campus news

In today’s competitive academic environment, students have to take advantage of every possible opportunity to learn successful habits, push themselves academically, discover passions, and prepare themselves for the college admissions process. ISI students have the distinct advantage of learning through the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum, preparing themselves to be responsible and effective leaders who take ownership of their learning.

From September 14 to 20, the International School of Indiana (ISI) celebrated its International Week with a burst of color, cultural pride, and school spirit. This annual tradition, established in 2019, highlights the school's rich heritage while also raising funds for Upper School clubs and their philanthropic initiatives. It has become one of ISI's signature events, celebrating the past, present, and future of the school community.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of participants and sponsors, this year’s event surpassed last year’s total, raising over $31,000! These funds directly support facility and equipment upgrades, helping to elevate our athletics program to new heights. As the cost of running the ISI Athletics Program is not covered entirely by athletics fees, philanthropic support is a critical component of continual program growth. 

TEACHER FEATURE | Mendi Wiseman

Meet one of our incredible teachers who has dedicated 14 years of her teaching journey right here at ISI! With 28 years in education, she’s a true local, born and raised in Kokomo, Indiana, and a proud graduate of Butler University with both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education.

What makes her ISI experience even more special? She’s both a teacher and an alumni parent, giving her a unique perspective on the magic that happens at ISI every day.

Click to learn more about Mendi!

Throughout the nine-day trip, students traveled to Beijing, Xi’an, and Shanghai. The trip was designed to allow students to see well-known historical sites and also participate in exciting and educational cultural experiences. Students worked with local organizations in each city to complete service opportunities.

In Lower School at the International School of Indiana (ISI), every student participates in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP). The PYP is renowned for its focus on developing inquisitive, knowledgeable, and caring young individuals who are prepared to make a meaningful impact on the world. At the heart of the PYP lies the Grade 5 Exhibition Project, a capstone experience that brings together student learning through their time at the Lower School. This comprehensive project is not only an opportunity for students to demonstrate their learning but also a celebration of their growth and potential

The Middle School Track Team finished one of its most successful seasons in school history! Many students achieved top-three finishes, and even more set new personal records throughout the season.

The small but mighty ISI Girls Varsity Tennis team completed a successful spring season! The team spent the season working hard to improve, and every member played a crucial role in bringing home team victories. 

“My favorite memory from this season was our first team win,” Grade 9 player Veronica Sabau said. “Since we only had four people on the team, we needed each of us to win our matches in order to have a team win. This made winning extra special.”

This year, students built a multi-use court for basketball, soccer, and volleyball. They leveled the ground, mixed and poured concrete, created drainage systems, and finished the edges to make it safe for children. They also helped construct a well, cleaned up the school’s exterior and landscaping, and cleaned up the school’s fruit garden, which was previously unusable. Timmy Club members also brought basketballs and soccer balls for the community to keep, donated by the Pacers, Fever, and Indy Eleven teams

As the Class of 2024 has officially graduated from the International School of Indiana, it is time to reflect on their extraordinary achievements. This group of talented, resilient, and determined students has truly made its mark on the ISI community. From prestigious college acceptances to remarkable personal and academic accomplishments, the Class of 2024 has much to celebrate

After careful consideration, the International School of Indiana is pleased to announce its participation in Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program (Voucher Program) to all eligible grade levels. This expands the participation from the Upper School to the Lower School, making participation possible for eligible families with Kindergarten through Grade 12 students for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Having the entire ISI student body on one campus has continued to allow more opportunities for students of all ages to be involved in the ISI community in new and exciting ways. This year, for the first time, Grade 4 students were given the opportunity to try out for the Grades 5 & 6 basketball team! Many students were excited about this opportunity to join the team, gain new skills, and grow their love for basketball.

Saturday, March 23, the Indiana State Museum was filled with Gryphon pride as the International School of Indiana community gathered for the highly anticipated International Gala. The event celebrated the students, faculty, families, and volunteers who make our school so special

The MYP Personal Project is an independent and significant piece of work completed by students in grade 10. It allows students to showcase their skills, talents, and personal growth while engaging with real-world issues they care about. The project spans several months, during which students work independently to plan, execute, and reflect on their chosen endeavors.

ISI grade 3 students just finished their unit, How We Organize Ourselves: responsible use of money may determine how people live. The unit works as an inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities, the structure and function of organizations, societal decision-making, economic activities, and their impact on humankind and the environment.

Varsity Soccer had a very successful and rewarding season, finishing with one of their best records in recent years and overcoming many challenges they faced throughout the fall. The team spent the season working on playing purposeful, pro-active soccer.

With a small but mighty team, both the Varsity and Middle School Cross Country teams were able to find ways to improve, break records, and have a great time throughout the season. The Cross Country athletes spent their season pushing themselves to gain endurance and speed. Grade 10 runners Ashwin Long and Dennis Lemoine worked hard throughout the season, reached multiple PRs, and made it to regionals and sectionals, respectively.

The Grade 5/6 Volleyball team started the season with only two returning players after many of their past teammates moved up to the Grade 7/8 Volleyball team. This opened up opportunities for new grade 5 and even some eager grade 4 players to join the team and have their first experience with ISI Gryphon Athletics.

The Diploma Programme is a rigorous pre-university course of study designed for students in their final two years of high school. It is a broad-based, two-year course that aims to prepare students for university by encouraging students to be knowledgeable and inquiring but also caring and compassionate. There is a strong emphasis on encouraging students to develop intercultural understanding, open-mindedness, and the attitudes necessary to respect and evaluate a range of points of view.

The Extended Essay is an opportunity for students to gain experience with the independent research and writing skills expected at university. Students investigate a topic they personally care about from class and create a 4,000-word piece of independent research over the course of a year.

The Boys Varsity Tennis team started the season ready to grow and improve, with the goal of having a winning season. After graduating multiple seniors last year, younger players looked to step into leadership roles and higher-competing positions this season.

With a team made up of returning players, the Girls Varsity Golf Team began the season ready to continue growing from last season and ready to have fun while doing so. The athletes were constantly encouraging each other while working on new skills, improving form, and during matches. 

The Middle School Tennis Team overcame many obstacles to have a successful season! With many new players, the returning players stepped into leadership roles and helped keep the team positive as many players battled injuries. By the end of the season, every player had won at least one match, and everyone improved their overall game

The Girls Varsity and JV Volleyball teams had a season filled with tough opponents but used the competition as an opportunity to improve as players and teammates. With many players already having volleyball experience, students were able to continue to improve on the fundamentals and communication on the court.

ISI Kindergarten students started the school year with their unit, How We Organize Ourselves: everyone has a responsibility to make our school work. The unit works as an inquiry into the interconnectedness of human-made systems and communities, the structure and function of organizations, societal decision-making, economic activities, and their impact on humankind and the environment. 

Throughout their time at ISI, students revisit the How We Organize Ourselves unit with more in-depth topics, but Kindergarten students begin learning these ideas on a small scale within the school building. 

On Friday, October 13, ISI hosted the annual Trivia Night fundraiser attended by ISI families, staff members, past and current board members, and alumni and their families. Hosted in-person for the first time, over 100 ISI community members competed in the Trivia Night at Half Liter. The night was an exciting blend of knowledge, fun, and community spirit that brought people together to make a difference by supporting the ISI Annual Fund.

The Grade 5/6 Soccer Team finished a very successful season! The team, filled with players who were mostly new to athletics at ISI, finished their season with a 6-3 record. Grade 5 is the first year students are able to compete in school athletics, and the Gryphon athletes were excited and ready to start their ISI athletics careers.

From September 26 to 30, the International School of Indiana (ISI) came alive with a burst of colors, cultural pride, and school spirit during the annual International Week celebration. This event, which has quickly become a signature tradition at ISI since its inception in 2019, not only celebrated the school's past, present, and future but also raised funds for Upper School Clubs and their outside philanthropic priority.

To support its growing Gryphon Athletics program, The International School of Indiana held the inaugural ISI Golf Outing in support of the Gryphon Athletics Program on September 14. The parent-organized event was the vision of Jack Hope and Kelly Steele Hughes, and together with support from the school and dedicated volunteers, they brought their vision to life in an impactful way.

The Varsity Track & Field Team had a season defined by a willingness to try new things and a supportive atmosphere among teammates. Between integrating new team members and dealing with injuries, many athletes stepped up throughout the season to find success in new events.

The Girls Varsity Tennis Team entered the season ready to take advantage of the knowledge and skill of returning players. Senior leadership helped the team stay competitive all season and win many key matches, like the Senior Night victory against close competitor Western Boone.

The Middle School Track and Field team has concluded an exciting season marked by personal growth, community spirit, and a willingness to take on new challenges. Throughout the season, every team member showcased improvement, surpassing personal bests and pushing their limits.

In their second ever season, the Boys Varsity Volleyball Team worked to improve the skills of returning players and develop new players. Players with experience helped new players learn the sport and become more comfortable communicating on the court.

The Boys Varsity Golf Team started the season not knowing what to expect – the golf team is one of the newest teams at ISI, and one of the youngest, with no seniors participating in the sport this season. With the hard work and dedication of the athletes, the Boys Varsity Golf Team finished with a 7-1 regular season record!

With many returning athletes, the Varsity Swimming & Diving Team spent their season pushing each other to become better athletes, resulting in a 2nd (Boys) and 3rd (Girls) place finish in the PAAC as well as new individual records placed.

With a team of many underclassmen and athletes new to the sport, the Boys Varsity Basketball team worked hard this season to improve and become confident on the court. With the leadership of the upperclassmen players, all athletes improved throughout the season, resulting in some exciting wins late in the season. 

The Grade 7 & 8 Basketball team spent the season building on skills they had learned in previous seasons while integrating new players at the same time. The open participation policy at ISI allows students to try new things, and many students took the opportunity to try basketball for the first time

On March 11, the International School of Indiana community gathered at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis for the school’s signature fundraising event International Gala: Grown Up’s Night Out!

Gala is one of four events in the 2022-2023 fundraising series and is the school’s signature fundraising event. ISI fundraising events are designed to offer a wide array of options for ISI families and supporters to participate in annual fundraising and to invest in our students, our faculty, our facilities, and our potential. 

Middle School athletics are a great way to introduce students to new challenges and experiences through sports, and the Grade 5 & 6 Basketball Team was no different. With many players with little to no experience, the coaching team worked to introduce players to the sport in a more structured setting than they may have experienced before. 

Following a comprehensive and extensive search process that engaged more than 30 international candidates, the International School of Indiana is thrilled to announce that Timothy Stroh, M.Sc has been selected by Head of School Elizabeth Head and has accepted the position of Lower School Principal, effective July 1, 2023.

Stroh, a native of Indiana, will return to the state with extensive teaching and leadership experience in both independent and international schools. He currently serves as Vice Principal - Academic Achievement and Wellbeing at Berlin Metropolitan School (BMS) in Berlin, Germany. 

Kyle Kuzmic attended the International School of Indiana (ISI) from Pre-Kindergarten until he graduated in 2011.

After his time at ISI, Kyle continued his education at Indiana University Bloomington, double-majoring in Human Biology and French. After completing his undergraduate degrees in 2015 he continued his education at the IU School of Dentistry, completing his Doctorate in Dental Surgery and then at the Texas A&M College of Dentistry for his Certificate in Orthodontics and Master’s in Oral Biology. 

Kyle credits his education at ISI for opening up doors for him in college and beyond, including using his French to study abroad in Aix-en-Provence for 6 months during college, and to embark on dental service trips to Haiti while in dental school

In its first season back since the pandemic, the Girls Varsity Golf team worked to develop the skills of players all new to the game and to create a sense of community among the student athletes. 

Many of the players had very limited, if any, golf experience and were looking for an opportunity to try something new. The team worked hard to develop a culture of lifting each other up and supporting each other through learning new skills. 

In a sport based off of constant self-improvement, the Varsity and Middle School Cross Country teams spent the season chasing down their personal records and improving their times with each practice and race.

With a clear focus on strengthening and building community, and as part of its commitment to making the International School of Indiana accessible and affordable to more families, tuition will remain frozen at current rates through the 2023-2024 academic year

Balancing a mixture of new and returning players, the Girls Varsity Volleyball Team started the season with goals to further develop returning players, teach the fundamentals to new players, and improve the team’s record from last year. 

Middle School athletics is a great time for students to try out new sports, or to improve on skills they already have. As the coach of the Middle School Tennis Team, Félix Medina had goals to nurture a sense of community among the team, foster respectful communication, and create a love for the sport. 

Coming into the fall season, Head Coach Ken McDaniels wanted to focus on a shift in culture and improvement of individual players’ skills throughout the season. Led by four returning seniors as captains, players focused on quality of play instead of outcomes, and on building personal responsibility.

With many returning players, the Grade 7 & 8 Volleyball Team was able to spend the season building on skills from last season, while also welcoming new players and helping them learn the basics of playing volleyball. 

“The Lady Gryphons faced many difficult opponents where they had to adjust and overcome challenges,” Coach Linda Weiss said. “Having returning players allowed the team to be comfortable working together and improving their passing.”

The ISI Middle School Soccer Team had a very successful season, with an expanded team allowing students Grades 4 through 8 to compete. 

“Our goals as a team for the season were to continue building important skills and soccer IQ, as well as being competitive in our division,” Coach Nathan Gardiner said. “We focused on growing together in a team setting, developing or strengthening friendships, and to enjoy the experience”