Kinser ES History
Opened: 1987
OPEN
Kinser Elementary opened to students on April 22, 1987, after moving from Makiminato Elementary School during the spring break. The initial enrollment at the first school was 325. The Makiminato Housing Area was closed, and the real estate turned over to the Japanese Government. Kinser Elementary (PSCD, Sure Start, and K-6) is located on Camp Kinser. The school is located on the beautiful island of Okinawa, a prefecture of Japan. “Kinser by the sea” overlooks the East China Sea. Five additions to the original complex were completed, as well as a softball field, soccer field, basketball court, and gymnasium/auditorium. The original school colors were blue, green, and yellow, representing the beautiful ocean and warm sun. The mascot is The Clipper, taken from the shipwreck affectionately called “The Clipper” that was just off the coast behind the school. It had run aground during typhoon evacuations in 1986 and was removed in 2006.
In its first year, the new school had 500 in kindergarten through sixth grade. The school was a brand-new, two-story building with twenty-one regular classrooms and two kindergarten rooms. Staff specialists included teachers for communication impaired, learning impaired, Japanese culture, nurse, counselor, reading improvement specialist, compensatory education, media specialist, art, physical education, and music.
Terry Richard, the principal since the school opened in 1987, was honored as a National Distinguished Principal for 1993.
Within two years, the enrollment had increased to 800 students. By the mid-nineties, the school became a kindergarten through grade five school, and the enrollment for the 1993-94 school year was 775 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. In the 1995-96 school year, the enrollment was approximately 850. Sure Start was added to the school that year.
According to the school’s website, Kinser is a POSITIVE ACTION school guided by the theme "Where Every Student Succeeds, Having Fun Learning". Some of the activities available to students in the nineties were Young Astronauts, Math Magicians, Joggers, Computer Bytes, Space Invaders, band, and safety patrol. The Kinser Kids Network produced and presented the morning announcements. Other extracurricular clubs included the drama club, beach and reef club, sign language club, Spanish club, multicultural club, newspaper, and a fitness club.
For the 2023-24 school year the principal was Lucille Sutherland and the school had 225 students in prekindergarten, Sure Start, and kindergarten through fifth grade.
The school colors are blue and yellow, and the mascot is The Clipper.
Information from a dissertation by Harold Clifford Brown, 1981; DoDDS School Information guides; yearbooks and the school website; Zimmerman, Fred. “Despite namesake’s removal, Kinser Clippers stay on course.” Stars and Stripes, 3 May 2006, www.stripes.com/news/despite-namesake-s-removal-kinser-clippers-stay-on-course-1.48510, 7 November 2023