FAQs
Moving to another country with children can be a hard and stressful experience. It involves great amount of research, decision making and planning. One of the first steps families make when moving abroad is looking for a new school for their children which can be by itself an overwhelming task. Doing some thorough “homework”, however, will reduce the level of anxiety and prepare the road for a smooth and successful transition.
No. BFIS has a rolling admissions policy, meaning that applications are processed all year round. We encourage parents to apply as we accept applications throughout the year.
Yes. If a student applies to a full class and receives a positive review from the Admissions Team (Qualified applicant), his/her name will go on a wait pool. When a spot becomes available, space will be offered to Qualified applicants based on the Admissions Policy.
Parents can use different forms of payment: international bank transfer, cash, direct deposit or credit card. For online payment with your credit card, please click here.
Once Step 1 and Step 2 of our application process have been completed, parents are generally notified within ten days. Please review Step 1 and Step 2 of our Application Process here.
No. The application fee is non-refundable. The application fee is charged per prospective student to process an “Application for admission” and it is valid for two consecutive school years.
No. Generally, once the file is complete (Step 1 and Step 2) and the Admissions Team has reviewed the file, it is up to the area Principal to request or not a videoconference if the student cannot be physically present for an interview.
Children must turn 3, 4, or 5 years of age by the 31st of December.
Yes. At BFIS, there is a well-known EAL Program (English as an Additional Language). Students entering from grades Nursery - 2nd grade may come in with no English skills. After 2nd grade, the applicant must be assessed and meet the language requirements.
Nursery through 5th grade students need to be in school by 8:35 am. Middle School and High School students need to be in school by 8:50 am. Some IBDP classes begin at 8:00 am. The school day ends at 4:00 pm for all students, except on Wednesdays when classes end up at 3:00 pm. Please visit our website for more information on schedules:
- BFIS Schedule (General information)
- Elementary School (ES) Schedule
- Middle School (MS) / High School (HS) Schedule
*COVID-19 SCHOOL PROTOCOLS: Please note that due to government-approved COVID-19 school protocols, arrival and dismissal times starting September 2020 have changed and are staggered. Please refer to EC/ES Arrival and Dismissal Times or MS/HS Arrival and Dismissal Times for more information.
Yes. Parents may sign up for school transportation at an additional cost.
No. BFIS has a Spanish as an Additional Language Program. Students that aren't native Spanish speakers are assessed at the beginning of the year and placed adequately at their entry level.
Yes. A number of after-school activities are offered at BFIS. For more information please click here.
Yes. BFIS welcomes active parents who want and are willing to share their time and talents. Also, the PTA (Parent Teacher Association) organizes many activities during the year. The PTA warmly welcomes parents to join this association. This is a great opportunity for parents to participate in class activities, field trips, fundraisers and school-wide committees.
Generally, Nursery has 15 students per class and Pre-Kindergarten has 18 students per class. Elementary School (ES) grades (Kindergarten through 5th grade) generally have from 18 to 20 students per class. Classes in Middle School and High School generally have from 15 to 18 students.
Summer school information is usually published on our website around April-May.
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