Okinawa Christian School International

Okinawa Christian School International

Okinawa Christian School International (OCSI) is a private Christian school located on the island of Okinawa, Japan. OCSI was established in 1957 in order to provide an English-language K-12 education for the children of American missionaries. During the first year, Mrs. Esther Austin taught a class of 11 children in an unused building at the Far East Broadcasting Network's facility in Chatan. The purpose of the school was broadened to include children of non-Christian and non-church-affiliated families in the first few years. The school eventually moved into a more permanent facility on present-day Camp Lester (then called Camp Kuwae) consisting of two Quonset huts. Looking to the future, OCSI purchased land on "Hacksaw Ridge" in Urasoe City, a site of fierce fighting during the Battle of Okinawa in WWII. By 1965 students moved into a new, larger school facility. Shortly after this expansion OCSI celebrated its first commencement when the graduating class of 1969 received their high school diplomas.

By 1986, OCSI was looking to expand again and by 1996 a new campus overlooking the East China Sea in Yomitan Village was purchased. OCSI began classes in the new facility in the 1996-1997 school year. OCSI currently has 368 students (SY 2007-08) served by a faculty of missionary teachers (28) and office staff (15). OCSI has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) since 1981, and by the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) since 1992. OCSI graduates are also allowed by the Japan Ministry of Education (MEXT) to sit for Japanese university entrance exams. OCSI teaches in the English language and provides English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) support for students from homes where the primary language is Japanese.[1]

Contents

Academics

OCSI uses a curriculum based on the American model and informed by the school's Christian philosophy of education. The course sequence and content is very similar to U.S. schools. For secondary students a special term in January (called "J-Term") is offered which provides students the opportunity to take additional classes. Classes offered during the January 2008 J-Term included:

  • Health
  • Home economics
  • Art
  • Drama
  • Woodshop
  • Keyboarding

Athletics

OCSI's mascot is the Crusader and the school colors are white, red, and black. OCSI has a full-size gym with a newly remodeled fitness center. Next to the gym is a full size soccer field. OCSI competes in the following sports:

  • Girls volleyball
  • Boys & girls basketball
  • Boys wrestling
  • Boys & girls soccer

References

  1. ^ Freely available information on school website

External links

Coordinates: 26°23′49″N 127°43′48″E / 26.39694°N 127.73°E / 26.39694; 127.73


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