Ikego School History
There was much interest in building an elementary school in the Ikego Hills Housing Area. The Sullivans School on Yokosuka Navy Base was the largest elementary school in DoDDS with an enrollment approaching two thousand students. Military officials wanted to build a community school in Ikego and parents wanted to eliminate the long bus ride for their young children. However, the local residents of Zushi City had environmental concerns about the construction of the school. After many discussions and negotiations, a request for the establishment of a K-3 Grade school was submitted to Dr. Lillian Gonzalez, Director of DoDEA, by Dr. Nancy Bresell, Pacific Area Superintendent on January 9, 1998. Dr. Gonzalez approved the request on March 17, 1998 and thus a school was born.
Ground was broken on May 8, 1998, beginning the construction of the new school. The Kohri Construction Company completed the temporary, two building school in a record three months. The school officially opened on Thursday, August 27, 1998 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The new staff now had five days (including the weekend) to ready the school for their students. Four hundred and fifty-two kindergarten - third grade students arrived on Monday, August 31, 1998 for their first day of school.
Dr. Midge Rach, Superintendent for DoDDS- Japan, challenged the students to officially name their new school. Students, parents, and community members began to submit suggestions. The 3rd Grade SPIRIT TEAM and the School Improvement Leadership Team (SILT) narrowed down the long list. The SPIRIT TEAM performed a play explaining the choices, the entire student body voted and the Ikego Elementary School became the children's choice. They also chose the school colors (green and white) and mascot (Firefly).
An official school naming ceremony took place on Monday, June 7, 1999. A Tori Gate revealing the name of the school was unveiled at the ceremony which was attended by the students, staff, parents, military community and honored host nation guests
Ikego Hills Housing Area is approximately 8 kilometers from Yokosuka Naval Base. There are approximately 850 families living in this housing area. We offer services to approximately 300 students from Preschool to Third Grade.
The school officially opened in August of 1998 in two temporary buildings. We have grown now and added a third building. While we are confined by the space we have available, we are proud of the comprehensive services we have available for our students.
Ikego offers a preschool for children with disabilities, compensatory education, counseling services, special education services, and English as a second language services. In addition to these unique services we currently offer Physical Education, Art, Music, and Host Nation classes instructed by specialists in those fields. Starting school year 2005-2006, Ikego has its first SureStart program.
We at Ikego Elementary feel very fortunate to be located in such a supportive community. On any given day members of the community are seen visiting the school to offer assistance in one form or another. The teaching staff is diverse in their backgrounds and training, but are all focused on providing developmentally appropriate and challenging activities to all students.