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The International School of Curitiba was founded in 1959. It is an independent private, nonprofit, non-sectarian, co-educational college preparatory school enrolling students from toddler (age 2) through grade 12. The school is legally owned and operated by the Association of the International School of Curitiba. This association is composed of ISC parents and is democratically run by an elected, nine-member Board of Directors.
Students at ISC represent approximately 25 nationalities with about 40% international students the remaining 60% Brazilian.
The ISC Santa Felicidade campus is located in a beautiful pastoral setting on the northern edge of Curitiba. Grades 1 to 12 made the original move to this campus when their new facilities were completed in 2001. In November 2010, the new Early Childhood Center was completed bringing all students back together on one campus.
GRADES 1 TO 12 In addition to spacious classrooms, the campus provides science and computer labs, a cafeteria, a library/media center, a multi-purpose theater, a track, a football field and covered gymnasium. Future plans are to build a new Performing and Fine Arts Center with purpose built classrooms for art, music, and drama, and a theater.
ECC- PRE-TODDLER TO KINDERGARTEN The ISC Early Childhood Center is home to our pre-toddler, toddler, nursery, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten classes and provides a very special learning environment for young children. The new purpose built facility provides an optimal learning center for our Early Childhood Center students with spacious classrooms, each with its own covered patio and gardening area. In addition, there are classrooms for music, science, art, and physical education, a playroom, library, cafeteria and outdoor covered play area. A large multipurpose room, spacious hallways and reception area also provide a pleasant venue for indoor activities for children and parents.
ISC faculty hold a minimum of a bachelor's degree or equivalent, many have advanced degrees. The faculty consist of a mix of oversees and locally hired faculty including teachers from the United States, Brazil, and Canada, most are native English speakers.
The International School of Curitiba is actively promoting environmental awareness, with a primary focus on educating its students about the virtues of sustainability and environmental citizenship. The administrators and faculty have developed a dynamic new sustainability model which will build on ongoing school improvement initiatives. The model integrates curriculum and campus practices, as well as seeks interested partnerships for the purpose of educating ISC students for a lifetime of sustainable living. At the same time, ISC is committed to improving its environmental performance and contributing environmentally to a city recognized around the world for its sustainable development; Curitiba. ISC’s ultimate goal is that its students will develop the skills and attitudes to make informed decisions as global citizens, as well as be both environmentally and socially responsible, cornerstones of our school’s mission. This linking of knowledge, inquiry and action will enable ISC students to build a healthy future for themselves and their communities and for our wonderful planet.
ISC’s model utilizes the urban planning innovations initiated by Mr. Jaime Lerner as a starting point for student generated investigations, discussions and representations of urban life in the 21st century. Lerner’s work in Curitiba is legendary and was arguably extremely influential in Curitiba being selected as the 2010 Most Sustainable City in the World.
Pre-Toddler,Toddler, Nursery, Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten - Ages 18 months to 5 years The Early Childhood Center has small classes. The ECC program focuses on early stages of learning in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies, music, physical education and health. Early learning in technology is included in instructional activities. Portuguese language is also introduced at the kindergarten level.
The ISC Elementary School follows U.S. and Brazilian accredited programs that emphasize the basic subjects. A major part of the program is directed toward the development of reading, writing, and mathematics. Students are taught by grade level classroom teachers with support from specialists in music, art, physical education, Portuguese, Portuguese as a second language (PSL), Brazilian history and geography, English as a second language (ESL), computer studies and library instruction. For students in grades 1 through 5, the development of computer skills and the use of technology are integrated into the regular classroom instruction. Students make use of classroom computers as well as computer lab instruction.
The middle school core academic program includes instruction in English, reading and social studies. To support the transition from elementary to high school, middle school students have one teacher for these core classes.
Middle school students also continue instruction in music, art, physical education, and Brazilian history and geography. Depending on their language ability, students will be enrolled in Portuguese or Portuguese as a second language (PSL), and English or English as a second language (ESL) classes.
ISC provides a four-year, college preparatory program for its students. Typically 100% of its graduates enter four-year colleges and universities either abroad or within Brazil to pursue a wide variety of professional studies. ISC offers high school students three diploma options. All graduating students complete requirements for American and Brazilian diplomas. Students also have the option of completing requirements for the International Bacalhaure (IB). The IB program is a demanding pre-university course of study designed for highly motivated students in grades 11 and 12. Upon entering university, students scoring well on the IB examinations may receive university credit for these courses.
Students must earn 24 credits to graduate. Generally, credits are earned at a rate of 0.5 credits per course per semester. Credits are granted only upon successful completion of each course with no credit given for a failed course. All ISC 11th and 12th grade students are required to complete 150 CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) hours for graduation. Students have a choice of activities in which they can participate, in order to fulfill their CAS requirements. All ISC students are required to write a research-based extended essay as part of their graduation requirements.
The ISC Native Language Program is an optional program which provides our non-Brazilian students in grades 1 to 10 with instructional time to study their native language, usually thought by the students' own parents.
ISC offers extracurricular activities for its students in the areas of athletics, music, drama, art, service and academic clubs. It is a member of the South American Athletic Council (SAAC) and competes in annually in soccer, volleyball, and basketball against Uruguayan American School, Montevideo; Lincoln School, Buenos Aires; International School Nido de Aguilas, Santiago; American School of Quito, Quito; and Franklin Delano Roosevelt School, Lima.