British International School of Chicago Lincoln Park

hideThis article has multiple issues. Please help or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject. It may require cleanup to comply with Wikipedia's content policies, particularly neutral point of view. Please discuss further on the talk page. (April 2016) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article may contain an excessive amount of intricate detail that may interest only a particular audience. Please help by spinning off or relocating any relevant information, and removing excessive detail that may be against Wikipedia's inclusion policy. (February 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) This article contains wording that promotes the subject in a subjective manner without imparting real information. Please remove or replace such wording and instead of making proclamations about a subject's importance, use facts and attribution to demonstrate that importance. (February 2020) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park
Address
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
814 W. Eastman Street Chicago , Illinois 60642 United States
Coordinates	41°54′27″N 87°38′55″W / 41.9076°N 87.6487°W / 41.9076; -87.6487Coordinates: 41°54′27″N 87°38′55″W / 41.9076°N 87.6487°W / 41.9076; -87.6487
Information
School type	Preschool and Primary School
Motto	Be Ambitious!
Established	2001
Principal	Simon Sharp
Grades	Pre Nursery to Year 6 (5th Grade)
Age range	2 to 11
Campus type	Urban
Houses	4 (Blackhawk, Dayton, Eastman, Halsted)
Accreditation	IPC, IEYC, IB, CIS, COBIS
Website	http://www.bischicagolp.org

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park (BISC Lincoln Park) is a private international school for Pre Nursery to Year 6 students (ages 15+ months to 11) located in the Clybourn Corridor of Cook County, Illinois.^[1] In September 2001, BISC Lincoln Park was the fourth school to open in the United States by the British Schools of America and first campus to open in the Midwest. BISC Lincoln Park is now operated by Nord Anglia Education and is part of a network of 66 schools located in 29 countries around the world, with more than 64,000 students. Nord Anglia has more than 13,000 teachers and support staff globally and have a total capacity of more than 93,400 school places. The private elementary school is divided into three learning stages: Early Years Foundation Stage (pre nursery, nursery school and Pre-K, ages 15+ months to 5), Key Stage 1 (primary school, ages 5 to 7), and Key Stage 2 (primary school, ages 7 to 11).

History[]

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park (originally British School of Chicago) opened its door in the Edgewater community area on the north side of the city in 2001 nearby the Manor House in Bryn Mawr Historic District for parents seeking an alternative to the public school model.^[2] In 2008, the school relocated to a newly constructed building in the Lincoln Park neighborhood designed by a firm from award-winning architect Joseph Valerio. Appointed in January 2015, Principal Mel Curtis moved from the Ecole des Roches in France^[3] and took over the leadership role at the Lincoln Park campus from founding headmaster Mike Horton (2001 to 2014) who now leads the South Loop campus.^[4] In her new role, Curtis (2015 to 2017) led a series of renovations that took place over the summer of 2015,^[5] followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Jesse White^[6] and a sidewalk mural commissioned by the school designed by local Chicago artist, Nancy Pochis Bank.^[7] During March 2017, Nord Anglia Education CEO Andrew Fitzmaurice announced that Head of Primary at British School of Guangzhou Ed Pearce (2017 - ) would be succeeding Principal Curtis in August, marking the third time someone has assumed this role in the school's history.

Campus[]

The five-story, 75,000 square foot British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park campus

The 75,000 square foot, five-story campus^[8] for British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park was designed for an enrollment of up to 650 students and a 70-person staff.^[9] The campus features an architectural framework of columns and beams, a curving exterior, prominently placed bay windows, and high-ceiling gym on the upper floors. The building features more than 40 learning spaces, including an indoor and outdoor physical development space, robotics and science labs, a maker space, dance studio, library, a STEAM corridor meant to bridge different areas of learning,^[10] and roof deck with views of the downtown Chicago skyline. It is located in the 60642 area code and part of the 27th Ward represented by Alderman Walter Burnett, Jr.

Students[]

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park serves Pre Nursery through Year 6 students ages 2 to 11. The majority of pupils are Americans but with many dual nationals and heritages, has over 40 nationalities in the school who help populate Chicago's large foreign-born population.^[11] BISC Lincoln Park students follow Nord Anglia's "Be Ambitious" philosophy to develop intellectual, cultural, and emotional skills.^[12] As learners at a Nord Anglia Education international school, students have access to the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Program and the Global Campus.^[13] In addition, students often take field trips off campus to nearby Lincoln park destinations such as the Chicago History Museum, The Second City Theater, Lincoln Park Zoo, and North Avenue Beach.^[14]

Awards and recognition[]

• Cannes Corporate Media and TV Awards^{[citation needed]}
• 2016 Silver Dolphin Winner for "Welcome to Our School"^{[citation needed]}
• 2017 Silver Dolphin Winner for "STEAM DIY Series"^{[citation needed]}
• Deauville Green Awards - Trophy awarded in Information Film on Preservation of Biodiveristy category for "BISC Lincoln Park Floating Gardens"^{[citation needed]}
• British International School Awards - 2018 Winner for Outstanding Initiative leading to Creativity in Learning^{[citation needed]}

Curriculum[]

BISC Lincoln Park students participate in school's STEAM program: Science, Technology & Design, Engineering, Arts, and Math.

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park bases its values-based, global education learning goals on the International Primary Curriculum (IPC)^[15] and the National Curriculum. The school teaches art, entrepreneurship and innovation, information and computing technology, literacy, math, modern foreign languages, music, physical and health education, and science.^[16] In particular, the Chicago school emphasizes the benefits of a STEAM program,^[17] collaborates with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to implement a STEAM program based on a multi-disciplinary approach pioneered by MIT,^[18] is part of the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Program, operates its own music school, and participates in the Nord Anglia Education Global Campus program.

Sports, Clubs, and Traditions[]

Sports[]

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park offers competitive team sports in soccer, basketball, track and field and club sports in cricket, rugby, golf, tennis, and skiing. The teams are referred to as the BISC Lincoln Park Bulldogs. The school's mascot is Barkley the Bulldog, a British reference to the popular English Bulldog.

BISC Lincoln Park's mascot, Barkley the Bulldog.

Clubs[]

BISC Lincoln Park runs an average of over 40 clubs each school year. The most popular clubs include Taekwondo, chess, CrossFit, Mandarin, cooking, STEM Scouts and a variety of performing arts focused options. In addition the school offers a newspaper and journalism club whose students produce the campus newspaper, The Bulldog Bugle, as well as the newscast, The Bulldog Bugle TV.

Traditions[]

According to English private school traditions, BISC Lincoln Park introduced its own House system to help younger students to mix with older students.^[19] The private school campus is divided into four houses, all based on the streets surrounding the school's perimeters:

Blackhawk house

Blackhawk[]

• Animal: Fox
• Object: Lightning bolt
• Motto: Amat Victoria Curam
• Qualities: Resilience, Dedication, Integrity
• Color: Orange

Dayton house

Dayton[]

• Animal: Goose
• Object: Goose feather
• Motto: Semper Tenax
• Qualities: Passion, Generosity, Courage, United
• Color: Yellow

Eastman house

Eastman[]

• Animal: Bear
• Object: Ice
• Motto: Citius Altius Fortius
• Qualities: Compassionate, Determined, Hardworking
• Color: Purple

Halsted house

Halsted[]

• Animal: Cardinal
• Object: Wood, Wool, Compass, Telescope
• Motto: Dum Spiro Spero
• Qualities: Compassion, Ambition, Courage, Faith
• Color: Red

Global Initiatives & Collaborations[]

Juilliard Nord-Anglia Performing Arts Program[]

BISC Lincoln Park student participating in the Juilliard-Nord Anglia Performing Arts Program.

In February 2015, Nord Anglia Education and The Juilliard School selected British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park as one of ten Nord Anglia schools to pilot the launch of the Juilliard Nord Anglia-Performing Arts Program.^[20] The campus officially implemented the program in the fall term of 2015. Since then, The Juilliard School has been named the world's best university for the study of performing arts,^[21] and BISC Lincoln Park and students have received visits and performed for Juilliard President Dr. Joseph W. Polisi and Juilliard faculty member and Grammy-award winning artist Itzhak Perlman.^[22] Studies have shown that a performing arts program improves test scores, reading proficiency, and overall academic achievement.^[23] The learning-model program is built around the key works of music, dance, and drama with special visits and workshops led by various Juilliard alumni.

The Cannes Corporate Media & TV Awards festival held in October 2016 showcased a Silver Dolphin winning short film featuring Juilliard alumni the Peter and Will Anderson Trio workshopping and performing with students at BISC Lincoln Park's campus.^[24]

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Collaboration[]

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park collaborates with Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In early summer of 2016, British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park announced it will become one of the 13 inaugural Nord Anglia Education schools to collaborate with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to enhance science, technology, engineering, arts and maths (STEAM) teaching and learning for K-12 students.^[25] Launching in September 2016, the program includes the development of a series of in-school challenges for students which focus on the juncture between the five STEAM disciplines. Nord Anglia CEO Fitzmaurice believes the collaboration will ensure students are equipped with the skills to succeed in the future workplace.^[26]

Awards & Accreditation[]

Awards[]

In 2006, British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park (then British School of Chicago) won the British Consul General Award from the British American Business Council for advancing relations between the U.K. and the U.S. as well as increasing the company's international exposure.^[27]

BISC Lincoln Park is Council of International Schools accredited.

Accreditation[]

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park is accredited by the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS). In 2010, the private school was the fourth only in the world to achieve "mastering" level in all areas in delivering the IPC. As of March 2016, the school is applying for Council of British International Schools (COBIS) accreditation.

Parent Company[]

British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park is owned by Nord Anglia Education.^[28]

External links[]

• British International School of Chicago, Lincoln Park website
• Council of International Schools

References[]