ISF
#i sf ins p ir es
NEWSLETTER January 2020
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International School of Florence Our Mission A laboratory for learning where we collaborate to add meaning to a shared future. Our Vision We aspire to build communities of creative makers and doers.
“I come to school to have a good education - it’s the tool to conquer the challenges the future holds.” Page 34 The International School of Florence Newsletter January 2020 Editor-in-Chief Tanya Bruckner
in this issue...
Assistant Editor Maya Maroni
comments
Design and layout Tess Hitchcock
A New Mission and Vision: Simon Murray and Marco Uzielli
Contributors Marco Uzielli Simon Murray Phil Whitehead Maya Maroni Elena Sofia U. Jonathan McCarthy Kelly Jo Dean Andrew Watson Tanya Bruckner Phil Whitehead Barbara Logiudice Michael Landolfa Denley Jones Sue Yiannakis Gemma Iannone
A Message From The Board of Directors, Marco Uzielli
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A Fortunate Failure, Simon Murray
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Printer Tipografia Color Print ISF alumni, families, faculty, and friends are welcomed and encouraged to submit ideas and articles for consideration. Inquiries may be addressed to: t.bruckner@isfitaly. org www.isfitaly.org Cover Jonathan McCarthy
updates
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features The Value of Student Leadership
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Middle School Student Council
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Florentine Studies Programme
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Model United Nations: FloMUN
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Wellbeing at the Junior School
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Sustainability at ISF
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Research & Development at ISF
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The Beating Heart of ISF
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Our Vision Into Action
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events ISF Basketball
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Group 4 Project
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Student Artwork
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New Year’s Dance
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Parent Association
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CULTIVATE GROWTH THROUGH A MEANINGFUL AND INSPIRING LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
I nt er na ti o n a l S c h o o l o f F l o re n c e
A New Mission and Vision Faced with a social and educational landscape that is shifting rapidly, even well-established institutions such as ISF need to ask afresh ‘what now counts as a meaningful education?’ This allows us to reflect on what should be our appropriate identity, purpose, and ambition in the face of emerging challenges and opportunities. Throughout the course of the 2018-2019 school year, we used a variety of community meetings, as well as formal planning processes, to address these questions. The outcomes of this engaging collective effort are reflected in our new Mission, Vision and Strategic Plan. These will act as our roadmap for the future, as well as representing a series of commitments for which we can all be proud, and to which we can all be accountable. We are therefore delighted to envisage a future for ISF that will be distinguished by core characteristics that will allow the school to offer an educational experience that is internationally-minded, uniquely Florentine, outward looking, and research-led in its commitment to educational innovation. The principal agents of change will be the young people in our community as they learn and work together to shape a shared future. The challenges that they will face are diverse and complex, and will require original, critical, and creative response. To that end, we should be prepared to experiment, foster new forms of professional engagement for teachers, and aim to be a hub for international best practice. At the heart of any meaningful and rewarding learning experience is the wellbeing of the learner. At ISF, we will continue to educate the whole person, recognizing that the definition of success, as well as the path to achieve it, is as diverse as the community we serve. Indeed, our cultural and linguistic diversity are our greatest assets and these need to be reflected in the values that we uphold, and how these shape our daily interactions with each other and a wider world. It is difficult to imagine a more interesting time to be involved in learning and teaching. The challenge of change is also the excitement of opportunity. It seems entirely appropriate that innovation, authenticity and experiment, all hallmarks of our city’s past, should also be the distinctive signatures of our school’s future.
Simon Murray - Head of School
Marco Uzielli - Chair of Board of Directors Ja n u a ry 2020
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A Message From the Board
LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS, MARCO UZIELLI
I am happy to provide an update on the current activities and on recent developments and achievements by the Board of Directors. The 2019-2020 school year is a very important one for the strategic development of the school and of its community. The Strategic Plan was presented in September and was followed up by the Action Plan, which will direct the school’s strategic, operational and academic development in the coming years. A 3-year financial plan is now being developed under the leadership of the Board’s Finance and Risk Management Committee, and will be presented to the community upon being completed. The outcomes of the strategic process attest to the formidable interaction between Students, Parents, Faculty, Staff, Senior Leadership Team, and Board in shaping ISF’s new identity. We all share a new ambition of becoming a reference institution for innovative practiioners in education and professional development. More importantly, strategies and curriculum will be integrated seamlessly with the IB Learner Profile, which promotes and sets clear criteria for personal ethical, professional, and educational standards for all members and stakeholders of a school’s community. The Board and Senior Leadership Team look forward to sharing more detailed information in the coming months, starting with the Winter Forum on February 4. The Strategic Planning Committee is leading the Board’s participation in this fundamental process. We continue our work in preparation for the re-accreditation visit from the Council of International Schools (CIS) in November 2020. Accreditation involves many of the school’s constituencies. It reflects and ensures the compliance of a school’s ethics, policies, processes, and academic curricula to international best-practice. The high quality of our ongoing strategic process has led CIS to identify ISF as a rising star in the world of international education, and we are excited to harmonize our internal processes with these demanding but inspiring standards and requirements. This year has seen a systematic review and upgrade of the Board’s documental corpus. The Board’s Governance Committee has worked hard to revise and improve the Board’s Terms of Membership, job descriptions for Board Officers, and the Governance section of the ISF Policy Manual, bringing these documents to current best-practice international standards. Following excellent work from the Board’s Governance Committee, the Board recently welcomed three new members: Adele Hodgson, Ivan Mijatovic and Morgan Fiumi. While we will have the opportunity to illustrate their profiles in greater detail in the near future, we are very proud to have them with us given their extraordinary personal and professional skills, their sense of service and dedication to ISF, and their ethical values. 6
We have kicked off a number of joint discussions and projects with the ISF Parents’ Association (PA). These projects aim to harmonize PA roles and activities with the Strategic Plan and the Action Plan, and to develop policies and processes for the participation of Parents in the ISF Community. The Board and the Head of School have entertained talks with high representatives of the Comune di Firenze. These discussions, along with the new and successful Florentine Studies Programme, are the first important steps towards the construction and consolidation of solid institutional and strategic bonds between ISF and the city. Our school is a fundamental asset to the city of Florence, as the city is to us, and we aim to fully profit from this unique opportunity through mutually rewarding synergy. The Board wishes to take the opportunity to thank the Senior Leadership Team, including Simon Murray (Head of School), Emma Homerlein (Junior School Principal), Andrew Watson (Upper School Principal), Lorenzo Ricci (Operations and Business Manager), Phil Whitehead (Director of Learning and Research), and Lisa Radden (Director of Digital Learning and Information Technology). Their excellent reporting allows the Board to exercise its institutional role of supervision of the school’s academic and organizational growth, of strategic leadership, and to work effectively in strategic planning through informed decision-making. Just as importantly, their understanding of trends and dynamics in international education, their profound belief in the values of the IB, and their capability to embrace the fundamental strategic task of “enabling change” provide a sound basis for the academic and personal development of all of the school’s constituencies. The Senior Leadership Team will illustrate, in dedicated communications, the many organizational and curricular achievements of this year and the plans for those to come. We look forward to seeing many of you at the Winter Forum on February 4, 2020. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I do wish to thank you for your support towards the continued growth of ISF.
Marco Uzielli - Chair of Board of Directors
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A FORTUNATE FAILURE “We aspire to build communities of creative makers and doers”
LETTER FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL, SIMON MURRAY
With the launch of its new Vision and Mission last September, the school embarked on a journey that has now coincided with a New Year and decade. It is difficult not to feel that this will become a defining time for both the school and further afield. In this context, you might find it odd that I should reference my new career as a Sunday painter. However, as amateur as it evidently is, it is nonetheless a Florentine landscape that I am part of and have made, and to this extent, seems relevant to what we are involved in here at school. As “internationally-minded, uniquely Florentine”, the school requires a double vision that can see what lies closest to us, while being able to lift its head to look at wider horizons. To that extent, I am delighted to report that some of the key dimensions of our new Strategic Plan are now beginning to show signs of traction. The natural counterpart to an inquiry-based curriculum is a research-led organization. The launch of ISF’s new research centre, The Learning Lab, is now leading the latest cohort
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of community researchers. Uniquely, this also involves a substantial parental contribution and we will update on this initiative at the forthcoming Forum. In addition, we are developing new programmes of Professional Learning and Appraisal, as well as refining our policies on Assessment and Attainment. At the same time, our pilot Florentine Studies Programme has now been officially recognized by the city and we can look forward to our students obtaining a unique qualification in due course. In a similar vein, our Gala funded Creative Partners Programme is shaping up and local, international artists are working in school following the narrative given to us from holocaust survivor, Rifka Kahana. The programme will continue to evolve over the remainder of the year, so do look out for future events as they are published. On a wider front, the school is carrying out a comprehensive curriculum review in alignment with its self-study leading to re-accreditation with the Council of International Schools. Once complete we can look forward to substantial developments in the programme of learning and its delivery across the school. The Steering Committee for Accreditation will be reaching out to you shortly to join the appropriate review teams. Looking further ahead, I would like to give you some advance notice of some very important initiatives planned for later this year. We will shortly be forming a new cultural association, The Makers’ Place, where we will take our vision and mission to the city and further afield, as we establish partnerships with like-minded organizations and individuals with the launch planned for May. June will see us host our first Sustainability Summit, where the whole community will have the chance to situate its current position and determine its future in this critical debate. At the Forum, I look forward to sharing with you our planning for a new Scholarship Programme that will allow new young talent to join our community. This, in particular, speaks directly to our emerging identity as important partners in the Florentine community. We have begun 2020 busy, purposeful, and prepared to embrace change. Going back to that picture above, mine has been a fortunate failure! It is no bad thing to find your limits. I will still be enjoying my Sundays, even if they only lead to a deeper appreciation of a landscape I cannot capture and of those who can. All laboratories of learning benefit just as much from the experiments that fail, as well as those that succeed! All the best,
Simon Murray - Head of School
Ja n u a ry 2020
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JS TECHNOLOGY
ADMISSIONS
HARRY POTTER WEEK
In December, Miss Tosatti started to integrate the new technology programme in Early Childhood. The new curriculum is entirely based on the use of educational robotics tools and promotes projects integrating the PYP Units of Inquiry.
Many local and international prospective parents visited our two beautiful campuses on January 18 for our annual Open Day.
The first annual Upper School Harry Potter Week will be February 3-6, 2020!
The devices used at the moment are Coding Express (Lego) and Cubetto. Both tools are designed to help the students to develop basic coding skills, learning to identify cause and effect relationships, but also a collaborative attitude, exposing the students to work in groups, and taking turns. All students had so much fun during the first few lessons and were very excited to continue learning about coding in the second semester!
Parents and their children had the opportunity to meet the school leadership, teachers, and learn about the school curriculum. Visitors were welcomed by our student ambassadors with a warm smile and they were available to answer questions and talk about some of the exciting projects and events they are involved in, such as Student Council, the upcoming play Annie, the Sports Council, Robotics Education, and more. It was lovely to see the student’s enthusiasm in showing their school and sharing their experiences as students at ISF.
The Harry Potter committee has put together activities and events to celebrate the magical world of Harry Potter. These events will happen all week long in the library and aula magna, ranging from making and decorating your own wand, to playing a game of Quidditch. HP Week will culminate with an after-school event on the evening of Thursday, February 6 from 19.0021.00, where US students and families can come participate in magical games and enjoy Hogwarts food in the Great Hall (terrace). The cost will be â‚Ź5 for participation in Thursday night festivities.
CONGRATULATIONS!
Filippo Wolf and Kelly Kerr got married on November 23rd at Palazzo Vecchio and over the winter break they went to Kansas City to celebrate with more friends and family.
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JS SPORTS COUNCIL AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION SPORTS COUNCIL The sports council have had a busy first semester at the junior school. With our weekly meetings, sometimes turning into 3 meetings a week to make time for ideas and planning out actions. We have made regular appearances in assemblies, either sharing news or advertising our initiatives. A few of the sports council initiatives have been: designing and running holiday style games to raise money for new recess equipment. Organising and running the Autumn Bazaar newcomb games. Currently we are looking at developing the game/ sports on offer for students at recess, and holding a lunch time dance party to promote movement. I am sure many more exciting meetings are to come, where no idea is a bad idea!
500m Female 1st Chiara Bresciani 3rd Margherita Peri 500m Male 3rd Niccolò Martini 500m Male 1st Milan Yastrzhembskiy Vortex Female 1st Lily Fitton 6th Emma Biba Vortex Male 3rd Unai Lopez 50m Female 5th Xin Yi Dai 50m Male 4th Leonardo Dosi Bercebal 5th Jacopo Martinelli
ON THE HORIZON PHYSICAL EDUCATION November was a busy month for competition at the Junior School. The Grade 4 students did an amazing job on 20th November at the athletic event, I Piu Veloci, forte e resistenti di Firenze. The students efforts and Sportsmanship were commendable. We had many students who arrived in the top 6 and were invited to receive a prize at the Marathon Expo at the Stazione Leopolda.
We have the second leg of the Milan tournament at home on March 20-21 as well as our annual Active Week on April 2730.
#ISFATHLETICS
Ja n u a ry 2020
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CANTABILE CHOIR The ISF Cantabile Choir, directed by Tanja Kustrin, had an amazing opportunity to perform with Grammy nominated singer and composer Sabina Sciubba at the Teatro Cinema della Compagnia in the centre of Florence last Saturday night. A portion of the ticket sales was donated to the Choir and will help fund their trip this summer to Salzburg. Look out for more dates of events when the Choir will be singing this year.
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MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS DONATE HAIR TO THOSE IN NEED WWW.LITTLEPRINCESSES.ORG.UK
At first I actually got inspired by Elena Sophia to donate my hair. I admired how she wanted to give a chance to those who don’t really have hope, so I wished to do the same. After donating most of my hair, I felt like I was letting go of a lot of stress and felt like a different person. It was a good feeling and a very nice experience. Christina I first had the idea of donating my hair when Ludovica did. I knew that cutting my hair would mean having very short hair for at least a year. After a few months of thinking about it, I finally managed to find the courage to cut, but my hair will grow back eventually, some people’s won’t. Elena Sofia I cut my hair because I’ve thought about it, but I did not want to waste something that I knew could be useful to someone else that was not as lucky as me. I asked Elena Sofia, who had donated too, and I donated them to the same association Elena used, where they make wigs for girls. Dafne I decided to cut my hair because I know some people are going through hard moments in life and I thought by just giving them hair you can make it a little bit better and make their day happier. Ludovica Ja n u a ry 2020
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DIGITAL LEARNING & IT DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL LEARNING AND IT, LISA RADDEN
I am pleased to share with you some updates from the newly formed Digital Learning and IT Department at ISF. “The purpose of the Digital Learning and IT Department is to support and enhance teaching and learning at ISF through the use of technology.” We have been busy this past trimester evaluating the technology needs of the school, while simultaneously taking action on findings where we could, and addressing new technology issues as they came up. We provided technical support to the CIS Accreditation Evaluation team and during MAP testing and report card roll outs. Our IT Support Specialist, Mr. Riccardo Baggiotti, was also very busy at the beginning of the year preparing and distributing school-issued devices to all staff and students. The evaluation, led by the Director of Digital Learning and IT, focused on the following areas: 1. Infrastructure 2. Inventory 3. Support & Staffing 4. Policies & Procedures 5. Systems & Software 6. Curriculum & Instruction 7. Sustainability
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Data was collected through a variety of methods, including classroom observations, interviews, focus groups, and surveys. In close partnership with our Information Technology consulting team, iTech, an infrastructure appraisal was completed by November 2019 and a comprehensive wifi survey was done over the December break, during which a number of actions were taken to improve internet connectivity on both campuses. Consistent connectivity to a high speed wireless network emerged from the evaluation as the number one priority. Based on our findings, we have taken action and continue working towards improvements in each area of need. For example, we recently tested a new SSID structure and corrected weak areas of coverage on our campuses. We hired a Network Administrator – please welcome, Mr. Gianluca Congiu! - and will be rolling out a new Help Desk portal. We are actively reviewing our policies, ICT curriculum and professional learning offerings, and I am working closely with school leadership to align the technology model with ISF’s new Mission, Vision, and Strategic Plan. I am also really enjoying actively engaging with ISF stu-
dents. I will be leading a CAS activity at the Upper School this trimester where students will be exploring ways in which the IT Department can be more sustainable, and I am assistant coaching the girls football club. I am also looking forward to launching a team of tech savvy students at the Junior School, called TechSperts, who will be digital safety and technology Ambassadors to their teachers and classmates. My team has a lot of work to do, and we are excited about the future! There are already so many ways teachers and students are using technology in teaching and learning at ISF, and I am looking forward to supporting them and sharing their stories.
#ISFEDTECH If there are any technology-related questions, please feel free to direct them to IT Director Lisa Radden at l.radden@isfitaly.org.
LOOKING FORWARD FOR OUR SENIORS COLLEGE AND CAREER COUNSELOR, JAMES LEE
Thinking about the next steps for ISF seniors is always a thrill. Below, we see the numbers per country, student numbers, and individual applications, as of today. US and UK regular applications have now all been completed - what a milestone! It is interesting to note the constantly changing dynamics of student interests each year. With the vast majority of applications awaiting results, offers at this very early stage have been fantastic. Students have heard acceptances from
Boston University Princeton University University of Vermont Imperial College London King’s College London Goldsmiths University of London Durham University University of Bristol University of Bath Royal Holloway University of London University of Leeds University of Exeter University of Warwick University of York LUISS Universita
UNITED KINGDOM
27 students // 135 applications
NETHERLANDS
17 students // 39 applications
ITALY
13 students // 17 applications
UNITED STATES
The courses range from Chemistry, History, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Business Management, Psychology, Law, Architectural Studies, to Undecided(!), again reflecting the deep diversity of talents and interests of our students. As always, most of the UK offers are conditional offers, and the students will need to perform strongly in their final IB exams. The UK conditional offers are strict, and many of the US colleges request the final IB results as well, especially when offered on a test-optional basis or predicted grades played a part in deliberations. We have been fortunate to have had many great universities visit us this academic year, and will be welcoming more than thirty institutions from around the world by the end of March. I hope to update you all in the coming few months with more good news.
10 students // 85 applications
CANADA
3 students // 6 applications
OTHER EU
3 students // 4 applications
ISF C LA SS O F 2 02 0
If there are any college-related questions, please feel free to direct them to James Lee at j.lee@isfitaly.org.
Ja n u a ry 2020
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Capturing 68 years of tradition in Florence, the International School of Florence (ISF) is one of the oldest international schools in Europe. ISF is an independent, non-profit, co-educational, college preparatory day school for students in grades EY-12, with innovative academic programs, the arts, athletics and a community that celebrates the dignity and worth of each individual.
The school, with a current enrollment of approximately
520 on two campuses, is comprised of families from over thirty eight countries, including about
40 %
Italian Citizens
90
faculty members at ISF
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average class size at ISF
7:1
teacher to student ratio
65%
of students scored at or above 34 points on the IB examination
The International School of Florence was founded in
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97.5% was the pass rate of ISF for the IB examination in 2019
The value of student leadership ISF SUSTAINABILITY INTERN, MAYA MARONI
“Some students in grade twelve are trying to change uniform policy for IB Diploma Programme students. Would you help them create a proposal for the leadership team?” This was what Andrew Watson, the Upper School Principal asked me during my second week as an intern here at ISF. This was my first experience really seeing what student leadership means here at this school. In the case of the proposed change in uniform policy, it was very controversial. Although all of the twelfth grade students agreed that they did not want to wear a uniform to school anymore, many faculty disagreed with the decision, or at least questioned how a new dress code could be enforced. However, working with the students pushing for change, it was fantastic to see them raise their voices and stand up for what they believe in. They had taken charge of their lives, of their education. In my opinion, this is the type of leadership that all schools should be encouraging. Maybe a change in uniform policy seems like a trivial example of student leadership, but the principle of the matter would have been the same had the students been fighting for a total restructuring of their education, a free dress code, or a more sustainable cafeteria. When students are encouraged to show initiative and take the lead they learn how to become responsible citizens. Something as seemingly trivial as a change in uniform policy forced the grade twelve class to think about the consequences of their actions, as well as their responsibility to set an example for younger students and represent ISF respectfully. At the same time, it is important to acknowledge the role those opposing faculty played in this learning experience. While I believe that encouraging student leadership is invaluable, constructive criticism and opposition should not be unwelcome. The questioning faculty forced students to rethink their proposal, and to address valid concerns of the community. Working with the Middle School Student Council it is clear to see how and why student leadership can be encouraged in all age groups. At the moment the council is working on a plan to introduce composting at the Upper School. Though the plan may still be in the works, the students are having to analyze and seriously consider all of the aspects of such a plan. Nothing is as simple as “let’s just put a composting bin over there in the garden.” How much will it cost the school? Who will maintain the compost? How will we educate the community about what we are doing? What actually is involved in composting? These are all questions the Middle School Student Council has to answer before the plan can go into effect. Student leadership is not just about creating change. Encouraging student leadership means allowing students to think creatively about the kind of world they want to live in, and giving them the tools and support they need to create it.
Maya Maroni
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Middle School Student Council LETTER FROM MSSC REPRESENTATIVE, ELENA SOFIA
Being a part of the Middle School Student Council is a tough yet fun business! We are the voice of the student body and we want to make sure that every student feels comfortable and at home while they’re at ISF. One thing that we want everybody to understand is that being a MS Council member is totally voluntary. When you join the council, you have to be willing to work as a team and give up part of your free time to meet and discuss new ideas with your fellow members. Presently, we have set ourselves some goals that we are hoping to achieve before the end of the school year. Our main focus is our composting plan. We want to start a composting system here at school. It’s quite a challenging project to undertake because we have to figure out where to put the new bins, which bins to buy, what is and isn’t allowed in the bins, and decide how best to use the compost. Although there’s quite a bit of work, we are confident that we will find a solution that will work for ISF. We divide our meeting times so we can undertake both social and sustainable projects. Every year we host a Valentine’s Day dance to celebrate love. This year, more than ever, Climate Change has been at the forefront of many discussions inside and outside of school. Students have taken action to reduce their carbon footprint. In an attempt to support the efforts by so many of our students both locally and globally, we thought that this year’s Valentine’s Day should celebrate love for the Earth. Our plan is to reach out to the community to ask for decorations made of recycled material, so that no more paper or plastic is uselessly wasted. We are currently in the process of planning this dance and hope the community will support this initiative. Also, we are all determined to help those less fortunate. We show our support by working with the Fondazione Martacappelli. We held a candy cane sale and a dress up day where all proceeds went to the foundation. We raised over 200 euros. We will continue to support this worthy cause. The Student Council is student-led and composed of students from grades 6-8. By organising social events, fundraisers, and other activities, we learn to manage our time and resources well, to work as a team to achieve our goals, and to be passionate about what we’re doing. To be an active member of the council you have to meet certain expectations. First of all, you must be 100% committed to doing your job. That means that you should attend every meeting unless you have a very good excuse. You should have a reason for being part of the council and you should definitely want to make a lasting impact on ISF and it’s community. Secondly, you have to be determined and you must be able to work in a team and share your ideas while also listening to other people’s point of view. While working on projects or sharing my ideas, I feel accepted,important, responsible, and empowered to help others. We are the voice of the students, but we don’t speak for them. We speak with them. We are always available and open to any suggestions and we want to make sure that our classmates feel like they can talk to us. Being part of the Middle School Student Council has definitely left a positive mark on my academic life and I hope it will continue to do so for the rest of my time in Middle School. Elena Sofia, Grade 7 18
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A LABORATORY FOR LEARNING WHERE WE COLLABORATE TO ADD MEANING TO A SHARED FUTURE.
Internati onal School of Fl orence
FLORENTINE STUDIES BEGIN AT ISF Have you ever laid on the floor of a museum to view the art from another perspective? Met a 15 th -century icon wandering through a Gothic church? Been given a museum tour by a ghost? Or, uncovered a secret code in an archaeological dig? Students participating in the Florentine Studies Programme, created by VIK especially for ISF, have done all that and more this school year. The programme presents rich opportunities for experiential learning outside the classroom in visits that offer
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experiential trips in 2019-2020
exclusive access to, and an original engagement with, the culture of Florence. This unique learning experience for students in grades four through eight brings ISF’s new motto –
“INTERNATIONALLY-MINDED, UNIQUELY FLORENTINE” – to life in the museums and monuments of Florence. The programme kicked off in November and December by guiding handson learning experiences at the basilica of Santa Croce, the Museo Bardini, the Stibbert Museum, and the National Archaeological Museum. The blue museum – as the Museo Bardini is known – opened its doors (and brightly hued walls) exclusively for us to explore the connection between color and emotion, and the world of art merchant Stefano Bardini. With space to spread out, students learned how to observe, value, and even become art by posing as statues. At Santa Croce, middle school students dipped into the artistic world of Giotto (also famous for the color blue!), analyzing symbols of historic importance, and discovering the major influencers of the day - figures such as Michelangelo and Galileo. Lucky students snapped selfies with Dante Alighieri, who honoured us by reciting a poem on the spot. Junior school students were wholly en-
gaged at the Stibbert Museum, where the ghost Frederick Stibbert lead them in retracing his worldwide journey in search of artistic treasures. Stibbert collected art; they collected stamps in our passports and trinkets to preserve in their very own memory box, recalling the stops on their journey. Not only did JS students travel the world, but they also traveled back in time to Ancient Egypt and Etruria at the Archaeological Museum. They even got their hands dirty, participating in a dig of their own! There is still time to get in on the adventure. The Florentine Studies Programme continues this spring with more city visits and a final artistic lab project that will be enjoyed by the entire ISF community. Moreover, it won’t end there. Following recent recognition by the city of Florence, the programme will be expanding next year so that our students can take more from the unmatched cultural resources of our home and our classroom!
Barbara Logiudice, V.I.K. barbara@vikadventures.com www.vikadventures.com #isfflorentinestudiesprogramme
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trips planned for 2020-21!
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There’s quite a bit to get excited about these days when it comes to MUN. With two MUN trips under our collective belt - one hop to ASMMUN in Milan and another skip to TOMUN in Turin - students have done a lot of research, a lot of resolution writing, and a lot of debating as of late.
“I GOT THE CHANCE TO SPEND REAL, QUALITY TIME WITH MY CLASSMATES. So, what is MUN, anyway? Short for Model United Nations, MUN is a simulation of the international peacekeeping body that it represents. During the three days of the event, students represent everything about the country they are assigned to - the people, economy, religion, and government. What’s the goal? Simply put, to write and pass a resolution through a complicated process of amendments and voting procedures to ensure that most countries’ interests are reflected. Passing the resolution, if the committee manages to, is really only the cherry on top to a robust student experience that provides learning opportunities and memories far beyond the debate floor. Check out some of these student profiles and read what got them hooked on the MUN bandwagon. Save the date for the first annual Florence Model United Nations [FloMUN] on April 2325, 2020.
ELI “It’s cool to represent a country, you know. It’s not everyday that you get to pretend to be South Korea or Argentina. Learning about politics is super important. MUN lets you do that.”
LUISA “I think it’s worth doing. Personally, I made a ton of friends while at the conference [ASMMUN] in Milan. Now I have friends all over Italy and all over the world that I wouldn’t otherwise have.”
THOMAS “I got the chance to spend real, quality time with my classmates. I liked that we got to go on an adventure together in a new city.”
LUCA “I mean, of course it wasn’t the only reason I went, but I thought it was fun to get all dressed up and fancy. It’s also nice to travel. I liked going to Milan.”
JACK
@flomun_isf Have questions? Please send an email to Jonathan McCarthy and Amanda Brown at j.mccarthy@isfitaly.org and a.brown@isfitaly.org, or visit www.flomun.wixsite.com/flomun
“MUN improves your public speaking skills, something that is really important in life and that you don’t get to practice enough at school. For school projects, a lot of the speaking is for presentations, so it’s rehearsed. The debates at MUN conferences move from topic to topic so fast that you have to be able to think, and speak, on your feet.”
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Kelly Jo Dean, VP of Wellbeing
WELLBEING AT THE JUNIOR SCHOOL
EXCITING TIMES It has been an incredible start to the school year with teachers, students, and parents taking a keen interest in helping grow and develop the wellbeing programmes and initiatives at ISF. Teachers at the Junior School have been embracing the mission, ‘a laboratory for learning,’ and trialling new and innovative ways to support our ISF community to ensure students flourish at ISF and have the skills to equip them with a happy, healthy life. How we support students with their social and emotional development will continue to grow throughout the year. STUDENT ACTION Student Council was rebranded as the Action Takers. This allows students to feel more empowered to have their voices heard and to take action to support our community. They will be working closely with the Sports Council throughout the year. These are their goals: - Student relationships - friendships, respectful behaviour, and anti bullying - School events
- Caring for the environment and the wider world - Connecting with the local community and local charities BUDDY BENCH Students expressed a desire to have support at recess with friendships. Friendships and relationships play a huge part in all our lives and finding ways to maintain and support healthy relationships is a central component to our wellbeing programme. We were extremely lucky to have Conor and Nora Dearden (ISF parents) offer their help in building a bench from scratch with our students. With Conor and Nora’s support, the students constructed and decorated the bench. The Action Takers created agreements to ensure all students understand it is everyone’s responsibility to ensure everybody has someone to play with and no child should feel lonely at recess. The bench is now on the lower field and is being used with great success. PYP CURRICULUM We have been integrating the recent improvements made to the PYP. I would like to share the improvements in the area of self management that are being promoted and embedded within all learning experiences, as they directly link to student wellbeing and our goals in placing wellbeing at the core of all our practices. Focussing on resilience, perseverance, self motivation, mindfulness and emotional management are important life skills for our students. Teachers and students are working to develop these areas throughout the school.
student’s social and emotional needs. Our motto for the week was ‘Change Starts With Us,’ with students identifying how we can continue to develop as a community that supports students in creating a healthy, happy environment. POSITIVE DISCIPLINE Behaviour management is part of teachers, students, and parents day to day lives. It shapes how children view themselves, the world, and others. Staff at the Junior School are trialling new and innovative ways to promote positive behaviours within their classrooms and support students in solving problems independently. We held a parent workshop with a positive discipline trainer to help parents manage behaviours at home in positive, constructive ways. We look forward to sharing our successes with you over the coming months. MINDFULNESS Mindfulness is the practice of bringing your attention to the present moment. Staff across the school are working with students to help them bring focus to their own bodies and the world around them. Mindfulness can be used as a tool for relaxation and stress release.
GRATITUDE Did you know that having a routine of giving thanks actually rewires your brain? Research shows that people who have daily gratitude routines live a happier life. It sounds so simple, but yet is so important. Around school you will find gratitude displays. What are you grateful for? Put it on our gratitude display in the cortile. ANTI-BULLYING WEEK
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Anti-bullying week was brought to me as an idea from our Action Takers who were discussing ways in which we can help with
If you have an area of expertise in the area of wellbeing, both for body and mind, contact me at k.dean@isfitaly.org we would love to hear from you!
SUSTAINABILITY SUMMIT AT ISF
RETHINKING THE ROLE OF EDUCATION FOR A MORE HOPEFUL FUTURE In its modern form, education was once a radical social force. Yet now, as humanity sleepwalks towards a climate catastrophe, where is the radical voice of education, which can challenge orthodoxy and bring hope to young people betrayed by a system of self-perpetuating inadequacy? The deterioration of our planet is being propelled by economic irrationality, increasing inequality, and a new wave of political populism. Education has become a part of the problem. The sector, to paraphrase Greta Thunberg, has been “jeopardising our futures.� Humanity faces intense challenges of unprecedented scale, complexity and interdependence. What contribution can and should the education sector play in responding to the impending crisis? This is the question that Sustainability Education (SusEd), an
organization that ISF is currently partnering with, seeks to answer. In line with ISF’s new mission statement, in which the school aims to be “a laboratory for learning where we collaborate to add meaning to a shared future,” and following on from successful summits in Berlin (2019), Cape Town (2017) and Singapore (2015), SusEd and ISF will be hosting the inaugural Italian Education & Sustainability Leadership Summit (IESLS) this coming June. The summit will bring together educators, students, and policy makers and invite them to reflect hard on the role we each must play in shaping a more sustainable future. A passionate group of students, faculty, and parents are currently working very hard to make this summit a reality at ISF. They are heavily involved in all of the logistics, marketing and fundraising for IESLS. In particular, they
“Schools have a choice, between being the mirrors of society or the change agents of it”
out our values and aspirations. For example, the Middle School Student Council are working on a plan for composting, the “Green Team” are hoping to improve our waste separation and recycling, and the Sustainability Committee is undertaking a whole school sustainability audit. These are clear examples of ISF’s new vision statement in action, where “we aspire to build communities of creative makers and doers”. Schools have a choice, as Professor Stweart Sutherland observed, between being the mirrors of society or the change agents of it. We cannot afford to stand still; we must develop a prophetic vision of the future. One which necessarily involves challenging process as much as re-engaging with our moral purpose. We need to re-think how the core business of teaching and learning can best be sustained by connected organisational systems. Only then might we be able to chart a very different future path for global education and humanity as a whole.
have worked on reaching out to other international schools around Italy and Europe. As the summit date gets closer, there will also be further opportunities for the ISF community to contribute to the summit content itself, and also to attend the inaugural UK summit being held at Dollar Academy in Scotland, May 18-20. In November, Italy became the first country to make it mandatory to teach climate change in schools. ISF is eager to play a leading role in creating a culture around sustainability and student agency in Italy and beyond. Involving students in the planning and implementation of summits, such as this, not only empowers student leadership, it allows students to take responsibility for their shared futures. Many other student groups across ISF are living
Andrew Watson is the Upper School Principal at the International School of Florence, Italy. Email: a.watson@isfitaly.org Maya Maroni is the Sustainability Intern at the International School of Florence, Italy. Email: m.maroni@isfitaly.org 27
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT AT ISF WELCOME TO THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF FLORENCE RESEARCH PROGRAMME “Improvement...change...curiosity...perplexity...making a difference...and exploring the idea that research in schools is ‘systematic inquiry made public.’” Stenhouse, L. 1978)
12 BIG IDEAS from Cohort 2, to be presented in October 2020
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These are the starting points for thinking about research at ISF. We look for a ‘TENSION in the environment’; something we feel passionate about or something that we would like to see done differently. For teachers this is a change in their teaching practice – for parents it’s a change in the way the school or the way our wider community does something. Whatever happens, by the end of the research project, something will be different and researchers share the differences with our school community and sometimes wider afield. Simon Murray proposed the volcano/ volcanic rock as a metaphor during the first meeting of the new research group:
“It’s explosive but it creates new territory – a different landscape emerges.” HOW DOES IT WORK? Each Autumn, staff and parents (from 2019) at ISF are invited to make proposals to join a year-long inquiry into areas of school life they want to improve, change, investigate, or are just curious about, and feel others might want to know more about too.
the year. In October, 2019 Research Cohort 1 presented their findings at the inaugural ISF Research Conference. 10 staff researchers presented 5 different projects. In December 2019, Cohort 2 was formed and met formally in January 2020. A hugely significant difference this time was the invitation for interested parents to join the programme. For Cohort 2 we have 12 projects involving 18 members of staff and around 10 parent researchers. Parents are either working alongside teachers as partners or in a group of parent researchers. All groups are supervised by the Director of Research, and we discuss any ethics that arise. 2020 PROJECTS On June 5th, 2020, we will be hosting a Research Symposium - an invitation to our partner research schools and organisations in Barcelona, Mumbai, Paris, Caracas, Florence (INDIRE), and Reykjavik to discuss approaches to research, share ideas and projects, and to strengthen a network of research active schools. The annual Research Conference, to present findings and make recommendations for change, is planned for October 22 and 23, 2020.
Once research groups are formed with common areas of inquiry, they meet regularly to discuss their plans and actions, and discuss research methodology. At the end of the journey, or at least the end of the first cycle, researchers are expected to present their findings to the community and make recommendations for change. The programme is supported and led by the Director of Learning & Research at ISF. Whilst it is difficult to quantify exactly, the programme will take up approximately 70 hours in total of directed and independent study over
R&D @ ISF Phil Whitehead is the Director of Learning and Research at the International School of Florence, Italy. Email: p.whitehead@isfitaly.org www.isfresearches.com
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THE BEATING HEART OF ISF Creativity, Activity, Service Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS Programme), did not arrive at the Core (the centre) of the IB Diploma by accident. Quite the reverse. All three Core elements (CAS, Theory of Knowledge & Extended Essay) have been there from the beginning in one form or another and the reason for their being there has remained constant. Their raison d’être is to enthuse an experience of education with the values explicit in the IB mission statement, which speaks of nurturing young people to become ‘active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.’ The Core is designed to inspire students and teachers to learn to live to learn beyond the potential confines of the curriculum; to encourage individuals to reach out into local, national and global communities with a sense of moral purpose and third, to facilitate the development of appropriate academic attitudes, skills and approaches to learning in preparation for a lifelong commitment to learning.
UPPER SCHOOL ECAs ARE EVOLVING Consistent with our new mission and vision of recognizing the impact of our actions on our interdependent world and empowering students to take ownership of their learning experiences, we are bringing the philosophy of CAS through from Grade 12 to Grade 6. We are doing this in the first instance, by reimagining ECAs. From February and Semester 2, ECAs will become “CAS” – Creativity, Activity, Service. The CAS programme at ISF will offer a broad and balanced range of school and student initiated experiences, which are both internationally minded and uniquely Florentine. Our teachers, coaches and members of the school community who offer CAS experiences are qualified, passionate professionals, dedicated to nurturing understanding of our individual and shared responsibility for the impact of our actions on our interdependent world and promoting a culture of solidarity within and beyond our community. CAS recognises that learning that happens outside the classroom is just as important as what happens inside. CAS is not just a central component of the IB Diploma programme but it can reasonably be regarded as the “heartbeat of the school” It is also
about how we live together. We look forward to sharing our CAS stories. CAS students continue to work with MartaCapelli, playing with children and providing tea and snacks for their parents at Casa Mathilde and Casa Ronald.
tial amount of food, toiletries and clothing to needy people. Gabbeh ‘20, and Elvis ‘20, visited the Comunità, where they were able to help pack gifts to be distributed to people at the Christmas lunch. They interviewed members of Sant ‘Egidio and created a short video clip on the work being done by them.
Heart Pillow Project: Under the leadership of senior, Dajanique ‘20, we continue to make pillows which are donated to breast cancer patients after surgery. Fabric to make the pillows was very kindly donated by alumnus Francesca ‘19.
Angeli del Bello, students worked alongside members of the local community in giving Piazza Liberta a facelift, painting fences and walls, removing graffiti from buildings, planting flowers in the garden, and encouraging smokers to use disposable ashtrays instead of littering the environment.
A group of students and teachers spent a day with Angeli per un Giorno, during which we took children from local orphanages to the cinema, where we watched Ice Age 2. Lunch was served, and then our students helped organize and play games with the children. It was a pleasure to watch our students interacting with the children, and putting smiles on their faces.
Sue Yiannakis is the CAS Coordinator at the International School of Florence, Italy. Email: s.yiannakis@isfitaly.org
Comunità di Sant’Egidio: Once again we carried out a food and clothing drive at Thanksgiving, and were proud to be able to donate a substanJa n u a ry 2020
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OUR VISION INTO ACTION The ISF Creative Partners Programme OUR RATIONALE We need to work together with our community and national and international partners, designing innovative methods of enquiry that lead to learning that is both relevant and helps prepare our students for what we hope will be exciting if somewhat uncertain futures. A key goal is: Meaningful Learning and Student Agency – how we cultivate growth through a meaningful and inspiring learning experience. An important early strand in this area is the design of a Creative Partners Programme, established thanks to last year’s Gala funds, which will help sponsor this new and exciting Programme. The programme draws upon the unmatched learning opportunities of our region with Florence at its heart. Our creative partners represent a balance between being internationally minded and uniquely Florentine. We are delighted to announce the arrival of several Creative Partners at ISF, who will be working in collaboration across Upper and Junior School over the coming months, with our students and teachers, and whose work will be visible and leave a legacy to the whole school community. Here is a spotlight on the Creative Partners who have worked with our students so far this year. More to come!
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JOSHUA SEIGAL Joshua Seigal is a poet, performer, writer and workshop leader. He has performed his unique brand of accessible, engaging and interactive poetry all over the world. Joshua brings poetry to life with his engaging, dynamic performances. He worked with grade 7, 8, 9, and 10 students on rhyme schemes and developing one’s poetic voice. ROB BRADLEY Rob Bradley is a poetic rapper who has spent his whole life writing rhymes. Rob has performed around the world, from basement clubs in New York to festivals throughout Europe, and collaborated with international artists and songwriters along the way. He’s built a solid fan-base and reputation as an astute lyricist, captivating storyteller and unrivalled improviser, in fact he’s a freestyle rap world champion. Rob spent an action packed day with students from grades 7, 8, 9, and 10, teaching them about rhyme schemes and how to link together seemingly unrelated words and topics.
RIVKA KAHANA Rivka Kahana is a Holocaust survivor who, through a great deal of fortune, survived the war. Rivka came to ISF to share her disturbing, moving and ultimately uplifting story with students, teachers and faculty in December. She has already produced a Hebrew graphic novel version of her story, entitled, “Out of the Darkness,” and an English language prose version, “Shining in the Dark.” ISF hosted a school event on the evening of December 4t h, where Rivka shared her story with our community. ALESSIO NACUZI During the first semester, Grade 2 music students learned how to hold and play a violin with renowned violinist Alessio Nacuzzi. Through interactive workshops, Mr. Nacuzzi, taught students to read music notes and to follow a music score. Those students beautifully performed Lehar’s Waltz at the JS Festival of Song, demonstrating their newfound skills learned from our creative partner. These skills were applicable to Grade 2’s Unit on Sound where they learned more about sound, vibration, and pitch.
MOHAMMADREZA “MANON” AZAR Mohammadreza “Manon” Azar is a documentary film maker and video artist. Manon is going to be working with our Grade 11 IB Diploma students, from the start of Trimester 2, to explore the nature of reflective narrative through film – in two ways. First, he will demonstrate to our students how they can reflect on their CAS experiences through documentary film. Second, students will be asked to create a self-reflective piece about their own identity. SABINA SCIUBBA The ISF Cantabile Choir were fortunate enough to work with creative partner and Grammy-nominated singer, Sabina Sciubba, whose music is a mix of jazz, rock, folk, and classical music. Sabina worked with the choir in preparation for her show. The ISF community had the opportunity to see our choir sing at Sabina’s premiere of Force Majeure (under the direction of our own Tanja Kuštrin) at the Teatro Cinema della Compagnia last Saturday night. This was an amazing experience for our choir.
AZIN NAJAFI Azin Najafi is an artist with a background in painting and theatre design. Her approach to painting uses mixed media to create compelling colourful narrative pieces. Azin is going to be working with Rivka Kahana to create two large scale narrative pieces, one for Junior School and one for Upper School. The pieces will be a cross-cultural representation of Rivka’s story told through Azin’s eyes.
“Not to give up, through water and fire. I need people to know, understand, and feel this.” RIVKA KAHANA
Ja n u a ry 2020
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We asked students from both the upper and junior schools to answer two questions; why do you come to school, and why do you matter? These were their responses.
I come to school to learn and to have fun. SANDY, G5
I come to school to have a good education - it’s the tool to conquer the challenges the future holds.
I matter because I can change the world in the future. ELISA, G7
I come to school to have a better future. LUCA G4
LIA, G12
I come to school to make new friends. GEORGIA, G3
I come to school to have a better future; to learn what interests me and decide what to do in life. LILIANNA, G8
I come to school to learn and to expand my knowledge.
I matter because I am different.
KATHLEEN, G12
MILENA, G3
I come to school to interact and learn new languages with friends.
I matter because all my friends depend on me.
SOFIA, G3
LEONARDO, G4
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strategic commitments to the future MISSION
VISION
A laboratory for learning where we collaborate to add meaning to a shared future.
We aspire to build communities of makers and doers.
International School of Florence Ja n u a ry 2020
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ISF BASKETB Both the boys and girls varsity basketball teams improve on the road
The International School of Florence varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball teams started their ASIL league seasons in Rome against Marymount International School. The teams did extremely well, especially considering the fact that they had little training time in an indoor venue in the lead up to the first game. The girls ensured that the Wild Boars won their game 37-26. This is impressive considering the girls are a revamped team this year, losing a number of grade 12’s from last year. Fleur Huijsmans has been integral in recruiting new players and, in the game, scored over half the team’s points with a very skillful display. This was complimented by a committed team effort all around. The boys displayed the same enthusiasm and character strengths in their performance in a battling display eventually losing by ten against an athletic Marymount team who defended with enthusiasm. Both teams were a pleasure to travel with and represented the school extremely well, demonstrating excellent sportsmanship and pride in their school.
On Saturday, 18th of January, we hosted the American School of Rome for basketball fixtures at the Anchetta stadium. This is the first home game so support wasappreciated. This is a key part of our school sports culture which our student sports council are emphasising. On Thursday, 30th January, we are hosting the International School of Milan in soccer fixtures for middle school boys’, senior girls, and the senior boys’ team. The matches will take place at the Firenze Sud ground.
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I nt er nat i o n a l S c h o o l o f F l o r e n c e
ALL
Mr. Jones is a physical education teacher and the Head of Physical Education and Sport at the International School of Florence Email: w.jones@isfitaly.org
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GROUP 4 PROJECT On Thursday, 9 January, and Monday, 13 January, all Grade 11 students participated in the Group 4 Project, which is a required component of the IB Diploma Program Science courses. Research groups of 5-6 students each investigated research questions related to water -- see the photo descriptions. The key aspect of the Group 4 Project is that students collaborate in interdisciplinary teams (Physics/Chemistry/Biology) to conduct open-ended, inquiry-based research, largely of their own design. Whether or not they receive a call from Stockholm, each of our students fulfilled the Project’s aims -- and even had fun along the way!
We know that water can conduct electricity, but which factors affect this phenomenon? This student and his research team were investigating how various dissolved substances – and at which concentrations – influence water’s electrical conductivity.
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The acidity or alkalinity of water can influence how safe the water is to drink, how it tastes, and whether it is suitable for use in agriculture or industry uses. Students used a titration method and tested various water samples (tap water, stream water, various bottled waters) for their alkalinity.
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Chemical properties of substances can be analyzed using physical principles. Students analyzed the concentration of dissolved sugar solutions by measuring the varying optical “twist” of light polarization as the light beam travels through solutions of different strengths.
Why is the water on the coast of Sardinia warm enough for swimming in October? This team was investigating how the concentration of salt in water affects the water’s specific heat.
Osmosis is the process by which water enters and leaves our cells. How does the concentration of dissolved sugar affect the rate of osmosis? This was the question motivating these researchers.
These students are using a self-made balance to measure the surface tension of water. Their research question was: How is the surface tension of water influenced by varying the concentration of dissolved salt in the water?
www.is f it aly . or g
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STUDENT ART WORK Students in all grades have been hard at work creating beautiful masterpieces!
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NEW YEAR’S DANCE Grades 9-12
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January 17, 2020
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THANK YOU DANCE COMMITTEE! #i sf ins p ir es
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THANK YOU TO OUR PARENT ASSOCIATION!!
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INTERNATIONALLY MINDED, UNIQUELY FLORENTINE. International School of Florence
Sosteniamo il Futuro! Three students from Mr. Tufariello’s Italian language advanced 9th and 10th class from last year, were awarded a special prize for their excellent work in a national project on Sustainability called “Sosteniamo il futuro.” Students from all over Italy created a class newspaper called “Il quotidiano in classe” and their articles were submitted to a national contest. Filipa (G10), Ginevra (G11) and Tiziana (G11) were awarded by the national association “Osservatorio Giovani editori” for their outstanding entries which won the third place prize. Congratulations!
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF FLORENCE Viuzzo di Gattaia, 9 Firenze, FI 50125 Italia
www.isfitaly.org
“ M o re t h a n just the I B at I SF.”