Discover ISI

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”

For the first time in three years, Grade 5 students participated in school athletics again with the easing of COVID restrictions. As a result, the entire Grade 5 and 6 volleyball team was made up of entirely new athletes.

After graduating five seniors last year, the Boys Varsity Tennis Team was prepared for a challenging season with many new players working on improving their skills. 

“Our biggest challenge coming into the season was bouncing back after graduating five seniors last season,” Head Coach Haley Bougher said. “Most of our varsity spots were filled by freshmen this season which can be daunting going up against schools that often have JV and Varsity. We play the best of each team and have a very competitive schedule. Our young team held its own this season.”

Our Annual Fundraising Series events are designed to offer a wide array of options for ISI families and supporters to participate in annual fundraising - and to spend time together as a community. 

There are many ways to get involved - from purchasing tickets to sponsoring events. For more information on how to get involved, or to view our full Multi-Event Sponsorship Guide, click here.

Margaret Schnabel began her time at the International School of Indiana (ISI) as a Grade 6 student, graduating in 2017. 

After her time at ISI, Margaret went on to attend Indiana University as a Herman B Wells scholar, pursuing degrees in English and Cognitive Science. Afterward, she obtained her Master’s degree in World Literatures in English from the University of Oxford. Margaret is currently pursuing her PhD in English at Harvard University. 

Margaret credits the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum taught at ISI for helping her gain skills in independent thinking and reflection, which she continues to use every day. 

International Week is back! This year, the International School of Indiana (ISI) hosted International Week for the first time since 2019. With the newly unified Michigan Road campus, the event was able to be bigger than ever with new opportunities for the ISI community to connect and celebrate the diversity among the students, families, faculty, and staff. 

Madelyn Neal came to the International School of Indiana (ISI) in 2002 as a 3 year old in the French language track, staying until she graduated in 2017. 

After her time at ISI, Madelyn was prepared to continue her academic career first at Miami University of Ohio for her undergraduate degree and accelerated Master’s degree, and is currently attending New York University for her Ph.D. in French. Madelyn credits the language learning programs at ISI for guiding the course of her life and future career, with future goals to become a French professor for university and graduate students.

With a team of players who have never participated in competitive golf before, the ISI Boys Golf Team spent the season working on learning the rules to compete, improving their scores, and having fun to create a strong team culture to carry on to future seasons.

The Middle School Track & Field team completed a season filled with a focus on achieving their personal goals, growing as a community, and trying new things. Throughout the course of the season, all athletes on the team improved and reached new personal bests in their events. As athletes grew and figured out their new frames, they wanted to mainly focus on the form of each event. This allowed them to understand the mechanics of the events they participated in and, ultimately, grow into stronger competitors. 

For the first time in school history, ISI offered Boys Club Volleyball to high school students, all thanks to a student-led initiative to get the team off the ground. Players spent the season building skills, learning positions, and developing strategies behind playing each ball.

With a competitive schedule, the Girls Varsity Tennis Team spent the season working to improve upon their record from last season and develop the individual skills of not only returning players but also players brand new to the sport. The team finished the season with a 6-3 record, with Kreutz being recognized as an All-Conference player for her second-place finish at the PAAC tournament. 

On the last day of school, Upper School students, family, and friends participated in the Upper School Awards Assembly to celebrate the success and achievements of our students. Congratulations to our students for their achievements throughout the 2021-2022 school year - and congratulations to Pioneer House for winning the House Cup

The High School Varsity Track & Field Team had a lot to overcome this season with a late start to the season and player injuries affecting the team. Luckily, the team came together to work through the hardships to complete a very successful season!

Primary Years Programme (PYP) students at the Lower School are finishing up their final unit of the school year! The PYP units are built around transdisciplinary themes that are relevant to all students and cultures. The units are supported by knowledge, concepts, and skills from traditional subject areas such as math, social studies, science, and language arts, but utilize them in a transdisciplinary model.

Last week, Grade 8 students wrapped up their Interdisciplinary Unit - Global Issues Global Solutions, which combined their learning and skills from Individuals and Societies classes and Science classes. The International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum is built to help students connect their learnings between subjects and develop problem-solving skills, and the Global Issues Global Solutions Unit is a great example of interdisciplinary learning at ISI.

Happy Staff Appreciation Week! This week, our entire faculty and staff were celebrated by ISI families, the Parent Association, Board of Directors, and School Leadership for all of their hard work. Thank you to the ISI staff that makes everything we do possible! Keep reading for more information about some of our incredible faculty and staff members

On April 23, the ISI community was reunited for the 2022 International Gala. For more than 25 years the Gala has been a highlight on the ISI calendar and this year’s event did not disappoint. After a two year break due to the pandemic, the Gala returned, refreshed and with an extra special reason to celebrate - the debut of the Chen Family Lower School.

Last week, the Upper School celebrated another successful Timmy Week! With many COVID-19 policies being lifted, spring Timmy Week was the first major event that brought the ISI Upper School community together, fundraising for Timmy Global Health. Throughout the week, students participated in different spirit days, donating $1 each day to dress in a variety of themes, including Groutfits, Anything But a Backpack, and Twin Tuesday.

The High School Varsity Swimming & Diving Team finished up a successful season, full of personal growth and new school records. In the water, the Gryphons returned to the historic IUPUI Natatorium for practices where the team focused on more race pace training and tempo work as well as advanced their dryland training with morning weights and boxing at ISI. 

With a team consisting of many first time players, the Middle School Boys Basketball team spent the season building basic skills and team chemistry. The team saw major improvements throughout the season, with some major wins coming late in the schedule

Throughout the school year, club leaders pick topics of global significance to debate. Students take on the roles of leaders of different countries, debating the topic from their point of view using parliamentary procedures. Throughout this process, students gain skills in public speaking, debating in concise arguments, and striving to understand the issue from the perspective of their chosen country. Students also engage in research on the topics, organize their information into position papers, and learn how to collaborate and compromise to create resolutions for agreements between nations. These communication and organizational skills are essential components of MUN, but can also be transferred to use in classes and other clubs.

The High School Boys Varsity Basketball team spent their season focusing on building the program and improving skills with each practice. The young team, made up of nine underclassmen, did not have as much experience as teams in previous years, which required practice and determination on the court.

Primary Years Programme (PYP) students at the Lower School have finished their third unit of the school year! The PYP units are built around transdisciplinary themes that are relevant to all students and cultures. The units are supported by knowledge, concepts, and skills from traditional subject areas such as math, social studies, science, and language arts, but utilize them in a transdisciplinary model. 

ISI students start their Upper School experience in the Middle Years Programme (MYP), spanning from Grade 6 to Grade 10. The Personal Project, completed by Grade 10 students, is a student-centered exploration in which students consolidate their learning throughout the MYP. This project helps formally assess their Approaches to Learning skills and allows students to learn more about self management, research, communication, critical and creative thinking as well as collaboration.

In October, ISI hosted a virtual International Baccalaureate (IB) Evaluation Visit. Every five years, a visiting team of educators evaluates each of our International Baccalaureate programmes: the Primary Years Programme, the Middle Years Programme, and the Diploma Programme. The visiting educators spoke with ISI Leadership, teachers, students, and parents regarding the IB education experience at ISI. 

For their summative project in their Individuals and Societies class, Grade 9 students participated in a debate on immigration while role playing as different members of the House of Representatives and Senate. The summative, done while students are studying the United States government, gives students hands-on experience learning how our government operates.

We are so thankful for the ISI community and the ways we continue to grow as #OneISI. We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2022.

On December 2, over 200 ISI community members came together for the annual Night at the Indianapolis Zoo. The Night at the Zoo is a part of the ISI Year of Giving, allowing current families, alumni families, faculty, staff, board of directors, grandparents, friends, community partners, and businesses to join together to invest in our students, our facilities, our faculty, and our future

Within the IB Curriculum, topics and ideas have the opportunity to change, develop, and even evolve to best fit the learning needs of students. The Creativity, Activity, and Service learning model (CAS) is an example of just that. Globally, the CAS Program started out as an arts course offered to students, but now it has taken shape as one of the compulsory elements of the IB Diploma Programme. 

To celebrate a successful end to the second unit, families were invited to join their students in a variety of activities, including song recitals, presentations, and other hand-on activities to support and celebrate their student’s learning. To learn more about the PYP in the classroom, view Pre-Elementary and Lower School at ISI. 

The International Baccalaureate, or IB, is a worldwide education program designed to provide students with an education fit for a globalizing world. The IB stresses the importance not only of academic achievement but also personal development in the classroom. With immersion and dual language programs in French, Mandarin, Spanish, and English, the IB develops worldly thinkers. Here are the top five reasons ISI recommends pursuing an IB diploma.

On November 1, ISI grade 1 students traveled to Jennifer’s Forest and Joyful Learning Nature Center to spend a day outdoors, exploring nature and completing activities for their second Unit of Inquiry: “Sharing the Planet”. The central idea of the "Sharing the Planet" unit focuses on using natural resources in a useful way and teaches students what natural resources are and how we can use them responsibly.

With a large portion of the team graduating during the pandemic and half of the team having never played before, the High School Volleyball team had a season of rebuilding. The athletes worked together, acquiring many match wins and experiencing small victories as a group

The Timmy Club supports Timmy Global Health, a non-profit organization that provides health and education outreach services to economically developing countries. This past week, club members led the Upper School in the fall Timmy Spirit Week which included themed dress-up days and student vs. staff volleyball and soccer games, raising $1,905!

After sitting on the sidelines because of the canceled 2020 season, the High School Cross Country team returned for the 2021 season with a new Head Coach, and motivated athletes, ready to come back stronger

The High School Girls Soccer team started the season with goals not only related to wins and losses, but also growing as people and as a team. Coach Ken McDaniel has focused the past three seasons on building a tight-knit culture and continuing to grow the program able to sustain the success it achieves.

With a team comprised of new runners, the Co-Ed Middle School Cross Country team spent their season building skills, endurance, and the basics of competing. Their hard work paid off, with each runner improving on their individual times by the conclusion of the season.

The students presented their projects in a mock Nobel Prize for Biology before a team of judges. Students pulled together their ideas and decided how they would share the information with the panel. The result was a highly effective and knowledgeable series of presentations.

The ISI Middle School Athletic Program serves as a great opportunity for students to try a new sport. With the cancelation of the Fall 2020 season, the Middle School Co-Ed Tennis team welcomed many new athletes who had never played a match before.

Starting the season off with a team of players who were almost all new to the sport, the Middle School Volleyball team showed huge leaps as the season progressed. After a slow start to the season, the team became more and more comfortable on the court. This led to exciting wins the team worked hard for.

The Boys Varsity Soccer Team had an exciting first season back after a year without competing. The team was able to use the experience of the upperclassmen to help lead the newer players and teach them the basics of the sport. The hard work of each player, paired with the strong team mentality, led ISI to their best record in the past five years, which is 7-4-1. 

This fall, the Middle School Soccer team competed for the first time in two years - and for many players, the first time. Students focused on building up new skills and working together as a team, balancing the needs of new and experienced players. The Middle School Soccer team finished the season with a record of 3-6-1, with close losses they look forward to making up next year.

Last week, the High School Boys Tennis team wrapped up their Fall 2021 Season. With a mixture of brand new players and experienced players who had not competed in two years, the 2021 season was full of challenges. The Boys Tennis team finished their season with a record of 5-5. 

Over the past week, Primary Years Programme (PYP) students at the Lower School have been finishing up their first Unit of Inquiry of the school year. The units are supported by knowledge, concepts, and skills from traditional subject areas such as math, social studies, science, and language arts, but utilize them in a transdisciplinary model. 

This week, the ISI community celebrates a very exciting anniversary: Two years since the public launch of the ONE ISI campaign! While the past two years have been full of unexpected hurdles, our community came together to support the campaign to unify our campus with the construction of a new lower school building. To celebrate this anniversary, take a look back at all the ISI community has accomplished!

With less than two months of the school year completed, ISI students have already participated in multiple college representative visits, application and essay workshops, and parent information nights. College preparation begins early at ISI with grade-specific programming, group tours, and individual meetings. On average, ISI hosts representatives from 60-100 universities each year. 

The International School of Indiana (ISI) community greeted this school year with great anticipation because of the return of many activities suspended for health and safety reasons since March of 2020. With COVID-19 safety protocols in place, greatly missed opportunities that enhance the experience in the classroom have resumed. Recently, grade 3 students traveled to Flat Rock Camp in St Paul, Indiana, for a field trip to wrap up the “Who We Are” Primary Years Programme unit of inquiry. 

On August 25, International School of Indiana (ISI) seniors completed their Biology Internal Assessment. The Internal Assessment is an independent, student-designed lab which lasts an entire school day. The first month of the school year is spent preparing for this assessment, which builds on concepts and skills learned throughout the high school experience at ISI. The Internal Assessment is designed to challenge students to plan, carry out, and evaluate an investigation. 

Last week, the International School of Indiana (ISI) community kicked off the first day of the 2021-2022 school year with an annual tradition, the Bell Ringing Ceremony. The start of a new school year brings a bittersweet feeling to many in our community - the end of summer but the beginning of an exciting, promising new school year. On August 10, those bittersweet feelings affected many in our community as students began their last first day at the 49th Street Building, the longtime home of our Lower School. 

With one week left until the first day of the 2021-2022 school year, we at ISI are excited to welcome families back to the 49th Street and the Michigan Road campuses. This year, not only is the ISI community celebrating a return to in-person learning for all students, we are also celebrating our final year on two campuses. Click to view updates on the progress of the new Chen Family Lower School, opening fall 2022!