About Us
Our Mission
The heart of J PREP’s mission lies in building the foundations for our students to bring about change in Japan and the world, in every area of the human experience.
Respecting and actively valuing their passions and interests, we cultivate in our students the necessary qualities and skills to recognize their role in society and work with strength, devotion and humility.
Join us in developing the leaders of tomorrow.
Our Philosophy
We believe all children are capable of excellence.
They simply require a stimulating environment and the proper encouragement. Young children learn best by doing things on their own, through exploration and inquiry guided by professional educators. Music and movement are both powerful learning tools that aid children in their intellectual development.
Equally important are strong literacy skills, which we foster in our students from an early age.
Sunnyside International Kindergarten offers a place for students to acquire new knowledge effectively by providing them with the right tools and by cultivating and nurturing in each child a love for learning.
The Sunnyside difference
Sunnyside prides itself in offering a unique approach to early childhood education which encompasses the different domains in a child’s development: physical, emotional, social and academic.
Our curriculum integrates several approaches to learning while putting emphasis on literacy. We align our curriculum with the core principles of several world’s most highly respected philosophies in early education.
A professional team of educators
A good early education is not possible without the leadership of talented and dedicated educators. At Sunnyside, we believe that teachers wear different hats to make sure that children can reach their maximum potential.
To begin with, Teachers are mentors: they direct the children’s learning from the perspective of someone who knows the child intimately.Teaches are role models: they demonstrate behaviors that are acceptable in the school and in the community. Teachers are inquisitors: they pose questions that help children think outside the box and develop critical thinking and creativity.
Teachers are co-learners, some of the lessons are decided together with the children. Our teachers are all carefully chosen for their professional experience in early education, their love of children and dedication to nurturing in each child a passion for learning.
Testimonials from Parents of Sunnyside Graduates
The teachers and staff exemplify kindness, compassion, and unwavering dedication to both teaching and nurturing the children.
Their commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive environment has created a welcoming atmosphere where children can thrive and flourish.
The school itself is very cozy and clean and is just a happy place for kids to spend their time.
Every day, I felt very comfortable dropping my kids off or picking them up from school. The students and the parents were all very nice. It is a wonderful community to be part of.
英語に関しては発音やリーディング共にとても満足しています。
子どもの心の成長もサポートしていただいたと思います。
Sunnysideで学んだことで、自分の大切なものこそベストフレンズとシェアするという精神を養えました。
また、子どもの好奇心が芽生えて、「なぜ」の問いが増えたことや、考える力が育まれました。感謝しています！
小さい頃からお世話になりました。スタッフや先生方から、子どもへ愛情を感じる事ができた点がとても良かったです。
この点は園を選ぶにあたり私達夫婦間で一番重要視していました。
感性を伸ばす大事な時期に、自由にアート等取り組む環境が整っている点もとても良かったです。
細かい事にとらわれず、のびのびとした子に育っていると思います。
たくさんのイベントがあったことが良かったです！
今月は何があるの？と子ども達は毎月楽しみに聞いてきました。
たくさんの楽しみの機会を計画してくださり感謝しています。
カラフルな教室や子ども達の作品がたくさん飾ってある園の雰囲気がとっても素敵でした。
園内の雰囲気良く、先生もスタッフも明るく、元気に子どもに接してくれるところが良かったです。
先生たちから子どもたちへの愛情を感じることができることも嬉しい点です。
また、自然に英語を習得できるように、常に工夫されていると感じました。
英語の本を借りられることで子どもが本好きになりました。
School Founder
Jun Saito
Founder and President of J PREP.
After earning his Ph.D. in Political Science at Yale University, he has held faculty positions at Wesleyan University and Franklin and Marshall College.
He became an assistant professor at Yale in 2008 and taught untill 2012, when he returned to Japan and founded J PREP.
He is also the best-selling author of three books on educational policy and language acquisition and has published 5 books.
Jun grew up in Sakata City in Yamagata prefecture, where J PREP’s operation and production office and logistics center have been currently located.
Early Years Education is vitally important. The very foundation of who we become as adults is laid down in our earliest years, therefore it is essential that we provide our children with the best learning opportunities possible.
At Sunnyside, we endeavour to be the best at what we do. Our teaching staff are all dedicated professionals and we work hard to maintain the very highest standards of care and education. More importantly, perhaps, this school is staffed by people who love what they do and it is that love that is passed onto the children every day. Sunnyside is a place where children can feel safe and secure in the knowledge that their learning is supported by people who will love and support them all the way!