School Traditions
The International School of Indiana has many traditions and events that have been shaped by our school’s history, the International Baccalaureate (IB) and language learning programs, and the employees and families who have infused our community with customs and perspectives from around the world. Below, you’ll find an overview of the signature events and activities that connect our community.
community-wide events & Traditions
Bell Ringing Ceremony
The Bell Ringing Ceremony has been a tradition as ISI since August 1998. It borrows from a Russian tradition in which students greet teachers at the start of each school year, giving them flowers and then ringing a bell held by the principal of the school. Each student has an opportunity to ring the bell to start the school year, beginning with the oldest student at ISI and ending with the youngest. This event is held on the main track and field and kicks off the start of the school year for all students, families, and employees.
International Week - Homecoming, International Parade and Festival
International Week began at ISI in 2019, and is a time to recognize and celebrate all of the cultures that make up the ISI community. Throughout the week, one day is dedicated to each language track (French, Mandarin, and Spanish), and the week culminates with an International Parade and Festival. Carrying flags representing their nation and in attire that represents their home country, students, faculty and staff walk together in a beautiful display of pride for their culture. The parade is followed by a festival for the full school community. Athletic events throughout the week serve as homecoming games for both boys and girls sports, and Upper School students have a homecoming dance that weekend.
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Language Track Celebrations
Each language track has a celebration once a year where the entire track hosts a celebration of the culture, history, and achievements of their language track. These events allow the entire language track to come together for a performance and invite their family and friends to celebrate and view what the students have been working on.
French Track: International Francophonie Day
Mandarin Track: Lunar New Years
Spanish Track: Hispanic Heritage Month
House System
ISI established houses at the Upper School during the 2010 school year, and introduced houses at the Lower School in 2023. All students (Grade 1 and older), faculty, and staff members are sorted into one of four houses; Bison, Limestone, Cardinal, and Pioneer. Students participate in community building activities with their houses, as well as compete for the yearly house cup. Houses earn points for a variety of accomplishments, including athletics and arts participation and academic achievement.
Field Day
Field day is a fun-filled, springtime event held in many schools throughout the United States. It is a day of sports and athletic competition for students of all ages. Upper School students compete against other houses during their field day, earning points to go towards the House Cup.
other events
- Monthly Spirit Days at the Lower School
- Lower School Choir Concerts
- Grade 5 Exhibition
- Grade 5 Moving Up Ceremony
- Midnight Madness (Grade 8)
- Personal Project Exhibition
- Upper School PJs & Pancakes Celebration
- Kiddie 500
- Grade 8 Moving Up Ceremony
- Grade 10 Moving Up Ceremony
- Model United Nations Trips
- Athletics Senior Nights
- Earth Day Celebrations
- Golf Outing
- Parent Trivia Night
- International Gala
School Dances
- Homecoming Dance
- Lower School Family Dance
- Middle School Dance & Game Night
- Winter Semi-Formal
- Prom
Upper School Arts
- High School Play
- Fall Music Concert
- Upper School Musical
- Spring Music Concert
- DP Art Exhibition
- Middle School Play
Lower School Overnight Field Trips
- Grade 3 Camp Flat Rock
- Grade 4 Bradford Woods
- Grade 5 Washington DC
Upper School Culture Trips
- Spanish Track
- French Track
- Mandarin Track
- DP Arts Trip
- Timmy Club Trip
Featured Lower School Events
Lower School Class Assemblies
Since 2012, weekly class assemblies have been an important part of the ISI calendar at the Lower School. Class assemblies are the most individual celebrations, where just one classroom presents what they have been learning to their friends, families, and other classes in the same grade. These assemblies provide Lower School students with an opportunity to share their learning with a broader school community.
The End of Unit Celebrations bring together all three language tracks of an individual grade, and focus on highlighting what the grade learned about in their most recent unit. The celebrations include presentations, skits, and songs as well as hands-on activities for students to complete with their guests to showcase their learning. Classes also display different projects and models they may have created throughout the unit.
End of Year Celebration
One of ISI’s earliest traditions was the Lower School end-of-year celebration. The celebratory fair marked the school year's successful close, and more than two decades of families and employees have fond memories of the tradition. Gryphons enjoy games, music, prizes, treats, and much more.
Featured Upper School Events
Upper School Timmy Club
The Timmy Club (established 2004) and Timmy Junior (established 2018) are two of the most popular clubs at ISI, and are some of the largest Timmy chapters in the country. Timmy Club hosts many events to support Timmy Global Health.
Penny Wars: Students compete to see which house can raise the most money in coins.
Timmy Week: Timmy Week happens both in the fall and the spring. Students donate money to dress up for different spirit days.
Timmy Game: Timmy Week ends with a high-energy Student vs Staff sporting event to raise money, showcase student talent, and have fun! Depending on the season, the Student vs Staff game will be volleyball, soccer, or basketball.
Timmy Color Run: Students fundraise and participate in a color run through ISI campus.
Grade 12 Traditions
Besides graduation, Grade 12 students participate in many celebrations throughout their senior year to celebrate their hard work. First, students celebrate The 100 Days Dinner at the beginning of February to celebrate the remaining 100 days of their time left at ISI. Grade 12 students also celebrate Senior Send Off in April to celebrate their final day of formal classes before their IB exams.
HOLIDAYS & CELEBRATIONS
As a non-sectarian school, decisions on how to approach events, holidays, celebrations, and awareness themes are based on the following principles:
- The mission and values of ISI should be reflected in both academic and social experiences.
- We will ensure that each student’s culture, language, ethnicity, family structure, identity, customs, and beliefs are recognized and valued in our approach to holidays and celebrations.
- School traditions are treated with respect for the role they have played in establishing our culture, as is a consideration for their continued relevance.
- Continuity of experience is important in building a shared identity between generations of Gryphons, but it should not impede progress.
In the Lower School, units of inquiry and assemblies are designed and implemented throughout the year to explore holidays around the world, preparing students by broadening their worldview and emphasizing respect for diverse beliefs and traditions (including their own families).
In the Upper School, student assemblies, certain classroom activities, and clubs provide a forum for programming related to monthly awareness themes, including holidays, throughout the year.