Ikego ES History
Opened: 1998
OPEN
Ikego Elementary School opened in August 1998. The original school was located in the Ikego Housing Area in Zushi, Japan. The school opened with students in Preschool, Sure Start, kindergarten, and grades one through three. By the 2000-01 school year, there were about 580 students in the school. All students who attend the school walk to school.
For the 2006-07 school year, the school received a Tori Gate school sign. The Japanese believe that the Tori gate stands for walking through heaven’s gate.
The school colors are green and white, and students are the Fireflies. The school mascot is Freddy the Firefly. The school motto is “Ikego Fireflies lighting the way to the future”. The school pledge is “We, the students of Ikego Elementary School, care about our education, environment, and each other. We are courteous to our American and Japanese staff workers and neighbors. We are considerate of others and use our common sense for problem solving. Through daily cooperation, we are all members of the Ikego Spirit Team!”
The school has always interacted with the local culture and military community. Each grade level participates in annual field trips to local sites such as the Enoshima Aquarium, Children’s World, Kurihama, Flower World, Hamagin Space Science Center, Sankien Gardens, a Mochi Pounding Ceremony and a local sweet potato farm. Students also learn how to use the soroban in host nation classes and in an after-school club. The soroban is an abacus developed in Japan. It was derived from the Chinese suanpan and imported to Japan around 1600. Other host nation clubs included the origami club and the arts and crafts club. For several years, third graders participated in a partnership with students from Hisagi Elementary School. The military community volunteers in the school and students visit the local fleet, the U.S. Post Office, and participate in Fire Prevention Week with demonstrations from the local military fire department. Students go caroling on the ships in December.
The school has several events that are held annually. These include the Book Fair, the D.A.R.E. program, Read Across America, Dr. Suess Day, the 100th Day Celebration, the Character Parade, STEM night, Month of the Military Child and family evenings such as family math night and game night. The school has also held Block Parties and several cultural festivals.
Many different extracurricular activities have been offered for students. These have included extension of school curriculum activities such as band, chorus, science, literature, Spanish, and technology. Other clubs are designed to foster students’ interests such as sign language, spirit team, poetry, dance, speed stacking, storytelling, and robotics. Other activities included Safety Patrol, yearbook, chess, and calisthenics.
For the 2013-14 school year, the fourth grade was added to the school. The next year the school moved to its new building and the fifth grade was added.
The school’s enrollment was almost 600 students for the 2001-02 school year and dropped to about 300 by the 2008-09 school year. With the addition of the fourth and fifth grade, the enrollment was over 400 from 2014–2020. The current enrollment is approximately 330 students for PreK through fifth grade.
Administrators
1998-2002 – Frank Simone, principal and Ms. Blevins, assistant principal
2002-2005 – Jim Journey, principal and assistants Ms. Belvins (2002-03), Dr. Kathleen Stander (2003-04), Mr. Derr (2004-05)
2005-2008 – Walter Wilhoit
2008-2012 – Scott Finlay
2012-2014 – Valerie Rainey
2014-2015 – Jacqueline Ferguson
2015-2020 – Dr. Yarica
2020-2021 – Ms. Moore Robinson, acting principal and Mr. Kimmey, acting vice principal
2021-2024 – Ms. Mary Fisk
Information from school yearbooks and website