Exploring Isbs Co curricular Options

After-school activities are a fantastic way for students to develop essential life skills, improve their academic performance, make friends, and discover new passions, all while having fun. With numerous documented benefits related to student participation in after-school activities, it’s important to choose a school that offers options for your child that are of interest to them.

Learn more about key factors when choosing an international school.

“Healthy participation in after-school activities makes our students’ school experiences a happier one,” says Simon Parker, Director of Student Activities at ISB. “If students are happy then they will perform better in the classroom.”

At ISB, our co-curricular program includes:

• Athletics
• Performing arts
• After-school activities (ASAs)
• Clubs and service groups

Want to learn about the benefits of an extensive co-curricular program? Click here.

Athletics

With more than 15 sports opportunities available across the school, students at ISB have a wide selection of activities from which to choose.

Not only are physical activities a great way to get active, but participating in athletics as a co-curricular activity has been associated with a number of great benefits for your child including improved social/emotional skills like teamwork and cooperation, improved academic performance, and improved school attendance. 

Teams are divided into three age groups – Elementary (ES), Middle (MS), and High School (HS). Our High School teams compete within regional organizations with travel opportunities for various competitions within Asia. 

Some sports teams available for ISB students to participate in include: 

• Badminton
• Soccer
• Cross-country
• Swimming
• Volleyball
• Touch Rugby
• Basketball
  
  

Performing arts

Access to performing arts provides our artistically-minded students with opportunities to grow their talents and explore a passion they love. 

Students are welcome to audition for a variety of performance-based activities and may even have the opportunity to travel for competitions when permitted. Here is a short list of some performing arts activities available at ISB:

• Theatrical presentations, including drama productions, plays and musicals. Both MS and HS productions offer more than just stage roles, as behind-the-scenes roles like costumes and scenery design and construction are necessary elements 
• Choirs
• Instrumental opportunities, be it Jazz Band, Strings, Orchestra or more
  
  

After School Activities (ASAs)

ASAs broaden the scope of ISB’s curricular options even further by providing our younger students, from Kindergarten to Grade 8, with more opportunities to engage with one another in a structured, yet fun, environment. Activities are varied in the areas of performing arts, movement and games, life skills and service, and STEAM.

Our Co-Curricular Program is one of the ways students can get involved. Learn about how ISB fosters a sense of community in its student body.

After-school activities typically last no more than one hour once a week, making them a great way for your child to spend their free time engaging in an activity that they enjoy. They also provide more agency for your child to be able to choose which activities they want to participate in during their free time after school. 

“It’s important that children manage their own after-school life to an extent and that they choose things that they’re interested in and want to pursue. This part of their day is supposed to help them de-stress, so we don’t want them to choose something they aren’t interested in,” says Mr. Parker. 

Clubs and service groups

ISB offers an abundance of clubs, service groups, and activity opportunities for our older students and we encourage them to participate in at least one after-school activity per semester.

Some examples of Middle School options include:

• Chess club
• Habitat for Humanity 
• Yearbook design
• Model United Nations
• World Scholar's Cup 

And here are some examples offered in High School:

• Beijing Student Press
• Coding
• Math/Mandelbrot Club
• Business Club
• Peer Helpers
• Ultimate Frisbee Club

For a full list of after-school activity options available at ISB, click here.