Beyond the Classroom
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At ICS Paris, we take learning beyond the classroom, guiding our students to broaden their horizons and discover new passions via abundant co-curricular and other opportunities, plus international connections. We live in a world in a state of constant change, and therefore we prepare students for life outside of the classroom as much as within it. Our school and the wider Globeducate group offer a constellation of enrichment activities.
Paris is our Classroom
A French immersion experience through outings and trips in and around Paris.
ICS Paris strives to ensure that each of our students is immersed in many different aspects of French culture through outings in Paris and trips further afield in France, making for a rich learning experience. We are convinced that our students’ experience in Paris should also be an opportunity for them to learn the French language; most of children who join our international school have regular French lessons until Grade 10. This unique feature makes ICS Paris different from the other international schools in Paris and contributes to a particular educational goal: to promote the learning of French for our students through playful, lively, immersive activities.
UNESCO Headquarters
Field Trips for students can extend learning beyond the walls of school classrooms. Our field trip to UNESCO provided unique opportunities for students to learn in a new environment and make real-world connections to the knowledge they’ve gained in class. Grade four children applied their thinking, listening and communication skills by asking questions, taking notes and reflecting on how our visit related to their unit of inquiry for children’s rights. While visiting the Wall of Peace in the gardens of the building, our multilingual children had the unique opportunity to translate phrases written in their mother tongue and translate them into English. The Japanese Garden provided an opportunity for them to gain insight into the historical significance and impact war has had on the mission of UNESCO. In the meeting room, students were able to see how countries work together to preserve their cultures and maintain peace.
Cité des Sciences
Just before the holidays, the Nursery, Pre-K and Kindergarten classes took a wonderful day trip to the Cité des Sciences. Here, the children were introduced to 6 little characters, each made of a different material but all fragile in their own way. They followed the story of Rocky, who got broken in an accident, and they found different ways to mend him once more. The children used all of their senses to investigate their own bodies, machines, movement, and differences between them and their friends. We ended with a lovely picnic and they returned to school full of stories about their new experiences and challenges!
Accrobranche Paris
Our second-grade students have been learning ways to support their physical, mental and social health with their first health unit on Health and Well-being. We couldn’t find a better way to build confidence and teamwork skills and to get our bodies and our hearts working than a trip to Accrobranche Meudon. 13 meters above the ground, the children passed through nets, walked over bridges and ziplined their way to the ground, all while supporting one another with words of encouragement.
Atelier des Lumières
Our youngest, 3 & 4-year-olds, visited the Atelier des Lumières Paris 75011. Connected to the current Unit of Inquiry, How we express ourselves, this trip brought the students into the landscape of Cezanne and Kandinsky's works projected on the walls of an enormous warehouse. Before the visit, the students had several opportunities to know the two artists and their exceptional works of art.
Ms. Villafane, our Early Education Coordinator, shared the children's comments. One said, 'I can tell a story in my painting!' Another added, 'It's dark, but I like the colors. They look like a rainbow!' 'I can dance inside a picture!'
Outdoor Learning
The environment is our 3rd teacher. Every day our Primary and Early Education students go to the park. It is a wonderful way of exploring nature, enabling them to use their senses and learn about the world. Children experience different herbs and flowers, explore water streams, discover new smells, play with the slide, climb the ladder, run around, and try out their gross motor skills.
The park is a genuine environment for experiential learning!
WWF and Eco School
The Eco Schools programme and educational partnership with WWF offer additional learning opportunities for our students to contribute to a better and more sustainable world.
As a proud member of the Globeducate network, Globeducate is the educational partner of WWF and this partnership aims to make sustainability education an intrinsic part of life in and beyond all Globeducate schools.
What is the Eco Schools programme?
Eco Schools is the world's largest sustainable schools programme. It is dedicated to advancing environmental education, management, and certification in schools. The initiative's holistic approach and the combination of theory and action makes it a powerful tool to reduce the environmental impact of the school community and to spread good environmental practices among young people, families, local authorities and other representatives of civil society. At ICS Paris, the Eco Schools programme is coordinated by Ms Charlotte Nicolas
ICS Paris joined the Eco-Schools international network in 2020 and is committed to raising awareness of important environmental themes that engage the entire learning community.
Globeducate Events
Being a part of the Globeducate family provides increased opportunities for students to take learning beyond the classroom and enjoy real-world experiences.
These events are hosted by a school, sometimes involving travel to the host school, sometimes hosted virtually. Prestigious and dynamic opening and closing ceremonies involving inspiring keynote speakers and representatives of international organisations such as WWF, bring our global community together and offer regular opportunities for all members of our worldwide family to celebrate learning together.
Students from ICS Paris participate in all these international events and compete with 55+ premium international schools and 31,000 students from around the world.
Globeducate provides a unique platform for students to explore their potential and connect with young talent worldwide.
International Music Festival
January: This festival is open to all ages and is a platform to showcase each school´s musical talents. Students also work collaboratively towards a concert that forms part of the event closing ceremony.
Model United Nations
March: This United Nations simulation event is fantastic for developing public speaking and negotiation skills. It has motions linked to UN priorities. The competition is open to students aged 16+ and each participant represents a country in the United Nations. Debates about key global issues to develop skills of conflict resolution and critical thinking.
Student Leadership Summit
October: This summit brings together senior students aged 17-18, those in leadership roles, for a packed timetable of seminars, presentations, interactive activities targeting topics such as public speaking and communication skills, problem solving and a key note speaker. Social activities such as quizzes, climbing and a formal dinner give students a rounded experience that will prepare them for leadership roles in their futures.
Arts Competition
June to November: Students aged 5 to 18 take part and submit entries linked to a theme associated with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Genres include: painting, performing arts, photography, English poetry and English narrative. This is a virtual competition, entered by schools across the group and with winning entries and those highly commended shared with schools.
