Course Guide  

This Course Guide is intended to help students and parents know more about our programs and courses. We have carefully structured our curriculum to ensure a smooth transition from Elementary School to Middle School to High School. Although we are a small school section, we attempt to provide a broad range of options to cater to students’ interests and abilities.  

Important Information

1. The Middle School’s bell schedule is based on a Monday to Friday eight-block rotation that will remain the same each week.

2. The Middle School's bell schedule is aligned with the High School bell schedule.

3. Students will have the choice of a language acquisition course (French or Spanish) and select either Band as a year long course or Theatre and Visual Art as semester courses. 

4. All classes are assessed using the associated MYP Criteria.  

If you have any questions regarding the Middle School at ICS, please do not hesitate to contact the MS Counselor, or the Deputy Principal by emailing ms.office@icsaddis.org

Students select 1 course (Band - year long, or Theatre and Visual Art as semester courses) 

Band 

This course gives students an opportunity to focus on a particular instrument or range of instruments and practice with an ensemble. Students in this course are expected to perform at school events and participate in other performance opportunities. Students will learn aspects of music history, theory, performance and composition. As this is a year-long course, students who start at ICS during the school year may join band at the discretion of the band teacher.

Theatre  

Theatre students engage in an exciting exploration of the universal world of storytelling, puppetry, performance and design. Drawing on their rich resources of family, languages and imagination, students will develop a deeper understanding of dramatic structure, story creations, storytelling, performance and production techniques.  This culminates in a public showcase of learning. 

Visual Art  

This course will provide students with an overview of key figures, aesthetic styles, and movements in visual art. Students will learn about the interaction between art, history, and culture, and create artwork in a variety of media, including but not limited to drawing, painting, clay, and collage. As students become familiar with these different art making techniques, the development of creative thinking skills and personal forms of expression will be emphasized. Students will also engage in constructive critiques of their own work and the work of others. 

Students select 1 course (Band - year long, or Theatre and Visual Art as Semester courses) 

Band  

This course gives students an opportunity to focus on a particular instrument or range of instruments and practice with an ensemble. Students in this course are expected to perform at school events and participate in other performance opportunities. Students will learn aspects of music history, theory, performance and composition. As this is a year-long course, students who start at ICS during the school year may join band at the discretion of the band teacher.

Theatre Grade 

Theatre students engage in an exciting journey of self exploration as they continue to develop their vocal and physical performance skills and their design and production skills. Students  dive deep into the worlds of Melodrama, monologues, site-specific theatre and devising original and adapted scenes for performance. Theatre 2 culminates in a public showcase of learning. 

Visual Art Grade  

This course is intended to build upon concepts taught in previous visual art courses. Emphasis will be on drawing, painting, printmaking and photography. The foundations of art techniques and visual problem solving skills will be explored. As students become familiar with these different art making techniques, the development of creative thinking skills and personal forms of expression will be emphasized.  Students will also engage in constructive critiques of their own work and the work of others. 

Students select 1 course (Band - year long, or Theatre and Visual Art as Semester courses) 

Band  

This course gives students an opportunity to focus on a particular instrument or range of instruments and practice with an ensemble. Students in this course are expected to perform at school events and participate in other performance opportunities. Students will learn aspects of music history, theory, performance and composition. As this is a year-long course, students who start at ICS during the school year may join band at the discretion of the band teacher.

Theatre Grade

Theatre engages students in the exciting worlds of Physical theatre, Drama 3 engages students in the exciting worlds of Physical theatre, Commedia dell’Arte, Masks, and Community Issues. Artists continue to develop their vocal and physical performance skills and their design and production skills. Theatre 3 culminates in a public showcase of learning. 

Visual Art  

This course is intended to build upon concepts taught in previous Art courses. Emphasis will be on drawing, painting, printmaking and photography. The foundations of art techniques and visual problem solving skills will be explored. As students become familiar with these different art making techniques, the development of creative thinking skills and personal forms of expression will be emphasized. Students will also engage in constructive critiques of their own work and the work of others. 

Students select 2 courses out of the 3 on offer. These are semester courses

Product Design

Textile Design

Digital Design

In Digital Design we harness the MYP Design Cycle to explore interactive units that will teach you skills in coding, graphic design, marketing, and client engagement. You will also have to the opportunity to take part in blended units that demonstrate the interdisciplinary nature of Design.