Phoenix House International School

Happy New Year from Phoenix House.

As we welcome 2026, we extend our warm thanks to our community for a wonderful year. We look forward to the opportunities the new year will bring, and to all we will continue to build together.

Wishing everyone a happy, healthy, and fulfilling year ahead.

Our staff marked the end of term with a festive evening of wreath making, expertly led by our Art Department. It was a lovely chance to get creative and enjoy a bit of seasonal cheer together, and the finished wreaths looked beautiful!

Wishing all our Phoenixes a wonderful Winter Break. We look forward to seeing you in the new year.

A few weeks ago, eight of our Prep 3 and Prep 5 pupils had the wonderful opportunity to take part in a painting class with artist Anzu Kanie at the Kumagai Morikazu Museum.

Together, they created a large experimental artwork that has since been professionally copyrighted and generously donated to the school by a Phoenix House parent.

A heartfelt thank you to Ms Tien for organising this special experience and for helping bring new, beautiful artwork to our school walls.

The finished piece is now proudly displayed outside our Dance Studio on the 2nd Floor, and we are delighted to share a photograph of both the young artists at work and the final painting in its new home.

To wrap up the end of term, our Friends of Phoenix parents organised a wonderful week of Winter Bops for our pupils.

From cosy storytime and hot chocolate by the fire, to festive party games and a lively disco led by our ever-popular DJ Fletcher (making her much-anticipated yearly appearance!), it was a magical way to conclude a truly delightful Autumn Term.

A heartfelt thank you to our parents for creating such a warm and memorable end-of-term celebration.

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been welcoming parents into school for our 'Celebrate My Success' meetings, a special opportunity for pupils to sit down with their families, open their exercise books, and proudly share the progress they have made this term.

From beautifully presented work to growing confidence and independence, it was wonderful to see our Phoenixes reflect on their learning and celebrate their achievements.

This year’s Winter Showcase was a joyful celebration of music, creativity, and community at Phoenix House.

For the first time, we presented two full performances, an afternoon and an evening show, allowing every family the chance to see their children shine on stage. From Prep 1 through Prep 6, our pupils performed with confidence, enthusiasm, and a real sense of pride.

A particular highlight this year was the ambition of the programme. Each class learned three musical numbers during their curriculum lessons, doubling the repertoire while continuing with their regular music studies.

Despite the challenge, the pupils rose to the occasion brilliantly, embracing harmony work, choreography, and storytelling with growing musicality. The ensembles also delivered standout moments, from the Ukulele Club’s spirited 'Phoenix House Jingle Bells,' to the Orchestra’s elegant excerpts from The Nutcracker, and the choirs’ joyful performances that filled the hall with warmth.

The success of the day is a testament to the hard work of the pupils, the support of our families, and the passion of the team. Thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Winter Showcase such a memorable celebration of talent, teamwork, and festive cheer.

Last week, Lower Prep parents joined Ms Magness and Mrs Justice for a wonderful Parent Connect session all about sharing books at home and supporting early reading in meaningful, enjoyable ways.

Our librarians guided parents through practical strategies for reading together, from doing a “front-page focus” before opening the book, to using post-its for predicting, retrieving, explaining, clarifying, and summarising. Parents also explored ways to revisit stories, prompt rich conversations, and encourage children to take responsibility by borrowing and returning library books independently.

Later this week we look forward to speaking with our Upper Prep families about the library.

Our Autumn Art Open House and Exhibition offered a splendid glimpse into the creative journeys our Phoenixes have taken this term.

Every Phoenix had a piece of artwork on display, showcasing the breadth of imagination and skill developed over the past months. From Prep 1’s vibrant patterned animals and Prep 2’s textile wall hangings inspired by their artist visit, to Prep 3’s beautifully illustrated storybooks and Prep 4’s expressive self-portraits influenced by 21st-century artists, the exhibition captured a rich array of creative explorations. Prep 5 contributed bold, large-scale Notan pieces, while Prep 6 impressed with their hand-built coil vases, each one painted with a personal story.

Adding to the evening’s charm, our Art Ambassadors hosted hands-on workshop tables. Families tried their hand at screen-printing tote bags, creating chemigrams, designing badges, and making colourful postcards to brighten our Dining Room. Live music performed by the Art Ambassadors also added to a warm, gallery-evening atmosphere.

A heartfelt thank you to all pupils, parents, and staff who joined us in celebrating our young artists.

What does a simple wooden stick have to do with a world-class prep school education?

Is it just a stick?

Not to a child, and not to us. In the hands of our Phoenixes, even a simple stick becomes a possibility, and that’s the point.

Discussing the why behind our choices, we have been unpacking what a prep school education really means in practice.

Over the past few weeks, we have been delighted to welcome parents to our Parent Connect series: an opportunity to share our educational approach in greater depth and further strengthen the partnership between school and home.

In our last two sessions, we explored what it truly means to be a British prep school in Tokyo, delving into our prep-school ethos, our curriculum design, and our move away from 1:1 devices in the classroom.

Parents were also invited to share their views and ask questions, and engage in open conversation with Ms Fletcher, a reminder that learning thrives best when school and families work together.

Thank you to all parents who joined us; we look forward to continuing these valuable discussions throughout the year.

Our Dance Studio was filled with poise and excitement last Friday as our younger Phoenixes took to the floor for their Ballet Showcase.

Each week, we are privileged to welcome the professional teachers from the Ballet Garden into Phoenix House. Their expertise, careful guidance, and high expectations offer our pupils a glimpse into the discipline and classical elegance at the heart of traditional ballet, and we are fortunate to have such exceptional tuition right here in the heart of Tokyo.

For many pupils, this term marked their very first steps into the world of ballet. Watching them share their learning with such confidence, joy, and composure was a true delight.