Annual Fund
Annual Fund
THE BST JOURNEY SO FAR
We have embarked upon a bold and
Since The British School in Tokyo was founded as a non-profit organisation in 1989, it has continually grown and flourished, with a commitment to excellence – delivering education founded in the English National Curriculum, and embracing all that our uniquely international and Japanese setting provides.
At the heart of this vision and plan is our aim to provide innovative and wideranging curricular and extracurricular programmes for our students while amplifying our reputation as a progressive school committed to excellence.
Starting with three classes for children aged four to six years old, BST now provides world-class education to over 1000 students representing over 60 nationalities in our two campuses within Tokyo. BST developed a reputation as one of the best international schools in Japan, and its students transfer to leading universities around the world. BST is now at a point where it has an opportunity to move forward in new and exciting directions that will provide its students with transformative learning experiences. We would invite you to be part of this exciting development.
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE Our school’s mission is to nurture each student’s unique potential and strive to help them create a strong sense of self, built around purpose and passion.
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ambitious agenda detailed in our Strategic Vision and Plan to fulfil our mission.
We seek to harness our community’s passion, expertise and energy to ensure sustained excellence and achieve an enhanced experience for our students. Equally, we recognise that new opportunities that challenge, inspire and empower our students will require extra financial support from the BST community and beyond. Tuition fees alone cover only part of our plans and will not achieve our priorities within the desired timeframe. As such, the school’s new Annual Fund will be crucial in helping to support our bold developmental agenda and fully realise our ideas for different student experiences. Whether a new or long-standing member of the BST community, we welcome your support and encourage you to contribute to the Annual Fund. Whether large or small, your donation will make a real difference and have a direct and immediate impact on the education we can provide.
Annual Fund
THE AIM OF THE ANNUAL FUND Through your generosity, the Annual Fund will assist in supporting: •
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Enrichment and challenge opportunities for students as part of our curricular and extracurricular programmes; Multi-purpose learning spaces and additional technology for learning; School-to-school partnerships that develop student leadership and agency; Students’ personal passions and interests through study of short courses and mini-qualifications in areas beyond the taught curriculum; Opportunities for students to devise and implement legacy projects with a tangible impact for the school community; Support for staff through research, training and development opportunities within the broader international educational community – networks such FOBISIA, COBIS and CIS; and Development of partnerships with businesses and other educational organisations to enrich programmes provided by the school.
Contributing to the school’s Annual Fund will enable the entire community to participate in our thrilling journey and ensure our ambitious vision is realised. Fundamentally, it will assist the school in providing a stellar range of opportunities for students of all ages, thus accentuating their experience of the “BST Difference”. I look forward to welcoming you to the school campus later in the year to celebrate the impact of your donations on student experiences through the Annual Fund, and demonstrate how much they are appreciated.
Paul Tough Principal
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Annual Fund
2021 ANNUAL FUND PROJECT Students, staff, and parents will be encouraged to propose innovative, creative, and exhilarating project ideas supported by the Annual Fund. Through these projects, BST aims to develop attributes and skills associated with the BST Learner Profile. It will also develop students’ awareness of real-world experiences linked to sustainability, leadership, service and entrepreneurship. Already, students and staff have brainstormed a fantastic array of projects which will be implemented in the 2021 academic year, and have progressed to the planning stage. As a result, members of the Annual Fund’s Allocation Committee are looking forward to receiving a range of proposals. These include: •
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Organising a literary festival, which will expose students to authors and publishers, inspire debate and critical thinking, and enhance our literary curriculum; Inviting an ‘artist in residence’ to support and inspire students throughout the school; Designing and creating a water recycling system for our Early Years outdoor play area that reduces wastage and excessive water usage;
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Designing and manufacturing efficient and plastic-free storage systems for items of technology used in primary learning technology and computer science lessons; Developing and implementing of “BST GLOBAL”, a bespoke online curriculum taught by BST students at our partner schools in Nepal and Cambodia via infrastructure organised through a BST initiative with United World Schools and the Internet Association; Designing and resourcing a multipurpose learning space at the Showa campus - the Discovery and Design Lab: an area that will inspire students to explore realworld challenges using problemsolving, critical thinking and collaboration skills.
Annual Fund
THE ANNUAL FUND - HOW WILL IT WORK The inaugural BST Annual Fund will run from 2nd November 2021 to 18th February 2022. Teachers, students and parents will be invited to submit ideas and projects for investment from the BST Annual Fund throughout the academic year.
The Annual Fund exists exclusively to enhance learning experiences and provide to all the school’s students additional highly motivating opportunities that could not otherwise be funded. Funding proposals will be submitted to the Annual Fund Allocation Committee. The Committee will be comprised of the Principal, Bursar, Teacher Representatives, Trustees’ Development Committee Representative and our Head Students.
Fundraising will take many forms. BST’s Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is joining with the school’s Development Committee to arrange events and support projects that resonate with their ambitions and priorities. To celebrate the launch of the Annual Fund, the PTA will host a dinner event on 9th December 2021 with all profits going towards the fund. We will also reach out to the broader community, including alumni and school partners, to seek support and gifts for our Annual Fund. However, the most significant impact will come from the philanthropic participation of our current school parent community, staff, and other school friends. Each year we will report back to BST families, the wider community, and all our donors, showcasing how gifts to the Annual Fund are making a real and vital difference to the school, and an immediate impact on our students.
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Annual Fund
INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE BST’s 2021 Annual Fund’s active campaign runs from 2nd November 2021 to 18th February 2022, but gifts are gratefully welcomed and received at any time of the year. You are invited to support the first BST Annual Fund, affording the school additional vital resources to achieve excellence and help deliver the school’s ambitious long-term vision. BST encourages everyone to participate, to the best of their capabilities. Donations are voluntary and at the discretion of each family or individual. Every gift helps!
SOME PRACTICAL QUESTIONS How are contributions to the Annual Fund spent? All contributions will be applied to projects and initiatives carefully selected to enhance the BST curriculum for students from Nursery to Y13, and to provide the best possible opportunities for our children.
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The Annual Fund is not used for capital improvements or operating expenses, and is intended to be used within approximately one year. At the time of donation, you may also elect to make the gift towards our bursary programme, enabling BST education to be provided to those who otherwise would be unable to join the school. Who will know that I have donated? The school will celebrate our community philanthropy in an annual publication. However, BST fully respects privacy, and you can elect to be included by name, anonymously, or not mentioned at all. What are the typical donor brackets? To guide gift levels, we are introducing donation brackets. These are for your convenience only, and the school equally values and celebrates gifts of any amount and any size.
Annual Fund
LEVELS OF GIVING (INDIVIDUALS) The Principal’s Circle
¥1,000,000 and over
Founders’ Circle
¥500,000 - ¥999,999
Leaders’ Circle
¥250,000 - ¥499,999
Patrons ¥100,000 - ¥249,999 Benefactors
¥30,000 - ¥99,999
Friends of BST
Up to ¥29,999
WAYS TO GIVE BST can accept donations by credit/ debit card online or by bank transfer. For both, please access our BST Giving web page at: www.bst.ac.jp/giving-to-bst
Alternatively, we welcome your donor enquiry by email: devt-off@bst.ac.jp
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www.bst.ac.jp