On the final Saturday of May, the NIS community gathered to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2026. Families filled the gym, friends and staff came together to honor the graduates, and loved ones from around the world joined via livestream to witness an important milestone in the lives of 32 students representing 12 different countries.
As with every graduation, there were traditions. The procession of graduates. The turning of tassels. The presentation of diplomas.
This year brought a few firsts as well. Graduates wore stoles that reflected the length of their journey at NIS. Marked with Roman numerals, the stoles told a story that was unique to each student. Some wore an IV, signifying that they had been part of the NIS community since the Early Learning Center. Others wore III, II, or I, reflecting journeys that began in Elementary, Middle, or High School.
Looking across the graduating class, the stoles were a reminder that there is no single NIS experience. Some students have spent nearly their entire lives here. Others joined later, arriving from different schools, countries, and circumstances. Yet on graduation day, all of those different paths converged on the same stage.
What became clear throughout the ceremony was that while the graduates' journeys may have differed, common threads ran through their experiences.
Those threads emerged most clearly in the speeches given by Salutatorians Megu Matsuda and Taichi Sato and Valedictorians Yeonwoo Cha and Arisa Kaitlyn King. Each student reflected on one of the core values that define life at NIS: belonging, growth, responsibility, and safety.
Individually, their stories were deeply personal. One reflected on finally finding a place to belong after years of being the "new kid." Another spoke about how growth shaped both academic challenges and personal development. Responsibility was reimagined as the ability to respond thoughtfully to the world around us. Safety was described not simply as protection, but as the freedom to be yourself, to share your opinions, and to feel accepted for who you are. Together, their speeches painted a powerful picture of what an NIS education can mean.
The students spoke from different perspectives and experiences, yet their messages complemented one another in remarkable ways. They described a school where relationships matter, where growth is expected, where students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning, and where young people feel supported as they discover who they are becoming. Those themes echoed throughout the ceremony.
Chosen by the graduates themselves to serve as commencement speaker, Secondary Individuals and Societies teacher Mike Chartier reflected on the qualities that defined this class. As their economics teacher and Extended Essay advisor, he had seen firsthand their curiosity, efficiency, dedication, and willingness to support one another. He spoke about a group that consistently rose to challenges while maintaining a strong sense of community.
That sense of community was visible throughout the event. Homeroom teachers introduced each graduate with personal reflections, memories, and words of encouragement. Their remarks reminded everyone that behind each diploma is a unique story, shaped by years of learning, relationships, growth, and dreams.
The class theme, "Now or Never," also featured prominently throughout the ceremony. As Head of School, Matthew Parr reflected in his remarks that the phrase is not really about urgency. Rather, it is about being willing to take the first step. To ask the question. To try something new. To embrace an opportunity before knowing exactly where it might lead.
Looking at the Class of 2026, it was easy to see why that message resonated. Throughout their time at NIS, these students demonstrated a willingness to take chances, pursue ambitious goals, and create opportunities for themselves and others. They understood that meaningful journeys begin not with certainty, but with action. None demonstrated this more than the task of some students to create a school-wide orchestra, which began with a single passion: to play music together as a school community.
There were also moments during the ceremony that reflected the broader NIS community. Outgoing Board Chair Michel Weenick was recognized for his 17 years of service to the school. In a touching tribute, Student Council President Maya Bashore presented him with a commemorative stole in recognition of his years of dedication to NIS. It was a fitting acknowledgment of someone whose leadership helped shape the school that today's graduates experience. As a poignant reminder, the ceremony was held for the first time in a newly renovated, air-conditioned gymnasium!
For some graduates, the ceremony marked the end of more than a decade at NIS. For others, their time here was shorter. Regardless of when their journey began, they leave carrying the same values that were so prominent throughout the ceremony: belonging, growth, responsibility, and safety.
Now, they head in new directions. Universities and opportunities await across Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Europe, and beyond. While their paths will once again diverge, for one last afternoon, they stood together as the Class of 2026 — a group of learners whose individual journeys came together to form something greater than the sum of their parts. And their experiences and memories will always be a special bond.
We are proud of each of you and all that you have accomplished, grateful for all that you have contributed to our community, and excited to see where your next steps will lead.
