Welcome to Middle and High School

The 2007-2008 academic year at BFIS has begun with a palpable air of excitement. One of the best things about this small and truly international school has always been its sense of itself as a work in progress. The students and educators here honor past achievements and celebrate the qualities that make this a special school. But at the same time we ask ourselves and each other: How can we do better?

The pursuit of excellence consumes students and educators at BFIS, and there is a sense that we are becoming a truly extraordinary international school. Our high school students aim toward graduation with many of them taking on the challenges of both Advanced Placement (AP) courses and courses in preparation for the Spanish Selectividad. These culminating measurements of our educational program are telling a story of a school that has improved in leaps and bounds in recent years. The number of students taking on the demands of AP and Selectividad is higher than ever, and our scores this past year were higher than ever. That success is a testament to the strength of the BFIS program from Nursery through Grade 12. It is a testament to the quality of teachers and the quality of instruction in the classrooms. It is a testament to the support services that help students at BFIS find themselves and realize their potentials, in an environment that is demanding yet nurturing, stimulating yet safe.

The student body in the middle and high school is a truly international mix. We honor the founding principle of BFIS in maintaining an approximate ratio of one-third Spanish, one-third American and one-third international students. This creates a dynamic and interactive learning environment for 200 middle and high school students, who experience an educational setting where a wide variety of ideas, cultures, languages and perspectives are introduced into the forum.

All students in middle and high school follow an academic program that consists of five core subjects: Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, English and Spanish. Students all take Physical Education as well, and choose from a variety of electives in Art, Drama, Music and French. While students with Spanish nationality take courses in Historia y Geografia and Catalan language, the international students are introduced to these topics in a Spanish-Catalan Studies course. For juniors and seniors in high school we offer 12 different Advanced Placement courses, as well as the courses in preparation for the Selectividad. Technology is part of all courses, and an important initiative this year is to integrate technology into all corners of the curriculum.

In addition to an outstanding team of subject area teachers we have teachers who support English language learners, and learners in need of specialized or accelerated instruction. We have a middle school counselor and a high school counselor/academic advisor who look after the academic and social-emotional needs of our students. We have a Curriculum Coordinator who helps ensure that we are current with the best practices of the finest schools in the world, and helps articulate and align our curriculum into a scope and sequence that maximizes the learning opportunities for all. These qualified and committed professionals are the backbone of our program, a program that grows stronger each year.

With a healthy mix of long-standing members of this community and new contributors, we are on the cusp of even more special accomplishments this 2007-2008 academic year. I look forward to the collective pursuit of new knowledge, to the projects we will undertake as a community, and to the celebrations and ceremonies that make BFIS unique and special. And I extend a welcome to all!