Beyond the Classroom
At the International School of Florence, we are dedicated to cultivating a secure, nurturing, and inclusive community where every student is empowered to thrive. We believe that a truly supportive and diverse environment inspires personal integrity and strong moral values—principles that our students carry forward as compassionate global citizens. Our vibrant campus is designed to be a hub of exploration, offering a rich array of activities throughout the academic day and after school, ensuring that every individual finds a place to connect, lead, and grow.
Competitive Sports
With ISF’s dynamic Competitive Sports Program, our students can pursue their sporting passions, achieve personal bests, and discover their true potential on and off the court. It’s about more than just the competition; it’s about character-building, fostering deep teamwork, and setting a vibrant foundation for lifelong sportsmanship, resilience, and unforgettable memories.
We believe that sports, whether in teams or as individuals, is a fundamental part of our daily lives at ISF. Our Competitive Sports Program aims to provide opportunities for all our students to get involved in sports and develop important values such as teamwork, sportsmanship, resilience, and honesty. Active students make for great learners and we strongly value the impact of daily physical activity on the students’ growth, their overall wellbeing, and their academic success.
Field Trips and Residentials
At ISF, learning extends far beyond the classroom walls. Our field trips and residentials are designed to inspire curiosity, deepen community connections, and nurture a profound global perspective. Whether uncovering the historical treasures of Florence, tackling outdoor challenges, or exploring new cultures across Europe, each experience helps our students grow into independent, resilient, and purposeful individuals who see the real-world impact of their education.
Leveraging our incredible location in Florence, students regularly engage with a city rich in history, art, and science. From examining local Renaissance masterpieces to embarking on overnight journeys across Europe and beyond. ISF students see the real-world relevance of their studies while building lifelong curiosity, strong friendships, and a deep respect for the world around them.
Model United Nations
Model United Nations (MUN / FloMUN): A simulation of the real United Nations where students (grades 9-11) research countries, debate global issues, and participate in conferences. The school also hosts its own localized iteration, FloMUN.
The Model United Nations (MUN) experience offers students a superb opportunity to engage with peers from across Europe in passionate, informed debate about the world’s most urgent issues. By simulating the real United Nations, delegates research global challenges, embrace multiple perspectives, and discover that true diplomacy requires a spirit of compromise. This powerful program bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world impact, providing students with a truly transformational experience.
Music & Arts
Engaging in the Arts encourages students to become critical thinkers who view the world through diverse perspectives. Our programs inspire young creators to master new skills, build empathy, and express complex ideas in a dynamic international environment. By nurturing confidence and creative innovation, we equip our students to communicate transformatively, promote well-being, and go out into the world as compassionate change makers of the future.
Engaging in the Arts encourages students to be critical thinkers and look at the world from different perspectives. Artists seek to develop empathy, sensitivity and an awareness of how to communicate through their chosen medium. We aim to inspire and motivate students to explore the ever changing language of the Arts, equipping students with a skills base that allows them to express and share ideas in new and interesting ways in an International environment. We also hope to support young people on their chosen career path, encouraging them to go out into the world with confidence in their creative ideas, able to communicate with others in a transformative and compassionate way that promotes well-being and empowers them to be change makers of the future.
Cantabile Choir
Established in September 2018, the Cantabile Choir was created to provide an opportunity for elementary students to develop their choral singing skills. Comprising 40 talented singers, the ensemble made its high-profile debut at a Gala charity dinner for the Meyer Children’s Hospital at Villa Castelletti in 2023.
Beyond local performances, the choir embarks on an annual international tour tracing the life and musical journey of composer Antonín Dvořák, traveling to historic cultural hubs such as Prague, Vienna, and London. Closer to home, the group has become a fixture in the regional cultural scene, participating in numerous prestigious events across Florence, including performances at the historic Palazzo Vecchio (Salone dei Cinquecento) and the vibrant Chinese New Year celebrations at Piazzale Michelangelo.
Center Stage: Performing Arts at ISF
The Performing Arts are a vital, living part of our culture. Drawing deep inspiration from our unique Florentine surroundings, our theater program provides students with a rich tapestry of expression. Throughout the school year, our campuses come alive with stunning student talents across a wide range of live performances and community events.
Community Service Program (CAS)
This core component for Upper School students (Grades 11–12) empowers them to learn outside the classroom through three specific lenses: Creativity (e.g., acting in a musical or design projects), Activity (e.g., competitive sports), and Service (e.g., working with local communities or refugee groups).
The CAS Curriculum: Over an 18-month period, students are required to complete at least three distinct experiential activities per trimester. They maintain an active digital portfolio to track their personal growth and complete three formal milestone interviews with the CAS Coordinator.
The Extended Project: A mandatory capstone requirement lasting at least a month. It must be student-initiated, demonstrating leadership, perseverance, collaboration, and complex problem-solving skills across one or more of the CAS strands.
Community Service Day: An annual campus-wide event held at both the Junior and Upper school levels. The school partners with local Florentine and global organizations—such as Angeli del Bello, Sant’Egidio, Corri la Vita, Unicef, and the Red Cross—to run service-learning initiatives, student-led clubs (like human rights and tutoring clubs), and charity fundraisers where all proceeds are distributed back into the community.