Curriculum Enrichment at ISD

 

Our Curriculum Enrichment Team works diligently alongside our teachers and staff to plan and carry out a number of curriculum enrichment opportunities for all of our students. The PTA spends more than 50% of its budget on a large number of programs.

 

  • Author Visits
  • Field Trips
  • Classical Café Concerts
  • ISD Garden
  • Green Team
  • On Site Curriculum Enrichment Programs
  • Arts Programs
  • Assemblies
  • The 3rd Grade IB Showcase
  • 5th Grade Exhibition
  • Health and Wellness

Every year we strive to bring fun, innovative and exciting enrichment programs for our students. Look to Dragon Tales to learn more about what's in store this year!

 

 

 

Classical café

Classical Café is long standing ISD tradition of hosting concerts during lunchtime for our students. Musicians vary from classical to steel drums to rock and expose the children to a diversity of styles, cultures, instruments and musicians. We even host a parent showcase at the end of the year featuring our talented ISD parent musicians.

 

Parents are invited to attend a number of Classical Café concerts and enjoy lunch and music with their child. Look to Dragon Tales for more information during the school year, 

3rd grade IB showcasE

Every year, the PTA funds a myriad of enrichment programs for our ISD students including grade level partnerships that are tied to their IB units of study. For many years, the 3rd Grade IB Showcase (formerly known as the 3rd Grade Ballet) has been one of those cornerstone experiences because it truly encompasses the essence of the IB programme and showcases IB through its multidisciplinary approach and focus on IB character traits. 

The PTA is proud to be able to provide this amazing experience for our students. 

 

What is the 3rd Grade IB Showcase?

One of the six units of inquiry included in the IB Primary Years Programme is How we Express Ourselves. This unit is designed as an inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, beliefs and values; the ways in which we reflect on, extend and enjoy our creativity; our appreciation of the aesthetic.

 

In this unit, students explore:

  • The potential of the body to move

  • Translating ideas and emotions into movement

  • Combining dance movements to tell a story

  • Thinking about Function, Connection, and Perspective

  • Incorporating Movement, Creativity, and Expression

The culminating project for this unit incorporates several subjects including The Arts, Language Arts, Physical Education and Social Emotional Learning.

 
 

 

 

What are the components of the Third Grade IB Showcase?

Students begin in the classroom with their teacher, working in groups and reading and rewriting fairy tales into their new "fractured" versions. Then, they work with Mrs. Buddy in the art room to create a backdrop for their story.

 

In gym, a guest dance instructor, Mr. Scott Sisbarro, works along with Mr. Bragdon and Ms. Dunn to teach the students a variety of dance steps and help them put their steps together into a way to tell their story through movement.

In its entirety, the 3rd Grade IB Showcase is a collaboration among:

  • 3rd Grade Teachers: Ms. Assarpour, Mrs. Pulitano, and Ms. Sangermano
  • PE Teachers: Mr. Bragdon and Ms. Dunn
  • Art Teacher: Mrs. Buddy
  • Dance Teacher: Mr. Scott Sisbarro
  • ALP Teacher: Mrs. Salvatore
  • The ISD PTA

Back in the classroom, students work on T-shirts for the performance.

The program comes together in a performance for the school and families where each group tells their version of a fairy tale through movement, with their art helping them set the scene - all the while highlighting key IB characteristics of being Risk-Takers and Communicators.

 

Curriculum Enrichment Experiences include: