Welcome “Home”

What does “home” mean in a constantly changing world? 

How do we create belonging in an international community where faculty, staff, and families come from diverse backgrounds and experiences? To kick off the new school year, our team participated in a workshop exercise discussing these questions, celebrating the rich perspectives and unique backgrounds that make MST such a special international community. The words that defined “home” for our staff – belonging, trust, love, familiarity, communication, security, and comfort– beautifully capture the essence of what we strive to create at MST every day. 

In an ever-changing world, creating prepared environments where children and adolescents feel at home is crucial. The faculty discussed their methods of creating flexible spaces where students can be themselves, building strong interpersonal relationships based on genuine care, maintaining our welcoming atmosphere where collaboration thrives over competition, and ensuring students feel safe and valued. We are so excited to welcome everyone “home” to MST for another school year!

Exciting Updates on Our Upper Secondary Program

I’m thrilled to introduce myself as MST’s Upper Secondary Development Coordinator and share updates about our high school program! 

Our vision is coming to life: an Upper Secondary program rooted in Tokyo’s international community where our high school students engage in authentic adult-level work bridging local Japanese cultural immersion with global citizenship development. Through meaningful partnerships, residential experiences, and entrepreneurial ventures, students will develop the resilience, cultural competence, and collaborative skills essential for navigating an interconnected world. 

During the keynote, our faculty began the process of co-creating our Pathway of a Learner (the essential experiences that we want our high schoolers to have) and our Vision for Human Potential (the qualities of character our graduates should embody), identifying big ideas like community-embedded engagement, authentic citizenship, creative changemaking, and developing resilient problem-solvers. Click here to read more about this process.

This collaborative design process will continue as we invite students and families to join us in shaping the Upper Secondary program together, ensuring it truly serves our community’s unique needs and aspirations.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Andrew Faulstich

Upper Secondary Development Coordinator