Our mission
Learning is a
joyful experience!
Brooklyn Aozora Gakuen is the only Japanese and English bilingual preschool in Brooklyn. We foster a caring and supportive multicultural learning environment in which children and families learn and grow. We believe that learning itself is a joyful experience, and that one’s intrinsic drive for learning is the key to their well-being and happiness. Therefore, we create a fun-filled experience through a play-based curriculum that nurtures the physical, social-emotional, and intellectual growth of each child. Our program promotes empathy, develops autonomy, fosters intrinsic-drive, and creates harmony between mind and body. We strive to help the children develop into responsible global citizens with a world perspective and cultural competence. We celebrate diversity while also cherishing the Japanese culture and community.
ブルックリンあおぞら学園は、ブルックリンで唯一の日英バイリンガルプリスクールです。子どもとそのまわりの大人が共に成長できる、温かくて思いやりのある多文化共生型の学び舎を目指しています。学びは楽しさにあふれた経験であるべきです。知りたい、学びたいという意欲は幸福感へつながるカギだと私たちは信じています。あおぞら学園は、「あそび」を基盤にしたカリキュラムを通して、子どもの身体・社会性・感情・知能などをバランスよく育む、「楽しい」がつまった学習体験を提供します。思いやりの心を育み、自主性や自律性を伸ばし、心身の健康を保っていくことを常に大切にしています。子どもたちは広い視野を持ち、多文化共生を当たり前のこととして受け止める「地球市民」へと成長していくことでしょう。私たちはコミュニティとして日本語や日本文化を慈しみつつ、同時に多様性も尊んでいます。
Miho Nishimaniwa
School Director / Founder
Aozora Programs
Preschool Program
Aozora’s preschool program is a play-based and bilingual (Japanese and English) program for children ages 2 year to 5 years old.
After School Program
Aozora offers a wide variety of classes for the preschool age children to school age children. All of our After School Classes are held in Japanese and open to the children who are not enrolled in our Preschool Program as well.
Saturday Programs
Aozora's Saturday Programs include classes for a wider range age group: a class for preschool age children, another class for the Kindergarteners to 2nd graders, and a playgroup for 0 to 2 years old.
Camps
Aozora Gakuen offers Summer Camp in July and August, Mid Winter Break Camp in February and Spring Break Camp in April.
Teachers
All of our teachers and staff members at Aozora Gakuen are committed to serving the children, families and the community of Aozora Gakuen. They bring a wide range of talent and skills to the classroom.
Preschool Program Teachers
Anya Baugh
Asako Ito
Ema Sato-Warga
Eri Tiburcio
Hikaru Bana
Megumi Heaton
Mikowa Suzuki
Rie Nishimura
Tabatha Johnston
Taisan Tanaka
Tomoko Tanaka
Yuki Yamauchi
After School Program Teachers
Asako Ito
Etsuko Tajima
Hiromi Baba
Kenichi Nakajima
Misaki Hayama
Taisan Tanaka
Saturday Program and Adult Program Teachers
Asako Ito
Hiromi Baba
Hikaru Baba
Maiko Kaneko-Wolfe
Sachiko Brioso
Yoko Sheridan
Admin Team
The administrative team consists of five directors. School Director, Early Childhood Education Director, Japanese Language Education Director, Development and Program Director, and Operations Director.
Miho Nishimaniwa
School Director
Saori Tsuji
Early Childhood Education Director
Sachiko Brioso
Japanese Language Education Director
Erin Kaplan
Development and Program Director
Atsuko Nakajima-Healy
Operations Director