ISF's Newsletter - Winter Edition 2019

eISF

The Newsletter of the International School of Florence

January 2019 - Winter Edition

HEAD OF SCHOOL MESSAGE Dear ISF Community, Welcome to 2019 and a year that is likely to prove critical to the long-term future of the school. As we embark on our new Strategic Plan and begin our Accreditation process, the next few months will allow us to reflect on the fundamentals of our identity, purpose and ambition, set our direction for the future and then have our plans externally tested and validated. This is a comprehensive school improvement process that will allow all of us to shape the future of ISF and position ourselves as leaders in international education.

The health and effectiveness of any strategic or accreditation process is dependent on the quality of consultation and participation, and I would like to extend an open invitation to you all to take part in the forthcoming series of workshops, task-force and steering group meetings that will take place in the next few months. I will be writing to you very shortly to give you precise dates and needs, but I do hope you can give of your time and expertise.

I hope, like me, you are looking forward to an exciting and rewarding year.

Simon Murray – Head of School

From the School Board Dear ISF Parents, The Board of Directors will be involved in a number of strategic initiatives in the near future. The strategic planning process kicked off in the month of November with a preliminary meeting, facilitated by ISF’s external consultant for strategic planning, Mrs. Adele Hodgson. The process will resume after the Holiday break and extend until the month of May, when the new Strategic Plan will be finalized and presented to the Community. The Board will be actively participating in the Strategic Planning Task Force with its Strategic Planning Committee, which includes Marco Uzielli, Paola Pulidori, Kristin Krebs-Dick, Silvia Quiroga and Cathleen Compton.

Another significant internal Board process is the re-definition of Board committee names and task descriptions. The purpose of this process is to harmonize the committee structure of the ISF Board with best-practice Board structures in the universe of international schools, with the development of the school’s organizational structure and with criteria and requirements of the Council of International Schools. Mrs. Hodgson will be assisting the Board in this important process, which will include the revision of task descriptions, committee-level thematic training and the optimization of Board functioning in terms of inter-committee operations and workflows. The first step of the process has led to the following set of revised committee names: Executive, Governance, Strategic Planning, Finance and Risk Management, Advancement, and Learning Environment.

In the month of January, the Board will start its work in view of the Preliminary Accreditation Visit by the Council of International Schools. The reference person for this important project is Kristin Krebs-Dick.

The Board is also participating in the Think Tank process, an exciting, participatory effort which aims to revise, improve and create the educational offer and the identity itself of ISF. The campus relocation project is always ongoing, and the Board is working in unison, through the new Learning Environment Committee chaired by Cathleen Compton, with the Head of School, Mr. Simon Murray, and the Operation and Business Manager, Mr. Lorenzo Ricci, on the options which are currently on the table and on searching for potential new options.

The 2018-2019 school year has started out with lots of exciting and intense work, and the Board is proud to serve for the continuous growth of our school.

Very best wishes, the Board of Directors

Learning Outside Of The Classroom JUNIOR SCHOOL PALAZZO DAVANZATI As part of their first Unit of Inquiry, “Who We Are,” students investigated the central idea, Homes reflect personal and cultural identities. Grade 2 went to Palazzo Davanzati to learn more about the people who lived there and Florentine culture. Its most important feature is the architectural structure that represents an interesting example of a 13th century home showing the transition stage from the medieval tower house to the Renaissance building.

IL POGGETTO CAMPING As Grade 3 started off the year on a very healthy note! For our first unit of inquiry “Who We Are” we focused on how the choices people make affect their health and well-being. We organized a field trip to Il Poggetto Camping where children were engaged in sports and games, yoga lessons and healthy snack-making activities to promote physical activity outdoors, emotional well being and healthy eating habits. The aim for this learning experience outside of school was for the children to see the benefits and enjoy a well balanced, fun-filled and healthy day!

VILLA LE TAVERNULE - PALAZZO STROZZI - VILLA LE CORTI - TOURNAMENT Throughout the first semester, Grade 4 has capitalized on the uniqueness of their Florentine environment by engaging in a variety of experiences outside the walls of Villa le Tavernule. As part of their unit “How We Express Ourselves”, the Grade 4 class visited the Marina Abramovic exhibit at Palazzo Strozzi, on October 18th. Prior to the visit, an instructor from the museum came to ISF to explore the idea of Art as an expression of truth, and how the rules that govern art differ from those of reality with a particular focus on how Marina Abramovic chose to express her truth through performance art. To further explore the idea of how culture is expressed, specifically Italian culture, on November 13, students toured the estate of Villa Le Corti in San Casciano to witness first-hand how olive oil is made, and enjoyed a taste of Italy at lunch after the demonstration. As part of the unit “Who We Are”, students competed alongside their peers from various Italian schools throughout Florence in the tournament entitled “I piu veloci, forti e Resistenti di Firenze” (the Strongest, Fastest and Most Resistant in Florence).

LEONARDO DA VINCI ART SCHOOL - TEATRO DEL MAGGIO - UFFIZI - PITTI PALACE SANTA CROCE As part of the unit “How We Express Ourselves”, under the central idea that ‘All art is created for a reason,’ Grade 5 students explored various art forms and worked in a studio over the course of three days. They learned techniques in drawing, water coloring, and sculpting followed by afternoon guided tours of the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace, and Santa Croce Church and Museum. With our music teacher, Tanja Kustrin, students went to an opera based on the fairytale Cinderella at the Teatro del Maggio Musical, Opera di Firenze. We have had the most amazingly rich experience with wonderful teachers and very experienced and knowledgeable guides. We are very lucky to be in Florence! In addition, we had a well known Florence artist, Andrea Martinelli, visit and he really inspired all students.

Learning Outside Of The Classroom UPPER SCHOOL SCIENCE FESTIVAL GENOVA Every year the grade 6 class takes part to the Science Festival in Genova. The Science Festival is a weeklong event that involves the whole city of Genova, hosting debates, conferences, exhibits and, more importantly, interactive labs and demonstration open to the general public. This time ISF students investigated high-speed chemical reactions, were able to explore the relationship between forces and movement using toy cars and leaf blowers, and finally learned about the cutting-edge genetic tools of CRISPS-Cas9. Massimo Boscherini, Science

UFFIZI Group 6a and 7a enjoyed a trip to the Uffizi as part of their first trimester rotation. We spent half of the time with a guide who showed us some of the Italian Renaissance highlights.

The other half of our time we spent looking at the work of contemporary Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang.

CASTELLO DI POPPIANO The Poppiano Castle was built during the Middle Ages and in 1199 the Gucciardini family, one of the most prominent Tuscan families, received the castle as an inheritance. It was built as a fortress and external defense of Florence. But, while it was owned by the Guicciardini family, it became a place for their thriving agricultural business. The Gucciardinis used the castle and its facilities to make wine and olive oil.

It is revealed through the letters between Isabella Sacchetti, Francesco Guicciardini‘s sister-in-law, that in the 15th and 16th centuries, olive harvesting and wine making were already one of the main family activities. After an earthquake struck in 1812, Ferdinando di Carlo Guicciardini rebuilt and renovated the castle by reclaiming land, improving wine cellars and the oil mill, and redecorating the castle in a neoGothic style. In 1962, hardships were experienced because sharecropping was coming to an end. Poppiano was able to remain relevant with state of the art processing facilities and crop specialization. Surrounded by vegetation and beautiful landscapes, Poppiano is well worth a visit. Nina, Charlotte & Elliot, Grade 8

ORATORIO SAN SEBASTIANO S.S. ANNUNZIATA Grade 10 students had the privilege of seeing the restoration in progress of the Oratorio San Sebastiano S.S.Annunziata chapel. Our neighbour to the art room is Ms Danielle Dini, an art restoration expert who is currently restoring the Pucci family chapel in the Oratorio and invited us to see her team's work. Students were able to see up close the frescoes and the mother of pearl decoration of the dome as well as the paintings. We heard about the painstaking process of restoring the chapel and the paintings that, like much of Florence, still carried damage from the flood of 1966.

CONTRA RADIO VISIT Our visit to Contraradio can be traced back to when we first created the idea of a school radio broadcast during a Pre-Cas session. The visit was with Nelson, Denzel, Nakai, and Jacob on Thursday, November 29th. The idea of the trip was to find out how a professional radio station runs and how it is structured to maintain the attention of an audience. With that in mind, we set out to the Controradio headquarters and met the head of the broadcast staff. He proceeded to show us the station and explain to us the history of Controradio’s upbringing and well as its modern workings.

We learned about radio scheduling and how to hold the attention of a wide audience while simultaneously broadcasting a specific message. Specifics include: when and what songs to play in correspondence to the time of day and weather. How to incorporate sponsorships without breaking the flow of the broadcast.

And finally, exactly how to schedule the radio broadcasts. Nelson Matos and Denzel Martinez, Grade 10

PALAZZO STROZZI On Thursday October 25, the Grade 11 Theory of Knowledge and the IB Art classes participated in a field trip to the Strozzi Museum. This retrospective exhibit of the seminal performance artist Marina Abramovic included a guided tour and a workshop on movement and expression. This was a rare opportunity to see first hand some of her pieces and tie them to the TOK curriculum.

Ms. Abramovic’s material regularly generates controversy. Her exhibits often contain nudity or implied violence. We knew ISF students commanded the maturity to make aesthetic associations and connect the material within a larger framework of art and expression. We were not disappointed.

During the times between tours and workshops students explored the exhibit in pairs to answer a reflective assignment on the experience. They were tasked with addressing questions such as: What knowledge of art can be gained by focusing on the viewer’s response? What if there was no audience? Can it be argued that art is brought into being only in the response of the audience, that a work is created anew each time it is viewed?

The experience was well received by students and teachers alike, and reminded us what a privilege it is to live in a city that provides this form of creative encounters. Praxedes Rivera, Librarian Upper School

Thanksgiving - Giving Back The Sant’Egidio Community is an international non-governmental organization that helps the less fortunate. To support this community, a few students organized a food drive for Thanksgiving as their CAS Extended Project, which is part of the IB requirements. They took the responsibility of assigning foods to each class, organizing donations, and motivating everyone to donate to a good cause. Various foods and objects such as blankets, shaving kits and other toiletries, were assigned to each grade in order for the collection of donations to be more effective. Posters were hung around the halls, announcements were made every morning and class-to-class speeches were made to promote the spirit of giving.

Although slow at the beginning, we were successfully able to fill the boxes with donations from all grades, including the faculty. Finally we rearranged the donations to make them easily transportable and loaded them into the pick up vehicle along with the representative from la Comunita di Sant’Egidio.

Everyone was happy to see such great results and the feeling of good spirit around the school and we would like to thank everybody who donated and helped out in this project. We are glad we were able to donate to the less fortunate and help make Thanksgiving Day a little better. Elda Pipa, Grade 12

To assist the food bank of the St. James Church in Florence, also the Junior School community collected donations during their Food Drive.

CAS - ANGELI PER UN GIORNO On Sunday the 16th of December 2018, I participated in "Angeli per un Giorno" with three other ISF students and Ms Vieillard, a wonderful experience which always enriches me and makes me feel grateful for all that I have. This time was different from the previous as the kids chose us, rather than you being appointed. It was definitely a new experience, and we were a bit scared that no child would choose us. However, in the end, I got the chance to spend my day with Francesca, a wonderful girl with whom I had a lot of fun. After the cinema there were activities organized at Spazio Reale. Francesca and I decided to take a seat and draw! She gave me such beautiful works of art!! In the afternoon, another girl needed her angel, so by the end of the day, I had taken care of two beautiful girls who I immediately loved from the bottom of my heart! This is such a wonderful experience that always teaches me a lot, and I will surely keep signing up for it as it makes me feel very happy and satisfied by the end of the day!

Francesca Cetta, Grade 12

Marta Cappelli Foundation The Marta Cappelli Foundation began in 2005, when at the age of nine months little Marta was admitted to hospital and died 4 days later. The cause of death is still unknown. Her mother and father, Benedetta and Leonardo, seeing the conditions at the hospital and the plight of parents who have to spend days at the intensive care unit, some of whom have to come from far and can not afford to take time off work, transportation or hotels in order to be near their children, decided to make a change. Benedetta became the “human side� of the intensive care unit. She would walk the boxes, comfort parents and work to bring real, concrete change, thus beginning the Marta Cappelli Foundation. Today, the foundation has five volunteers assuring a daily presence at the hospital. It also has a psychologist who is able to help families cope in a most difficult time of their lives. The volunteers can be a shoulder to cry on, and can provide practical help or financial support to the families, so that they can be with their children.

However, the foundation wants to go further. Renovation works at a building near the hospital begin early next year for the birth of Casa Marta: a hospice that will have 6 rooms, 1 to teach parents to look after a chronically sick child who no longer needs hospitalisation, but is too ill to go home; 4 rooms for respite care, giving parents a much needed break and housing children so that families can take time off daily care; and one apartment for a child at the end of their lives, where parents, grandparents, brothers, and sisters can be present for the final moments, in a warm and caring environment away from the confusion and busyness of a hospital.

How is ISF involved? Casa Marta is a pioneer in Florence and Tuscany, it will change the lives of countless families and our school can be a vital part in this important project. One big need for such a huge renovation is funding, but it also opens up many opportunities for students, parents, and staff to give back with their time, become involved with some hands on experiences, and serve the community they so love. The school will hold events for children who may have recently come out of hospital or are still in hospital, but are well enough to participate. There will be a number of fundraising events through the year and many ways which our community can help. For further information, please look at our website https://martacapelli.it.

Marta Cappelli Christmas Party Marta Cappelli is a foundation, created in memory of the founders’ daughter, Marta. A party was held at the upper school campus of ISF on December 8, in order to bring joy to patients from the Meyer Hospital, their siblings and parents. It was a wonderful experience that we organized as our Extended Project, and despite all the obstacles that we faced, the event turned out to be fabulous, the children and their families were able to relax and enjoy themselves for the afternoon.

There were many activities: painting and drawing, a musical corner, cookie decorating, face painting, origami, and a game of pass-the-parcel game, which every child enjoyed. Over 20 students offered their help for the event, and were able to give individual attention to each of our little visitors. Parents and teachers came to lend a hand and help the afternoon’s activities to run smoothly. Several students sang classical Christmas songs and played instruments, thus setting the right atmosphere for children, who were able to sing along and play the percussion instruments.

We would like to thank everybody who took part in the event and came to support the children. This experience helped us to realize how lucky we are with what we have, and that it is important to help people whenever possible. Varvara Slobodova, Zoe Genschel and Tommaso Pascucci, Grade 12

International ‘HOUR OF CODE’ Week December 3rd-7th was International "Hour of Code" Week! “The Hour of Code” is a global movement

by Computer Science Education Week and Code.org. It reaches tens of millions of students in 180+ countries, through a one-hour introduction to computer science and computer programming, and is a unique occasion for students to experience the world of coding.

ISF promotes coding activities with the aim of encouraging students to become curious, learn how to solve complex problems and to express themselves through creation.

In order to give all students from grade 1 to 5 the opportunity to practice at least one hour of coding, Ms. Tosatti, with the help of Ms. Ewing, organized a range of activities across the week. The Junior School computer lab was open for extra classes each morning, as well as after school on Tuesday 4th, giving students the opportunity to code and exercise computational-thinking skills through exploration and play.

Students enjoyed completing the variety of activities and coding challenges on offer and can’t wait for their next chance to become coders!

ISF vs ISM Tournament The annual Sports Tournament versus the International School of Milan was as always a huge success and great bonding experience with our partner school. It was very exciting for our students to travel to Milan and stay with the local student families.

Library News - JOLABOKAFLOD Families gathered after school at the JS library to continue the tradition of the Book Flood, Jolabokaflod. This wonderful Icelandic tradition invites families to collect the latest books and read together, all while savouring some sweet treats. ISF families showed their festive spirit by reading together and enjoying chocolate treats.

TedXYouth@ISF

This year's TEDxYouth@ISF event was held at the Auditorium al Duomo on the 24th of November. The theme, "New Frontiers," was chosen by the organizers to allow speakers to expand on their creativity and think "outside the box," venturing into as many frontiers as possible - the environment, medicine, social media, contemporary life, communication and so on. The event included talks ranging from selflove, to the healing potential of psychedelics, to the explorations of Mars. There were even 3 performances, which showcased the individual talents our school has to offer. Each talk was able, in its uniqueness, to inspire the audience, both young and old alike. Despite certain technical problems, the event was successful. In true TED spirit, it was a day filled with ideas worth sharing and new frontiers.

Maria Sole Franceschi, Grade 10

Julia Franks - Visiting Author During the week of November 19th ISF was delighted to host award-winning author Julia Franks. Ms. Franks interacted with both Middle and High School classes to share aspects related to the craft of writing. Most of the classes were run as workshops where students were engaged in creating ideas and structuring writing samples.

Julia Franks has roots in the Appalachian Mountains and has spent years kayaking the rivers and creeks of Tennessee, North Carolina, and West Virginia. She lives in Atlanta, where she teaches literature and runs loosecanon.com, a web service that fosters free-choice reading in the classroom.

UNIVERSITY VISITS This term we have had individual university visits from: University of British Columbia: St Andrews; New York University; Loyola Chicago; and Hult Business School. In addition, ISF hosted a College Fair in November attended by seventeen universities, including King's London, Trinity College Dublin, Sacred Heart University CT, John Cabot Rome and Temple University. In the final week of term we received a visit from a professor from Southampton University, who led a Physics session for our students.

It is pleasing to see that members of the 12th Grade are applying to universities in a wide range of countries: as well as the UK (including Oxford, UCL, Kings and Imperial), we have students applying to Ireland (including TCD), the Netherlands (including UCU, Leiden and Groningen), Canada (including UBC) and the USA (including several Ivies), Spain, and of course Italy. We wish all of our candidates every success.

TRICKS OF THE TRADE IN IB BIOLOGY Just before Christmas these grade 11 IB Biology students investigated metabolic reaction rates in yeast – the same yeast that bakers use to bake bread and brewers use to make beer. In fact, yeast are called lievito di birra in Italian.

How can you measure metabolic rates in a micro-organism? The students trapped the yeast cells in little gel spheres and then dropped the spheres into solutions containing hydrogen peroxide. The yeast contain an enzyme that breaks down the hydrogen peroxide into oxygen and water. The oxygen produced forms bubbles ... and the bubbles cause the yeast gel spheres to float to the top of the solution. The faster the oxygen production, the sooner the spheres float. Just time them with a stopwatch! In science we frequently have to use a “trick” like yeast ball float times to tell us what we want to know about cellular metabolism and other difficult-to-observe processes.

Bonus question: Can you identify the kingdom that yeast belong to? Check one: Animals

Plants

Fungi

Bacteria

WHAT IS MAP TESTING? MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) is a standardized test taken either 1, 2 or 3 times a year by all students from Foundation to Grade 10.

At the Junior School, students begin external assessment in the Spring of the Foundation year. We use the information gathered to identify individual and group strengths and weaknesses so that we can make program changes. We also use the information as data to inform our identification of students who would benefit from additional services. Students with demonstrated difficulties become eligible for additional classroom or reading intervention support. Students take MAP Growth – Reading and Math assessments in the autumn and spring each year as well as January for students who are receiving assistance in our Learning Support or Intervention programs.

Beginning in the spring of 2nd grade, all students add the MAP Growth – Language assessment to track growth in the mechanics of using English as the language of instruction. We also use several curriculum based and rubric based assessments to track student growth. Historically, MAP results have not been systematically shared with parents at the Junior School, but they are available for review with the teacher or the principal at any time.

At the Upper School, every Autumn all students from grade 6 to grade 9 sit the MAP test in Mathematics, Reading and Language Usage. Teachers use this data to see how their students have grown compared to the previous Autumn, when he or she last took the test. Whilst comparisons to norms (both from the United States and International) can be looked upon, teachers are analyzing the child’s growth. Children will grow at different rates and from differing starting positions.

In January, all students in grade 6 will take the test again. A partial test is taken in January based on the growth percentiles and teacher recommendation for students in grades 7, 8 and 9. At this time, grade 10 will take their only MAP test of the year.

Finally, in the spring there is a full test for all students from grade 6 to grade 9. The data is then analyzed again looking at growth from Autumn to Spring. Valuable data can be taken from these results including grade level trends from the testing window or growth over a medium and long period of time for those students who have been at ISF for many years. For Upper School parents, MAP data can now be viewed on the parent portal. The data collected from the MAP tests, supports and assists the judgement of teachers in the classroom, to better support the learning of each student.

Stephen Harpham, Mathematics

IB MOCK EXAMS - PREDICTED GRADES On Wednesday, the 9th of January, all 12th graders began the Mock Exams, an intense 6-day simulation of their 3-week May final IB Diploma exam session. During these 6 days, students have morning and afternoon exams, with two exams -- or “papers” -- per subject area, on average. The Mock Exams, while demanding and perhaps even taxing, allow students to experience the full diploma examination session in all of their subjects, giving a good indication of progress made to date and allowing for a reflection on the amount of work needed in each subject before the real exams in May. Students in the IB Diploma receive a Predicted Grade for each class in late March of their second year of the program, about six weeks before their final exams. This Predicted Grade takes into account the students’ progress throughout the course, with particular emphasis on Internal Assessment (IA) performance, the Mock Exams, and other major assessments over the two years of the class. The purpose of the Predicted Grade is to give the IB a final indication of how students "should" perform overall in their courses, something that can protect them in the unlikely event that they are not able to complete a part of an exam due to illness or accident, or in case an exam is misplaced in transit to, or at, the IB exam center.

Increasingly, universities around the world are asking IB schools for Predicted Grades as part of the college application process. Considering that the college application process usually begins at the end of 11th grade and is completed by December of 12th grade, most classes will not have finished their IAs and no class will have completed the Mock Exams by the time universities need these grades, making it extremely difficult for teachers to provide Predicted Grades so early in 12th grade. ISF, therefore, has instituted what we have called University Predicted Grades, to distinguish them from the official Predicted Grades described above. Students in the IB receive their first University Predicted Grades in June of 11th grade and these grades are calculated by averaging the students’ three trimester results with the June exam grade. These June University Predicted Grades are then reported on the final report card as a guide to students and parents as they begin to investigate universities and their IB Diploma admission requirements (e.g. 34 total points, 6 in each HL class, etc.). Then, in November of 12th grade, teachers re-visit the first University Predicted Grades and either confirm them as they were in June or modify them, based on significant change in recent and official IB assessment during the first trimester of 12th grade. This allows students some opportunity to improve their June University Predicted Grades and also allows teachers to reward significant growth. These University Predicted Grades are then sent to the colleges that require them through the college counselor. The purpose of this process is to ensure that the University Predicted Grades are built on previous student achievement, enabling transparency and avoiding predictions based on student lobbying and unrealistic wishful thinking. Jason Blackstone, English

In November, the Seniors enjoyed the traditional Extended Essay BBQ, prepared by teachers and parents. A fun moment to cherish together and a welcome break to the studies of their final year.

DRAMA @ ISF

isa L nd a d i v Da Directors Note: We have found cures to a multitude of plagues; we have landed on the moon; we have split the atom, and yet, the human mind continues to baffle and boggle us. Why do certain experiences traumatize some of us and leave others apparently unaffected? Just what words or actions or experiences can mark some of us for life and why? Just how fragile, yet resilient, are we, and can kind attention and love actually heal even the deepest psychological disorder? These were some of the questions posed by Reach, the playwright of David and Lisa, a the moving story of a group of emotionally wounded adolescents, two well-meaning but clueless parents, and the psychiatrist, therapist and English teacher that did their best to help these youngsters to heal.

It has been a challenging few weeks of rehearsals, interrupted, as is common, by illness, overexhaustion, unforeseen irritations, misunderstandings and frustrations, and the all too typical, “Why on earth did I ever sign up for this?� unspoken feelings. But we have also had many moments of laughter, team-work, creativity, emotional support, encouragement, and joy.

I have watched a group of students from 8, 10, 11 and 12th grade along with two faculty members slowly transform into a wonderful ensemble of characters as different from their off stage personalities as is possible.

Much applause goes to 8th graders Thomas Accattatis and Maria Leal, as well as science teacher, Clare Kelly for outstanding performances, particularly considering the enormity of the parts and the short rehearsal time in which it was mastered and then performed. Furthermore, the audience was amazed overall by such professionalism amongst all the actors, from grades 8-12 that were represented. This was a first, for this kind of drama at ISF and hopefully not the last.

Shalom, Linda Mishkin, English and Spanish Language Teacher

Murder After School Murder After School is a murder mystery about a boy who is discovered dead in a small wooded area behind the local school. The dead boy's spirit follows the action as two detectives attempt to solve the murder. Suspects include gaming nerds and the boy's stepmother, but the real culprit isn't discovered until the climax.

Murder After Scho o l

CANTABILE CHOIR

This year we have a wonderful new cross-campus initiative at ISF, the Cantabile Choir. The choir is a team effort; directed by Tanja Kustrin, with Linda Morris on piano as well as Amanda Brown giving vocal assistance. The choir is comprised of over 40 students ranging from Grade 3 to 7 who meet weekly to practise and share their passion.

On Tuesday 4th December 2018, they were lucky enough to have their debut public performance at the beautiful venue of Villa Castelletti for the Meyer Foundation Charity Gala Dinner.

The Cantabile choir shared their talent with a huge audience including representatives from many prestigious Florentine institutions and local personalities. It was an unforgettable and hugely motivating experience for the students, who in three short months prepared for the event. Their hard work paid off as they gave a spectacular performance which was enjoyed by all.

A big thank you to parents for their flexibility and collaboration and to Louise Ferragamo for her support of the project and enabling the possibility to perform at such a prestigious event. Maria Soenderstroem, who tailor made and produced the elegant dresses, and for our wonderful Cantabile teachers whose passions and dedication to their work and beyond motivate children to practice, work hard and face challenges. All of which are skills children need moving forward in the world, whatever they choose to do.

UPPER SCHOOL - ART

Grade 6 found inspiration from Art History to inspire a clock design.

Lucrecia Gattai, Homage to Georgia O’Keefe - Luke Middleton, Banksy Time

Grade 7 made masks from paper mache inspired by their research from other cultures.

Grade 8 have looked at Buddhist Mandalas and created one of their own.

They were restricted to complementary pairs of colours with an icon of their own choice in the middle, using their knowledge of colour theory.

Grade 9 have worked on Cubist constructions based on observational drawing of still life objects as well as Fauvist style self-portraits.

Grade 10 are working on producing work for an exhibition that will be part of the US consulate's celebration of their 200 year presence in Tuscany region (http://www.italymagazine.com/featured-story/one-year-later-interview-consul-generalbenjamin-wohlauer) #Insieme200 (#Together200) We will have an opening of this exhibition, in conjunction with the consulate, as part of the school’s Arts festival in the Spring (hence no spoiler photos!)

Grade 11 have worked on Expressionist portraits exploring the use of gesture in painting.

Grade 12 are working toward their exhibition, which will take place in March.

Here’s a sneak peek..

ISF PARENT ASSOCIATION The ISF Parent Association supports the educational goals and strategic vision of the school by partnering with faculty, students and others in the community to plan events, to facilitate communication, and to provide a welcoming social environment for all members of the community.

We are a group of enthusiastic parents from different nationalities, crossing over many language barriers, with many skills and talents. The PA had a busy first half of the year!

We would like to thank our more than 30 volunteer parent grade coordinators who have acted as liaisons between the parents and administration for the school year. On September 11 we held a New Parent Coffee at Bottega di Pasticceria. On October 27, the PA hosted the weekend Autumn Bazaar with great success. The event including games, costumes, a life-size maze, a variety of foods and treats, and sporting events for students, parents and staff who all worked together to create the event. The PA also supported and coordinated the November 22 Thanksgiving lunches at both the Junior and Upper Schools as well as the Middle School Dance. We capped 2018 by hosting the popular Panetone and Hot Chocolate at the Upper School and the beloved Junior School Winterfest (which included holiday snacks, a book fair, handmade holiday cards for sale and much more) was held held immediately after the concert on December 12. We could not have completed this work without the tireless efforts of all of our event coordinators and volunteers. Thank you!

We will be playing a home game this Saturday, January 12th against the Sigonella American Military Base High School at the Palavalenti Gym, in Via Taddeo Alderotti 24, Florence.

ISF Girls - Sigonella Girls 8:30 ISF Boys – Sigonella Boys 10:00 ISF Girls - Sigonella Girls 11:30 ISF Boys – Sigonella Boys 13:00

Come and cheer us on!

https://issuu.com/tuskantimes/docs/december_final_issue

I S F’S A L U M N I C O R N E R

Bianca Di Marco (Class of 2012) earned her BFA from King's College in London in Film Studies and is now attending NYU Grad Film school. Check out Bianca's website at www.bdimarco.com. We look forward to great things from our young aspiring film maker.

Kirsten Ranheim (Class of 2014) recently graduated from Tulane University, earning her degree in English Literature and Philosophy. She is currently teaching English in Marbegno, Italy.

Olivia Campbell (Class of 2009) is currently living in San Francisco and working at Google.

We love Alumni visits!!

Class of 2017 and 2018

#isfalumni

March 21 - IB VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITION April 6 - ISF’S GOT TALENT May 3 - ISF GALA June 1 - SENIOR COMMENCEMENT