About
YIS Then and Now
The Minister of Education, represented by the Indonesian Principal of Private Schools, officially opened Yogyakarta International School (YIS) on October 17, 1989.
YIS operates as a Yayasan (not for profit social foundation) and is overseen by a School Board made up of both parents and non-parents. YIS is a full member of the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS).
YIS was opened as a non-profit, independent, non-residential, non-sectarian elementary school in Pogong Baru. Instruction is in English based on a hybrid Australian/American curriculum and we currently include Grades K-8 for about 60 kids with eight teachers, four of whom are expatriates.
YIS is on the threshold of a whole new existence. We have a new campus! YIS had 19 years operation at the old site – three converted houses and a couple of empty lots as a car park and a sports field. Now we have nearly everything we need and we start the 2008/9 school year at a purpose built and renovated new site. The YIS board has worked hard at this. The site used to be an agricultural college undergoing lean times, We’ve leased half their grounds and a school has emerged from their dilapidated buildings.
The new site has several big advantages:
Great classrooms! They used to house 100+ adult learners in rows of desks so our classes of fifteen have room to swing several cats. We also now have a science lab, purpose built music and art centers and a computer room/library. Excitement is high, we’re not a “mom and pop” school any longer. With a good reputation, room to grow and an excellent new location we expect we’ll be attracting more students. Time will tell.
Security: In these security conscious times the Board has been able to start afresh with a security system that is well thought out and easily implemented. Cars and motorbikes do not have access to the grounds at all, and pedestrian access will be closely monitored. Strangers will never be on site as a single guarded gate requires all visitors to identify themselves. Classrooms and play areas are both away from the roadside walls. Parents should feel secure leaving their children with us.
Trees: This was an agricultural college. The garden abounds with mature and fruiting mango, cocoa, star fruit and other trees carefully protected during the renovation. Fresh picked mangoes for recess…
Location: only ten minutes to the centre of town along Jalan Magelang and within the ring road. Little traffic passes our road. It’s quiet, peaceful, almost rural.
