3. International High School Viewbook

International High School The IB Experience | 1

IBexperiencethe

destination : international high school

“We are not a one size fits all school. To be accepted at International, you must

convince us that you are ready to do the work, and ready to bring your

unique qualities and intellectual curiosity, without reservation.”

2 | International High School The IB Experience

“When you are taught that the world in all its iterations is yours

to apprehend, nothing is foreign.”

The CrossroadsWhy choose the IB Diploma experience at International?

You really are standing at the crossroads. High school will allow you to reinvent yourself socially and intellectually. Choosing your high school is not a decision to be taken lightly. You only do it once, and it is a significant investment of your talent, and your parents’ treasure.

If you want to memorize or regurgitate facts, spend half your time thinking about your next text message or stare out the window, International isn’t the right place for you. Consider International as a different path—one that could take you higher. If you want to take risks, imagine, weigh in, be present, be curious, be alert and be engaged, you will be in the right place. If you want to challenge yourself (and your teachers) and develop 21st century relevant skills—alongside the most interesting, diverse and sophisticated bunch of friends and classmates in the city; then you and International High School will be a great match.

We are not a one size fits all school and we do not have a particular student applicant profile in mind. To be accepted at International you must convince us that you are ready to do the work and ready to bring all your unique qualities and intellectual curiosity without reservation.

We recruit an astonishing range of individuals. To be accepted we must discern that you will add value to our diverse, internationally-minded community. You can be feisty or on the quiet side; but you must have sparkle, be willing to explore your passions and, on your best days, provoke and inspire your teachers and your peers.


The IB was developed in Geneva in the 1960s to allow mobile students in international schools to obtain an education credential that would be recognized around the world. Today the IB Diploma is widely recognized as the most comprehensive college preparation available. It eclipsed regular AP classes in the eyes of top rank colleges, here and abroad, long ago.

If you become an IB Diploma student at International your horizons will be extended far beyond the Bay area. You will be connected to a global family of 3,463 IB World schools in 143 countries, serving more than a million students around the world.

IB teachers do not “teach to the test.” Rather they emphasize questioning and curiosity. They will encourage you to think critically as you acquire knowledge and build deep understanding. You will develop close working partnerships with your teachers at International and you will appreciate our respectful and collegial learning environment which resembles the first years of college.

The IB Diploma Program challenges and inspires. The IB Diploma consists of six classes which combine to form a strong liberal arts program. You have freedom of choice and you can play to your strengths. All IB classes are in-depth honors classes taught over two years. There are several unique aspects of the IB Diploma that are quite revolutionary and set it apart from rival programs. The IB teaches traditional subject matter but does so in a highly relevant,

cutting edge, 21st century fashion, emphasizing, above all, critical thinking. It is not so much what you will be taught, but how you will be taught.

Your teachers will look you in the eye and take your questions very seriously. You will not be coddled, and you will always be asked to frame your ideas and inquiry around evidence. In each academic discipline you will experience a kind of apprenticeship. The torch will be passed from your teacher to you.

The IB Diploma has “International” in its name for a reason. The international element is present in all classes. Our teachers and our student body are from all over the world. We believe if you rub shoulders and share viewpoints on a daily basis with other smart individuals from widely differing backgrounds, your educational experience will never be boring and predictable.

Quite simply: you will learn more.


What is the IB?We are the only independent school in San Francisco offering the prestigious International Baccalaureate Diploma program.


“At International High

School, you have the

freedom to express

yourself in a variety of

academic or co-curricular

arenas. With the support

of a close-knit community,

you feel comfortable

exploring new things.”


Personalizing your IB Diploma.

Extended Essay A memorable rite of passage for all IB Diploma students is writing an independent research paper conforming to international academic conventions. You will be free to choose your own research question and you will be guided by a mentor teacher. You will be proud of your Extended Essay; and when your first college mid-term paper comes along you will feel confident and prepared when others are feeling overwhelmed by the task.

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) Another integral part of the IB Diploma experience will be your documented participation in a wide range of co-curricular activities which are creative, action-oriented, and community-service oriented. Your teachers, and your future colleges expect you to have a life outside the classroom. We want you to

be a well-rounded, reflective human being with a sharp mind and a healthy body, and a life outside the classroom.

Theory of Knowledge (TOK)As you begin your Theory of Knowledge class you will already have 16 years of life experience, and more than 10 years of formal education behind you. You will have accumulated knowledge, beliefs and opinions not just from school but from your lives outside the classroom. In the TOK seminar class you will have the opportunity to step back from regular classes in order to consider knowledge itself. TOK is all about asking deep questions and daring to know for oneself. It is subversive in the sense that it discourages swallowing piecemeal conventional ideas, or prepackaged opinions of peers or authority figures, without real critical thinking.


Group 1: Language and LiteratureEnglish, French, Chinese, Russian*, and Vietnamese** with external tutors

Group 2: Language AcquisitionFrench, Chinese, Spanish, Italian, English or German

Group 3: Individuals and SocietiesHistory (available in French), Geography, Business and Management*, Information Technology in a Global Society** online classes

Group 4: Experimental SciencesChemistry, Biology, Physics or Environmental Systems and Societies

Group 5: MathematicsMathematical StudiesMathematics Standard LevelMathematics Higher Level

Group 6: Arts or ElectivesVisual Arts, Film, Music, Theatre, Economics, Chemistry or a Third Language

You will customize your IB Diploma by selecting a course from each of the six groups shown below. You must choose three classes at Higher Level and three classes at a Standard Level. You will also participate in a Theory of Knowledge course, write an Extended Essay, and complete 150 hours in Service, Action and Creative activities.


“By asking us to think

critically, International

teaches students to be

more independent and

self-assured.”

The Foundation.The academic year begins with an exhilarating three day, Freshman Retreat which includes camping under the stars and white water rafting. The Retreat rapidly establishes early friendships and binds the class together. When you return to school, and after receiving your iPad loaded with educational apps, your intellectual and extracurricular adventure will begin.

Our core pre-IB classes provide foundational skills and ensure that you explore widely, keeping your mind and options open. You will discover new talents outside your comfort zone and you will consolidate further those areas where you already excel.

The IB foundation classes have conventional titles, but are not conventional in the sense that it is not so much what you will be taught, but how you will be taught.

This transcends rote learning and busy work. You will learn nothing less than the essential skills and attitudes of a real experimental scientist; a real historian or geographer; a real literary scholar; a real mathematician; a real economist; a real working artist, musician, actor, or film maker.

Student LifeA great way to follow your passions and generally have fun is active participation in Student Government, the various clubs and student dances and other social events. You can join an existing club, or established student organization, or you could be creative and entrepreneurial and initiate a brand new club with a group of like-minded friends. You can find out what is on offer at the annual Club Fair in October.

Grades 9 and 10: Building the Foundation for the IB Diploma.



“I have directed a one-act, played soccer, baked for community service,

and I have gone to Mexico and Guatemala with the school. I have

had millions of opportunities that I wouldn’t necessarily

have had if I had gone to another school.”


College CounselingThe process of applying to colleges and universities often appears a complicated and daunting one. In part, it is, but it is also a wonderful opportunity for self-examination and thoughtful planning. By beginning the process in your junior year, and with good advice and counsel, the application process can be relatively smooth and free of worry. International students have a distinct advantage when applying to various schools, in part because colleges and universities understand so well the challenging nature and intrinsic worth of the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

The stage is set during your freshman and sophomore years at International. You will work hard exploring academic areas that are personally rewarding and others that may seem initially more elusive or challenging. Inevitably, you will mature and begin to see yourself in an ever-broader relationship with your school, your community, and world. You will discover for yourself extra-curricular skills and passions worth pursuing. In doing so, you will be taking ownership of your own trajectory. We want you to find your bliss—have your day in the educational sun!

The College Counseling process becomes more intense and individualized during your junior year. The College Counselors provide you with strategies and comprehensive support throughout the PSAT, SAT and SAT Subject process; which climaxes in your Senior Year. Your assigned College Counselors will meet with you as often as is necessary to really get to know who you are and where your interests lie. Together you will develop a preliminary list of colleges for further research and investigation.

The take home here is that your College Counselor will help you integrate the college investigation and application process into your life as a whole. You will learn organization and planning techniques; how to craft an exceptional college essay; and effective approaches to self-assessment and self-presentation. You will learn how to prepare a college file, remain realistically optimistic, manage stress, and avoid the hype.

You, your College Counselor and your family work together to achieve the optimum match between you and your chosen colleges. This is truly the goal and the heart of the process: to match you with a college

or university in which you will ultimately thrive. You will become part of a robust tradition. The matriculation data speaks for itself. International students win places at top universities in the US and abroad.

The Optimum Match.


“As lifelong learners themselves, our faculty truly live

what they teach. I am forever grateful for the

many extra hours my teachers put in

to make sure I got it right.”

Underneath All those cultural differences, there exist, inevitably,

the same fears and hopes that inform life everywhere.



Expanded Horizons.Our school’s emphasis on teaching students to appreciate and learn from the world’s diverse cultures truly comes alive with our unique and unparalleled Travel Program. Numerous trips abroad take place during the academic year and usually last about two weeks each. They provide extraordinary opportunities to enhance our students’ globally focused education outside the classroom and/or enrich their linguistic proficiency. Additionally, the shared student experiences create a notable school and class spirit.

The Travel Program is updated every year and includes destinations on almost every continent. Our linguistic trips combine intensive language classes, cultural activities and home-stay. Cultural trips and exchanges focus on discovery, educational excursions and/or service learning.


Global Travel Program


“This trip was an amazing voyage that didn’t just allow us to

experience a new culture; it gave us the chance

to become part of a community.”

16 | International High School The IB Experience 16

“Meeting and working with the students in Senegal was one

of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

Leadership.Service Learning and Student Leadership

Along with academics, athletics, and the arts, community service is an integral and important part of the student life at International High School. By extending the learning experience beyond the limits of the classroom we encourage our students to share their time, talents, and energies with others and become active, committed, and compassionate members of their local, national, and international communities.

The Service Learning Steering Committee, made up of 8 student leaders from different grades, is responsible for encouraging and organizing student involvement in community service activities and projects. They are assisted by Service Learning Representatives who make announcements in weekly Advisory sessions and help with grassroots organizing.


Heart and Soul.Visual and Performing Arts:The Heart and Soul of International High School


The Arts are a vibrant part of International High School’s community and student life. They offer students opportunities for exploration, self-expression and creative engagement with the world around them. They are also integral to our school’s mission of rigor, diversity, critical-thinking and cross-cultural communication.

The Dennis Gallagher Arts Pavilion, which opened in 2009, offers three floors of open, light-filled space and state-of-the-art facilities where student artists can learn and create.

We offer a variety of curricular and extra-curricular programs and opportunities in the arts. These range from directing a show to editing a film, from making art installations to composing music. Our arts calendar is second to none. It includes plays, concerts, screenings, art shows, artists-in-residence, and participation in our year-end, two-day celebration of the creative spirit: the May Arts Festival.

International High School prides itself on producing exciting, challenging, uncensored,

high-quality theater productions. It also prides itself on the student leadership, collaborative spirit and strong community found in Back-à-Dos, the after-school performing arts program. Back-à-Dos produces at least three major shows each year: a full-length play, a musical and student-directed one act plays. In addition to performing, students involved in Back-à-Dos support the program through helping with sets, props, costumes, lights, sound, publicity and stage management.


“We don’t do high school theatre;

we teach theatre to high school students”


You learn valuable leadership skills

which carry over into the classroom.”

Body and Mind.The International High School Department of Athletics offers a comprehensive range of team sports options for our student athletes. We compete in Men’s and Women’s Soccer, Men’s and Women’s Basketball, Women’s Volleyball, Men’s Baseball, Men’s and Women’s Cross Country, Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Men’s and Women’s Swimming, Men’s and Women’s Badminton, and Men’s and Women’s Track and Field.

We compete in the Bay Area Conference of the Bay Counties League-West. The BAC/BCL belongs to the North Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation and is supported by the National Federation of High School Interscholastic Athletics.

Competitive interscholastic athletics are a central part of life at International, and provide student athletes with the opportunity to develop unwavering team commitment, integrity and persistence, along with social, emotional, and physical well-being. Several of our teams practice and compete at our beautiful on-campus facility that many feel is the crown jewel of gymnasiums in San Francisco. Our soccer, baseball, cross country, and tennis teams are transported to Golden Gate Park, Crocker Fields, and the San Francisco Tennis Club.

Each season of sport is punctuated by a gala Awards Banquet that is attended by coaches, student athletes, family, and friends. Our parent support group, the Friends of Sports, sponsors this event, and the acknowledgments and accolades that are presented that evening make all of the tremendous hard work all worthwhile.

Jaguar Pride!

Interscholastic Athletics



The core values of the International High School are expressed through two critical elements in our mission statement: diversity and academic rigor. We not only offer rigorous academics and an all-honors program, but are also the only local school that provides a challenging and truly multilingual, multicultural, student-centered education. A fundamental objective is the development of each student’s complete well-being and

potential. At International, a major priority is the development of respect not only for one’s own culture, but also for societies and individuals that are different. The essence of an international school experience can be defined by the intellectual challenge of a global and interconnected curriculum, the differing perspectives of a highly diverse faculty and student body, and the relationships forged with students in classrooms across the globe.

I hope to welcome you as part of our unique community.

Jane CamblinHead of School

MissionGuided by the principles of academic

rigor and diversity, international high

school offers bilingual programs of study

to prepare its graduates for a world in

which the ability to think critically and

to communicate across cultures is of

paramount importance.

Welcome to Your Destination!From the Head of School


50 Years of International Education

international high schoolOffice of Admission150 Oak Street, San Francisco, CA 94102415.558.2084admission@internationalsf.orgwww.internationalsf.org


“Our students and teachers like to not play by the rules,

to push the envelope, to go to the edge, because it is only there,

at the cusp, that you can expand upon what exists,

and effect change.”

Reylon Y., 2012 IB Valedictorian

3. International High School Viewbook

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