The start of a new school year is an exhilarating time and our campuses are alive with staff, students and teachers returning after the summer break. We are looking forward to the year ahead and have highlighted some exciting new endeavors below.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
The International School of Florence has become a licensed Independent Award Centre for the Duke of Edinburgh International Award (DofE). Students in Grades 9 and 10 will have the amazing opportunity to broaden their horizons, discover new interests and talents, have fun with friends, develop essential skills for their future and achieve an internationally renowned award.
The DofE is non-competitive and open to all young people. Participants learn about setting personal goals, confronting challenges and pushing personal boundaries. There are three levels of the DofE programme, which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.
The program is being run by Upper School Physical Education teacher, Bruce Baddeley, who comments, “We are thrilled to be running DofE at ISF. Students will make friends and memories and build traits like confidence, resilience and self-esteem, which can benefit mental health. They will gain skills and attributes for work and life, like problem-solving, team-working and self-motivation—and they’ll achieve an award that’s recognised internationally and can help them stand out when applying for university or later employment. This is an exciting new initiative and we can’t wait to get started!”
Boarding facility “Villa Il Fienile”
We are delighted to announce the opening of a new boarding house at ISFs Upper School. For students from Grade 9 upwards, it is specifically tailored to accommodate students that have a long-distance commute. This initiative reflects ISF’s unwavering commitment to fostering an environment in which learning transcends borders and cultures as we strive to meet the needs of our growing student body.
“We understand that commuting for extended hours can be a considerable challenge for students, impacting their focus, energy and overall well-being. With the introduction of the boarding house, we are alleviating this burden and providing an opportunity for our students to channel their energy into their studies, personal growth, and extracurricular pursuits,” remarks Sharyn Baddeley, Head of School.
This initiative signifies ISF’s commitment to meet the needs of our students. The boarding house will serve as a place where friendships will be forged, cultural exchanges will be promoted and learning will flourish in an environment of shared goals and aspirations.
