Homecoming Highlights

It was an unforgettable wave of Dragon Spirit that swept across Jakarta and Bali this summer with our epic gathering of more than 550 Dragons spanning six decades!

The JIS 75 Alumni Homecoming brought together former classmates, friends, and fellow Dragons who hadn’t seen one another in years... and in some cases, decades! It was a chance to reconnect, catch up on where life has taken them, and reminisce about the shared experiences that first brought them together.

A series of four events over five days, including campus tours, museum culture, dancing the night away, and community service, our Dragons joyfully returned to their roots.

For those who attended the Jakarta portion of the event, there was something especially meaningful about coming together where it all began — walking the school's open-air hallways, seeing the familiar hexagonal modules, and returning to the spaces where friendships first took root and blossomed. Some were struck by just how much had changed since they were last there.

“The school is almost unrecognizable,” observed Chi-Won Yoon (Class of 1978). But amid all the changes, he added, something felt remarkably familiar. “What’s interesting is that the spirit of this place is very familiar — and that is very special. The spirit of JIS lives on.”

Pam Enriquez (Class of 1974) echoed his sentiments, adding that the spirit of JIS is rooted in the community itself: “JIS is about family; it’s about us being so diverse, about [being] a Dragon, together, no matter what year you graduated.”

And while the campuses may have changed dramatically since Pam’s and Chi-Won’s school days, they can still feel the sense of being part of something bigger.

“It’s so special that the Dragon Spirit is alive and well,” Pam said. “I feel very privileged to be back — it’s very different! The school is just amazing.”

For Brad Glazier (Class of 1992), the Homecoming brought a rush of emotion: “I can’t even put words to it. It’s so amazing to be back on campus, and it’s been amazing just to be back in Jakarta.”

Looking back, he sees friendship as one of the most lasting gifts of his JIS experience, but he also values the moments spent in those iconic Hexagonal classrooms.

“The ability to create that close bond and lasting friendships was an amazing experience,” he said. “Going to school here, being educated here had a huge impact on my academic career. Still to this day, I’m thankful to have had that experience.”

Zeny Kim (Class of 2017), who still cherishes the time she spent at Pondok Indah Elementary (PIE) as a second- and third-grader, was delighted and "so happy" by the changes she saw. The Homecoming brought back treasured memories of growing up at JIS with the freedom to explore.

"As a child, I swam and ran, did gymnastics, took art and magician classes, and I also did a lot of music," she recalled. "Everybody was so supportive! That has allowed me to become a creative adult."

For those who continued on to Bali or joined the celebration there, the Homecoming offered a long-awaited opportunity to reconnect with Indonesia, their home away from home.

Experiencing the island's culture and beauty emphasized the unique perspectives alumni fostered at JIS, where our friendships were only strengthened by our diverse backgrounds.

We were spoiled to start the Bali events at the stunning SAKA Museum, a UNESCO-celebrated museum of Balinese heritage, where we were hosted by the generosity of the Suliawan Dragon family at their beautiful Ayana resort. An evening of canapés in the museum garden after a private tour of the spectacular museum was the perfect mix of learning and laughter to kick off our island program!

The following night, a Dragon from the Class of 1990 was our party architect! 

Tina Ardie and her crew from ProMotion Events delivered the party from the decades, including a special stage set with Dragons joining the local band to play dance classics through the ages.

Also at The Birthday Party, Alumni enjoyed the premiere of our 75th Birthday film — The JIS Story — and throughout the night giant screens played photo highlights from every decade, featuring every Birthday Dragon attending!

You can enjoy those Decade Birthday Slideshows in our Decade Clubs.

Finally, remaining true to the JIS Tolong Anak Anak spirit of service, we closed the monumental weekend with a beach clean-up service afternoon supporting local charity and campaigning group Malu Dong to raise awareness around responsible tourism and waste management.

In addition to the official events, many Dragons took the opportunity to extend their holidays together and went on to explore other favorite spots on the archipelago.

Throughout the multiple celebrations, there was a strong theme weaving all the Dragon stories together - a connected experience at JIS.

Purnima Kine (Class of 1992) summed it up perfectly when she explained what being a Dragon means to her: “It means that you’re a person of the world; that you’re open-minded. You walk out of this school knowing how to make connections — I think that’s the biggest power of JIS.”

Experience a taste of the Homecoming magic, or relive your Homecoming memories, by visiting the Dragon Galleries, where you’ll find photos from all the celebrations across Jakarta and Bali!