The Co-Curriculum occurs alongside the Curriculum, frequently involves people other than IST teachers, and does the following :
- furthers IST’s Vision and Mission
- furthers the curricular goals
- puts curriculum into practice
- implements or explores the curriculum outside the classroom
- provides the depth and opportunity to explore an aspect of something which has been covered in class more generally
- is narrower in focus than what is covered in class and so may have clear parameters, definitions, starting and ending points
IST’s Co-Curriculum consists of :
- Field Trips - We believe that Tucson is a classroom and are constantly amazed at the wealth of resources Tucson has to offer. We have 27 pages of Field Trip opprotunities. Pre-School classes take at least six Field Trips each every year; Junior School classes may go on double this number. Trips are not excursions, IST students do not go ice-skating or bowling, and each has a clear pedagogical purpose.
- Exhibitions - An Exhibition is held at the end of each teaching Unit to show parents and the community what our students have learnt.
- After-School Cultural Events - A significant event for every culture and religion represented at the School is observed including Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Moslem, British, French, German, Ivorian, New Zealand, Russian, Swiss and Turkish.
- Visits - Consistent with our view that Tucson is a classroom, we regularly welcome “expert visitors” to our classrooms to share their knowledge and experiences with our students though seminars or prepared remarks, and they may also work with students on specific activities in a mini-workshop experience. Typically, these Visits occur in the students’ Language A, and Visits have a high importance in the Junior School programme.
- Prize-giving and Graduation - At the end of year, we have an event where students experience formal occasions and success and excellence is recognised.
- Assemblies - From time to time formal Assemblies are held and students experience formal events and learn how to behave, and where and how to applaud appropriately.
- Community Service - a Junior School programme where students give of their time, energy and skills to the wider community, outside the school day.
- Student Council - a Junior School programme offering the opportunity for participatory democracy, and exploring the issues of representation and governance. Each class elects a representative, and the entire student body a President and Vice-President. Both the Council and the Executive meet regularly, and they also meet regularly with the Head of Junior School.
- International Day - Once a year, the countries and cultures represented at the School share their food, music, dancing, artwork and so on with the School and the wider community.
- Southern Arizona Language Fair (“SALF”) - IST has participated in the SALF every year since the School's launch in both competitive and non-competitive events, and our students experience both performance and being critiqued by outside experts. IST students have all been judged as “Excellent” or “Outstanding” in all years we have participated.
- Winter Concert - the Semester I Junior School showcase including dance, drama, singing and individual and group performances.
- Writing Competitions, other Language Competitions - the result is not as important as the experiences of preparing and participating.
Some Co-Curricular events occur outside the teaching day, especially in the After School Activity slot and many are available to both Pre-School and Junior School students. Co-Curricular events do not incur fees and are included in the School’s base Tuition.
For more detailed and specific information on the IST co-curriculum, please contact the Head of School.
