Type Private Principal Hanna Hilmarsdóttir School color(s) Blue and green Founded 2004 | Established 2004 Number of students <100 Phone +354 590 3106 | |
Profiles | ||
International school of iceland united we change the beauty of our world
The International School of Iceland (abbreviated ISI; official name in Icelandic: Alþjóðaskólinn á Íslandi) is a private, non-profit school in Garðabær, Iceland. It is the oldest international school in the Reykjavík area of Iceland, first established in 1960 as the American Embassy School. ISI has received support in the form of grants, training and consultation from the Office of Overseas Schools in Washington, D.C. since the 1960s.
Contents
History
Previously, the school was known as the American Embassy School and then Reykjavik International School in 2004 before taking on its present name in 2006. The school was located on Bergstaðastræti in Reykjavík (as the American Embassy School) and in Grafarvogur before finding its current home in Garðabær, a municipality of the Greater Rekjavík area.
The International School of Iceland offers a course of study for students K-9. Graduates of the program will then go on to complete grunnskóli (elementary) education at a local school. The school was expanded to include grade 8 in the 2015-2016 school year. Expansion to include grade 9 was announced in spring 2016, to begin in the 2016-2017 school year. ISI plans to expand the school to include grade 10 in the future, which would allow students to attend ISI for their entire grunnskoli career before moving to menntaskóli (secondary) education.
The school, constructed in 2005, is housed within the Sjálandsskóli building at Langalina 8, 210 Garðabær.
Academics
The International School of Iceland offers two programs, or “streams.” The English stream is for families whose parents have been temporarily assigned to work in Iceland by an embassy, business or university; typically, these families live in Iceland for 3 years or fewer. The Bilingual stream is intended for students who live in Iceland on a permanent basis or for an undetermined length of time.
The program includes English, Icelandic (Bilingual program only), mathematics, thematic units from the International Primary Curriculum, gym, swimming, art, textiles, theater and woodwork. Students in the English stream will learn Spanish as of 2014.
In addition to the academic program, ISI uses external assessments to measure student learning. MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments were introduced at ISI in the fall of 2010. Students in the Bilingual program take the Icelandic National Exams (Samræmd próf) in mathematics and Icelandic in grades 4 and 7. These exams are administered each year in September.
Accreditation
In 2010, the school was audited by the Icelandic Ministry of Education. ISI is undergoing the accreditation process with the Council of International Schools (CIS). After a visit from CIS representative George Hobson in January 2015, ISI was given official membership status. The process of accreditation with both CIS and MSA (Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools) is currently ongoing. In addition, ISI is a full member of ECIS (European Council of International Schools).
Culture and traditions
School traditions include an annual berry picking trip, a tree planting field trip and a winter ski trip to Bláfjöll (weather permitting). In May, students run to raise money for UNICEF.
Each year also brings a Halloween Party, holiday celebrations throughout the month of December, a pot-luck dinner in February and a Spring Event with themes that vary from year to year (e.g. 80s Night, Color Explosion or Masquerade).
In May 2014, the school hosted a celebration of its 10-year anniversary; guests included the Minister of Education, the mayor of Garðabær, representatives from local embassies, and former and current students.
In the spring of each year, students in grades 5-8 raise money to go on an overnight trip in the Icelandic countryside.
Activities
In addition to the Academic program, the school offers students classes in swimming, gym, textiles, art and woodwork as part of a typical school day.
The school also offers after-school activities, including Photography Club and Art Club. Past offerings include computer coding, role-playing games and creativity, Mandarin Chinese Language, Spanish Language, Icelandic Enrichment, Football (Soccer) Club, Chess Club, Science Club and DJ Workshop.