Co-curriculars
Our students experience a variety of co-curricular activities as they move through their educational journey at CFIS. Through physical education, art and music classes at all ages, and the addition of clubs, band, sports teams and musical theatre in our elementary and secondary grades, we foster well rounded students with additional skills, confidence and empathy.
Music, Performing Arts and Visual Arts
CFIS music education begins in preschool, with a focus on language and learning through song, rhythm patterns, instruments, and body movement. This early learning helps our students develop listening skills, gross- and fine-motor skills, social skills and confidence to inspire life-long enjoyment of music as listener, performer and creator. From junior preschool through Grade 6, our music program moves from non-pitched percussions (such as sticks and shakers), to pitched instruments such as the xylophone and recorder. By Grade 5, students begin to master the fundamentals of music notation and participate in a full orchestra of instruments that bring together the diversity and joy of solo and group performances in both entertainment and competition venues. Opportunities to play in the jazz combo and concert band continue through our Secondary classes.
The CFIS musical is a highly anticipated production each year that includes our whole school community — performers and production crew from our secondary classes, and audience members made up of students from all grades, as well as parents, faculty and staff. Leaders emerge, as students step forward on stage — and backstage — to demonstrate their talent, eloquence, determination and passion for the performing arts. Past musicals occur have included: Newsies, The Little Mermaid, Spamalot, Mary Poppins, The Addams Family and Legally Blonde. These productions foster public speaking skills, confidence and nurture social connections with other students from different grades and with teachers and staff.
Our visual arts curriculum immerses students in a rich artistic experience to develop technical skills in many mediums. From Georgia O'Keefe to Eric Carle, our students delve into the life and artwork of traditional and contemporary artists. Specialist art teachers work with students from junior preschool through Grade 12 to understand styles, materials, media, colour, technique, and art history. Art is also incorporated into other academic skills, such as research and creativity, and applied in class projects like the evolution of animation. Offerings across the divisions span to creative studies, scenic design, photography, stop motion animation, design and innovation, and a full offering of high school 30-level art courses. Student art is proudly displayed throughout the school, and contributes to the aesthetic and student focused culture at CFIS. Our annual Evening of the Arts showcases our student talents and brings our community together.
Physical Education and Athletics
To foster essential skills for lifelong success, CFIS students participate in team and individualized sport fostering personal self-care, integrity, diligence, and teamwork. The elementary physical education program strives to enable children to live healthy lives for their entire lifetime based on four general outcomes: activity, health benefits, co-operation and teamwork, and life-long application.
Secondary physical education programming expands utilizing our gyms, school fields, local running trails, and off campus experiences, as well as introducing a robust after-school sports program. School activities include curling, wall climbing, skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. CFIS is a member of the Calgary Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA) and competes in seven sport seasons with other schools.
Student Clubs and Options
In our Elementary division, a variety of student clubs are available for student's to join, and through support from our faculty, are incorporated into the school day over lunch periods. Options for our elementary students are special activities that are built into the weekly schedule that are offered on a rotation throughout the year, or for the entire school year.
Options in our Secondary division are designed to augment core courses and explore new subject areas. Students select six options each year, in addition to their core academic and required courses. Click here for a sample of extra-curricular activities and options offered to our junior high students. All CFIS students participate in speech, debate, and Model UN — in Grades 7, 8, and 9 respectively. Many of our junior and senior high also compete in dozens of extra-curricular teams, and participate in travel study opportunities.
To find out more about the learning environment at CFIS, contact our Admissions team at admissions@cfis.com.