Creating a community of learners
Welcome to International Community High School's home page! International Community High School is a progressive public school for English Language Learners situated in the vibrant South Bronx. We are situated in Mott Haven, District 7 (X334).
Situated in one of the most multi-cultural cities of the world, we aim to give immigrant teens the opportunity to succeed, the support they need to achieve their dreams, and the academic rigor needed for them to achieve academic standards above and beyond their peers.
Adjusting to a new country, culture and environment, our students have the opportunity to reach their academic goals while expanding their horizons by learning about the lives and histories of their class mates. Our students graduate with the academic skills, social consciousness and compassion that sets them apart from other high school graduates.
Check out the latest school events below:
Situated in one of the most multi-cultural cities of the world, we aim to give immigrant teens the opportunity to succeed, the support they need to achieve their dreams, and the academic rigor needed for them to achieve academic standards above and beyond their peers.
Adjusting to a new country, culture and environment, our students have the opportunity to reach their academic goals while expanding their horizons by learning about the lives and histories of their class mates. Our students graduate with the academic skills, social consciousness and compassion that sets them apart from other high school graduates.
Check out the latest school events below:
September Highlight: Get ready for the 2010-2011 school year!
Summer school is over, the days are getting shorter and labor day is almost here! We are all very excited to tackle the new school year, and welcome new staff, new students and returning familiar faces. A few highlights we are looking forward to this year are our partnership with Bard College, the expansion of our College Summit curriculum to all grades, and the pilot run of our internship Program. This year is already shaping up to be full of exciting events and projects. you con find out more about our Internship program below. All the best for the new school year!
Introducing the ICHS Internship Program:
Are you ready to make a difference?
Starting in September, 2010, International Community High School will be launching its Internship Program for 11th grade students and we would like to invite you to be a part of this exciting project!
What is an internship?
The internship program provides students with the opportunity to explore a particular career interest, develop important workplace competencies, apply new skills they have learned, develop their English skills (and in some cases, their native language skills) in a professional work environment, and grow in confidence and maturity.
What is an internship mentor?
The internship mentor trains the intern to fulfill the requirements of the job and provides orientation to the workplace and that particular career field. The mentor ensures that the intern meets his/her responsibilities to the organization and provides the intern with valuable experiences from which to learn. Students will be expected to be at their internship site for a full day on Fridays, for a 12 week period starting in February.
Why mentor?
Mentoring a student during their internship experience allows you to share your knowledge and experience with a young person at a critical time in their life, as they begin to start forming ideas about their future. Providing guidance to an intern is a rewarding experience that that will leave a lasting impact.
If you are interested in hosting an unpaid student intern this spring and becoming an agent for change in a young person’s life, please contact program coordinator Yadira Echevarria for more information at yadira.ichs@gmail.com or call 718-665-4128.
Introducing the ICHS Internship Program:
Are you ready to make a difference?
Starting in September, 2010, International Community High School will be launching its Internship Program for 11th grade students and we would like to invite you to be a part of this exciting project!
What is an internship?
The internship program provides students with the opportunity to explore a particular career interest, develop important workplace competencies, apply new skills they have learned, develop their English skills (and in some cases, their native language skills) in a professional work environment, and grow in confidence and maturity.
What is an internship mentor?
The internship mentor trains the intern to fulfill the requirements of the job and provides orientation to the workplace and that particular career field. The mentor ensures that the intern meets his/her responsibilities to the organization and provides the intern with valuable experiences from which to learn. Students will be expected to be at their internship site for a full day on Fridays, for a 12 week period starting in February.
Why mentor?
Mentoring a student during their internship experience allows you to share your knowledge and experience with a young person at a critical time in their life, as they begin to start forming ideas about their future. Providing guidance to an intern is a rewarding experience that that will leave a lasting impact.
If you are interested in hosting an unpaid student intern this spring and becoming an agent for change in a young person’s life, please contact program coordinator Yadira Echevarria for more information at yadira.ichs@gmail.com or call 718-665-4128.
June Highlight: City of lights
Being part of an international community definitely has its perks and opens doors for our students to opportunities they might never have dreamed of. International Community High School is proud to announce that the winner of the French Embassy and the French Heritage Language Program’s essay competition is our very our Sidik Sangare. Sidik competed with numerous French speaking students for the chance to win a ten day all-expenses-paid trip to Paris, France. This summer, Sidik will travel to Paris as part of the French government sponsored ‘Allons en France’ program. Sidik will join 120 other students from all over the world and will participate in activities such as:
- Tours of Paris
- Visit to the Poitiers-based Futuroscope, visit of the historic city of La Rochelle (Atlantic coast)
- Workshops and debates on "tradition and innovation" (discovery of "molecular cuisine" and innovative objects, visit to the Institute of Research and Innovation)
- Film making
- Sports in Port-aux-Cerises outdoor sports site near Paris (kayaking...)
- National Day parade on the Champs Elysees, fireworks at Eiffel Tower
- Bal populaire
- Closing night at Montparnasse Tower
- The students will also be able to watch the soccer world cup finale.
We are so excited that Sidik will be able to participate in this amazing opportunity and we know that this will continue to inspire him in his plans to study international business. We can’t wait to hear all about his visit!
Sidik is pictured here (at left) with a member of the French Rugby team on June 15th, when he attended a welcome reception for the visiting team at the Consulate General of France in New York City.
- Tours of Paris
- Visit to the Poitiers-based Futuroscope, visit of the historic city of La Rochelle (Atlantic coast)
- Workshops and debates on "tradition and innovation" (discovery of "molecular cuisine" and innovative objects, visit to the Institute of Research and Innovation)
- Film making
- Sports in Port-aux-Cerises outdoor sports site near Paris (kayaking...)
- National Day parade on the Champs Elysees, fireworks at Eiffel Tower
- Bal populaire
- Closing night at Montparnasse Tower
- The students will also be able to watch the soccer world cup finale.
We are so excited that Sidik will be able to participate in this amazing opportunity and we know that this will continue to inspire him in his plans to study international business. We can’t wait to hear all about his visit!
Sidik is pictured here (at left) with a member of the French Rugby team on June 15th, when he attended a welcome reception for the visiting team at the Consulate General of France in New York City.
May Highlight: Buy! Buy! Sell!
Ever wondered what happens on the New York Stock Exchange trading floor? Ten lucky students enjoyed an experience that most New Yorker’s will never get: a tour of the stock exchange with their own private guide! This informative and fascinating trip was the initiative of Ramon Valet, our school’s PENCIL partner. PENCIL partners, an organization that partners leaders in the business community with New York City public schools, first introduced ICHS to Ramon Valet at the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year. Mr. Valet, a Financial Advisor at Merrill Lynch, has proved to be an invaluable resource and school partner. Able to relate to our students and their diverse backgrounds, Mr. Valet has shown our students that circumstance should not limit their achievements or dreams, and that hard work and persistence will pay off. Our visit to the NYSE, accompanied by Mr. Valet, was not only an excellent bonding experience for the students but sparked a passion for finance in many of our students. We look forward to expanding our partnership with Mr. Valet and Merrill Lynch, to mentor and inspire a new cohort!
Pictured: ICHS student Boubacar Diallo is dressed for success at the New York Stock Exchange!
Pictured: ICHS student Boubacar Diallo is dressed for success at the New York Stock Exchange!
April Highlight: Bonjour!
Bonjour mon cher! On April 23rd the esteemed members of our French Enrichment Class were invited to attend an afternoon that left many of us left back in school envious. Students traveled to French Institute Alliance Francaise for an afternoon of French culture. After indulging in some decadent French pastries our students were able to immerse themselves in language and theater, watching a play (mais oui, en Francais!) then taking a tour of French Institute Alliance Francaise where Students had the opportunity to deepen their knowledge about French culture and history. ICHS is looking forward to seeing the success of these students in their French Regents and SAT examinations this June. After 100% of our first semester students passed their French Regents with scores of 86% and higher, the bar has been set high but we know that they will rise to the challenge. Bon chance!
March highlight: Goal!
Since he was a child, playing in the streets of his home country in Guinea, Mamadou Diallo has always loved soccer, the first national sport of his country. Now, what was once a way to have fun with friends, is paving the way for a bright future. We are proud to announce that Mamadou has been offered a soccer scholarship to ASA, The College for Excellence. After being told by others for many years that they admired his playing, Mamadou heard of a try-out for the scholarship and took a chance. He hopes to study technology, then engineering. Reflecting back on the advice he got from his grandfather, Mamadou has this message for all his Internationals peers: “Do what ever it takes to do what you want; never give up.”
February highlight: Peer to peer mentoring
The spirit of service is alive! International Community High School this month applauds the work of team MNO’s advisory class taught by Maria Damato and Besty Jones. This advisory class has begun a service unit which involves improving the school environment and creating a peer tutoring and mentoring program. The advisory class (consisting of 11th and 12th graders) is pairing up with 9th grade students, assisting them with school work in English and their native languages. The senior students are pleased to be able to take on a leadership role and junior students have the extra support and guidance that will help them with their content classes and the difficult transition of a new school and new country. Congratulations to the students and teachers involved in this initiative and for taking steps towards creating a school culture where students are empowered to become leaders amongst their peers.
January highlight: Stop the press!
Last year staff and students saw the launch of our school newspaper, ‘The United Messenger’. Students across all grades were able to contribute to the publishing of the paper, a space for current events and community building. This year, we are proud to announce the next launch phase in the school paper: a slicker, more professional and streamlined paper that has been printed professionally and has become almost entirely operated by the students. Under the guidance of teachers Amy Roberts and Irmgard Kuhn, The United Messenger staff sourced stories, edited, created art work and even designed the layout. Having an extracurricular activity that allows students to have almost complete autonomy is a powerful experience. “The newspaper club is a positive place where students can be "in the know" about people and events at school,” says Amy Roberts of the student’s efforts. All the staff at ICHS was delighted and excited to receive their copies and appreciate the opportunity for students to demonstrate their journalism talents. We look forward to fostering some future New York Times stars.
