) path to MST winds through childhood adventures with handmade toys, years of classical music study, and a long-standing love for Japan. Now back in Tokyo as our Learning Support Specialist, she brings her passion for Montessori education, student wellness and a calming presence to the MST community. Where are you from and what was it like?  I grew up in several cities in the US, from rural to urban, in places with very hot summers and in places wi

Korean Culture Week radiated out from Sollim Lee (Willow, Ginkgo, Sequoia) who presented a sprint through Korean culture and history to just about every child at MST. She drew her audiences in with welcoming warmth.  But Sollim credits Hanna Ma (Cedar), “who not only operated the slides during the presentation, but also created them so beautifully. She spent many hours preparing them, and I was honestly amazed by her dedication to perfection. She is truly incredible.” The pre

MST hosted the ISTAA Cross Country tournament for the third straight year with 352 students competing. The November 21 tournament welcomed runners from 11 international schools: BST, CAJ, Columbia, KAIS, KIST, Malvern, MST, Nishimachi, SIS, UST, and Yoyogi. MST brought a strong team of 57 runners, from 1st grade through middle school, many competing in their first inter-school race.  Despite the highly competitive field, MST runners delivered standout performances and secured

A thrilling last second equalizer and tense penalty shootouts were some of the dramatic moments at the 2025 ISTAA Football Tournament. Five MST football teams competed with nine international schools at the November 15 contest. In total, 92 girls and 192 boys took part, according to organizers. The tournament has grown since 2018 when only 3 schools attended. Girls’ teams were reintroduced this year; the last year the tournament was coed was in 2022. Though the smallest among

Luminaries of the education field in China completed their study tour of Japan at MST. After presentations on the Montessori method, they feasted at the middle school's pop-up restaurant. The evening was capped off with Eucalyptans fielding questions about their own education experiences. Comparisons by the Chinese students to their schools back home were especially illuminating. This is part of a week-long study tour organized by MST parent and education leader Yinuo Li (se

Willow class dove into their annual camping trip in the forests of Chiba. The Upper Elementary children spent three days exploring independence from their families, cooperative living with their peers, and self-sufficiency. Preparation began weeks before the journey, as the campers planned and packed, set rules for their room groups, and organized themselves into rotating cooking and cleaning teams. Baths and Barbecues Because of rain on the first day, the class stopped off a