Life at ICS

ICS’ Global Citizenship principles help students to challenge stereotypes and misinformation, make responsible decisions, respect multiple points of view and take action to make a positive change in the world. The Oxfam Education for Global Citizenship Curriculum and the Social Justice Standards from Learning for Justice both serve as a guide for how we seek to develop our instructional world view. This is how we build the lens through which we develop our concepts of identity, global community, and principles of justice and civic responsibility.  The principles outlined in these documents are present throughout our academic and social emotional learning curriculum and are the focus of our seven Heritage and Global Focus months (Hispanic/Latinx, Native American/Indigenous Peoples, Pride, African American/Black History, Women’s History, Asian American/Pacific Islander and Earth Months) as well as the celebration of Human Right day.

All grades begin the year with a geography unit.  In line with each Heritage or Focus month, students study the contributions of a diverse selection of important people from various identities, learning cultural background while making connections to their own lives and experiences. Students also explore heritage months through the exploration of themes and essential questions, connecting content to historical and current events. All students in grades K-8 participate in our One Book. Una Escuela Initiative. Each month students listen to or read a selected children’s book, exploring the theme related to the current heritage or focus month. Students learn about the authors and illustrators and take part in both classroom and schoolwide activities related to the theme. The 2024/2025 One Book.Una Escuela selections can be found here.

Since its inception, all students at ICS have received Spanish language instruction. ICS has had a two language program model— (1) a Spanish Immersion language program and (2) an Enhanced Spanish language program. Since the 2020-2021 school year, ICS has been making the Spanish Immersion Program accessible to all students by rolling out a new one program model. This roll out began with the 2020/2021 Kindergarten class, while older grades maintained the original two program design. By school year 2028/2029 all students will be enrolled in the one program model.

For the 2024/2025 school year, ICS offers a Spanish immersion language program to all students enrolled in grades K-4. Students in Kindergarten and 1st grade receive 90% of their academic instruction in Spanish. Beginning in 2nd grade, the percentage of Spanish Immersion instruction decreases to about 70%, and in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade, Spanish instruction decreases to 50%. This gradual decrease in Spanish instruction takes place because students begin receiving more intensive English Language Arts, and mathematics and science are taught in English. Students in 6th to 8th grade take Advanced Spanish Language Arts classes, with the remainder of their classes in English. Students who graduate from ICS typically test into upper-level Spanish courses in high school and are comfortable and confident speaking Spanish fluently in everyday situations.

In our Spanish Enhanced program (5th-8th grade only during the 2024/2025 school year), students receive 45-50 minutes of Spanish language instruction 4-5 days per week, depending on their grade level. Students who graduate from our Spanish Enhanced program are typically ready to start with Spanish 2 in high school.

No matter the model, ICS is committed to providing robust accommodations, modifications, and interventions for students struggling with second language acquisition, with the goal that all students reach grade-level English proficiency by 4th grade.

Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based approach to teaching that focuses on engaging academics, positive community, effective management, and developmental awareness. ICS uses Responsive Classroom to help create safe and joyful learning communities where students develop strong social and academic skills. By following the Responsive Classroom’s framework, students are encouraged to self-regulate. Community time provides space to reflect and have challenging conversations. Students have an opportunity to correct both academic and social mistakes and learn from them through test corrections and “fix-it” plans. The Responsive Classroom approach is associated with higher academic achievement in math and reading, improved school climate, and higher-quality instruction. Supported by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), Responsive Classroom is an evidence-based social and emotional learning (SEL) program.

ICS uses creative expression as a tool to explore self and relationship to the immediate community and the world. All students receive art, music, and dance/movement instruction in grades K–5.  A wide range of rotating electives is offered to middle school students. Examples include but are not limited to poetry, cooking, robotics, and graphic design.  In addition, ICS produces a musical each year, involving more than 80 students and offers an afterschool violin class to students in grades 3 and up.

ICS takes advantage of the major educational and cultural programs and facilities in the community such as Plays and Players Theater, Dancing Classrooms, Philadelphia Young Playwrights, Barnes Museum, Kimmel Center, Rhythm Kids and Fleisher Art Memorial.