New families
Welcome to BFIS. Each year BFIS welcomes students and their families from around the world to join our diverse and expanding international community. We hope you will soon feel like at home at BFIS.
Welcome to BFIS
It is important to us that new families feel a part of our international community as soon as possible, providing a quick and easy transition for students and parents. To meet this goal, BFIS provides a Welcome Program designed to help new students and their families make early connections within our friendly and inclusive community. Once you arrive, you’ll become part of it.
School Calendar 2022-2023
BFIS Calendar at a glance with the most important dates of the school year
Living in the city of Barcelona
Visit our webpage with many resources and information about living in Barccelona
School Year 2022-2023
Our purpose is to engage our diverse school community in the pursuit of educational excellence and success for all students.
Our values are based on four basic pillars that are followed by both students and teachers, who instill them in order to achieve a climate of harmony throughout the school.
These pillars are:
- Be kind
- Be honest
- Be respectful
- Be responsible
In the link below you will find a description for Middle and High School elective courses for school year 2022-2023
Bring your own device
BFIS provides the use of school-owned iPads from kindergarten through 5th grade. These devices are to be used at school only. Starting in 6th grade, students are required to bring their own personal devices for 1:1 use at school and to create academic tasks at home. Students are responsible for bringing their device to school (charged) every day.
Minimum requirements for a student’s device:
- MacOS (preferred), or Windows (if you already have an iPad Pro, it can be used, but its purchase is not recommended)
- USB-C Type Charger
- Memory: 8Gb
- Storage Capacity: 256 GB SSD. (512GB recommended)
- Minimum processor: Intel Core i5
- Wi-Fi AC Integrated
- Bluetooth
- Keyboard
- 720p front camera
For your reference, BFIS teachers use the 13-inch MacBook Air with 8GB RAM. Any new Apple or Windows laptop should meet these same specifications. Higher models and specifications can also be purchased based on personal needs. The operating system must be in English and be able to access BFIS internet. If you decide not to purchase a new laptop, you may provide a used laptop from home as long as it is not older than 3 years and meets the same specifications listed above. We highly recommend that you purchase an Apple device as the school is moving to an all-Apple school within the next few years.
This document outlines the basis and expectations for technology use at BFIS including the 1:1 Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) program in Grades 6-12. In order to best prepare students for technology use, please:
- Read this letter thoroughly with your child.
- Discuss the educational purpose and behavioral expectations of the devices with your child.
- Help to establish routines for charging, storing, and safely transporting the device to and from school.
- Sign and send this digital form.
To enhance communication and make planning easier for our families, BFIS has established a weekly email schedule. Here is what to expect once the school year begins:
On Friday: The Weekly with information from all divisions about what is going at school, events calendar, announcements, messages from the Head of School, Counselors, Principals, university visits and tours, parent workshops, etc.
There is always so much work and the PTA (Parent and Teacher Association) is always in need of volunteers. Please consider collaborating with the school by sharing your time and/or your expertise/passions. On the PTA website you will find volunteering forms to submit if you are interesting in collaborating with the school.
Barcelona resources:
- Barcelona International Welcome Desk
- Barcelona International Welcome Desk Presentation
- Moving to Barcelona, Practical Guide to Settling Down
- Barcelona Business and Living Publications
- Barcelona "Bicing" System
- Parking System in Barcelona
- Catalan Language Courses
- Barcelona Public Transport
- Barcelona Women's Network
- Barcelona Global
- US Consulate General Barcelona