A warm and hearty welcome to you from all of us in the MEES community!
As a firm believer that there is no single educational approach that works for all children, it has been my life’s ambition to create a school which truly puts the child at the center. Children are instinctual learners who, with no external interference, become independent thinkers. Thus, when included in the design of their own learning, what is learned becomes meaningful and enhances their enthusiasm and enjoyment. We aim to nurture their passion for learning in a dynamic and fluid environment and to guide them in their ownership of it.
Today’s world presents ever-changing challenges and, at the same time, ever-increasing opportunities. Having researched the world’s most innovative approaches to educational techniques and having applied aspects of a variety of well-respected and proven educational systems for learning, MEES offers a unique educational platform. MEES fosters students’ growth through authentic experiences and projects that grow agency, self-advocacy and a love of learning while allowing us all to constantly improve, change and grow alongside our students.
We are looking forward to welcoming your child and your family to the MEES community.
Euft van den Berg
Head of School / founder of MEES
MEES is child-centered. When a child is entrusted to take ownership over his/her own learning, the child is more invested and what is learned has real meaning to the child. We believe that when a child chooses an activity him/herself, that child more likely learns faster, as it comes from his or her own initiative.
With the focus on independence, creativity, problem solving, communication, collaboration and confidence-building, we want the children to enjoy coming to a fun and comfortable environment. By planting the seed for a love of learning, we hope that your child will stay curious and able to face new challenges.
Through peer interaction, developing social skills is an important part of a young child’s life. At MEES we think that every child is different. Therefore we avoid competition between children. We like to teach the children to respect the differences in each other and praise what is done well. This is how we build confidence at an early stage in a young child. A confident child will excel in what he/she is good at, and will do better in what is more challenging.
We believe that a young child should enjoy going to school, free from the pressure to perform or the fear of failure, and not in competition with peers. Confidence and the ability to challenge difficult situations are far more important than test results.
The acquisition of knowledge is far more effective when driven by interest rather than forced onto a child. A young child is never wrong, but rather, exploring the possibilities.
Euft, a Dutch educator, artist, and the founder of MEES, has a unique vision for the school. His childhood experiences in a Montessori school in the Netherlands inspired him to create a school that provides opportunities for students to acquire more in-depth knowledge through actively exploring real-world challenges. Euft's life ambition has been to create a school that genuinely puts the child at the center. He has established a school that fosters students' growth through authentic experiences and projects that grow agency, self-advocacy and a love of learning while allowing us all to improve, change and grow alongside our students constantly.
Brian is a professional teacher from San Diego, California, specializing in mathematics education and project-based learning. He graduated from High Tech High, an innovative school that brought project-based learning to the forefront of the education landscape in California. Brian advises MEES on our project-based learning curriculum, teacher training, and mathematics education.
Richard is a U.K. chartered psychologist based in Tokyo. His roots are in progressive education and educational psychology. He is an experienced international school counsellor and teacher who runs North Tokyo Counselling, an English-speaking counselling practice in Tokyo. Richard provides guidance to MEES concerning school-wide well-being and child-centred education.
https://www.ntokyocounseling.com
Kaz is a Japanese education advisor with experience working with international schools, universities, and education corporations in Japan. With a background in banking, finance, and higher education management, he has sat on boards of directors for schools and universities in Tokyo and an education institution in Boston. Kaz will help guide MEES in good school governance, Japanese government regulations, and school promotion.
Mia is a dedicated science teacher and advocate for science education. She has experience as a science teacher, language support coordinator and vice-principal at international schools in Japan. Mia guides MEES on science education, English language learner inclusion, and professional development for teachers.
Kent is the principal of MEES Elementary School and currently serves as the chair of the MEES Board of Advisors. He has a background in education leadership, international school accreditation, and strategic planning. In addition to his responsibilities at MEES, Kent provides consulting services for universities in Japan and Hong Kong. He has previously worked as a teacher and principal at international schools in Japan.
We are happy to have Lucadeli catering to MEES. The food is 100% organic, caters to children with food restrictions and most of all tastes amazing!
It is included in the tuition as we believe it is important for children to learn about international tastes at a young age.
MEES Bus Service is available for Morning/Full day program and Afternoon Programs.
For more information about bus routes, please contact the school.
