High School Brochure

British School of Chicago Middle and High School

WorldofLearningA


The British School of Chicago is a well resourced school which enjoys an excellent

teacher student ratio and an exciting vibrant learning focus. The school’s mission is

concise – to inspire world class learning in all areas, from the academic program to

the rich and diversified extra-curricular opportunities.

The school’s unique and international style has become popular amongst a wide

variety of American, British and international families in the Chicago metro area.

Opened in 2001, enrolment has reached 550 students with over thirty nationalities of students represented.

The diversity of the student body is not merely respected but cherished, celebrated and embraced.

The British School of Chicago provides a broadly based and tailored British style education for students from

Pre-school to Grade 12 (Year 13). Delivered by trained, energetic, and inspiring teachers recruited from the

United Kingdom, the school’s curriculum represents the very best of current practice in the United Kingdom

with an international perspective appropriate to its American home.

At grade 9, students begin to study for up to ten IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education)

examinations which are taken in May of their Grade 10 year.

The International Baccalaureate Programme is offered in the last two years of high school, a diploma program

that is highly esteemed and recognized by the world’s leading universities as well as a highly respected

High School Diploma.

Passing grades for IGCSE exams ranges from A*

to G, with A* being the highest. A suggested

comparability of Cambridge International

Examination grades and the American grades

are shown in the table to the left.

Five passes at grade C or higher would

indicate a student’s readiness to

begin freshman level courses in American universities and equal an American

High School Diploma.

The British School of Chicago has earned a well deserved reputation for high

academic standards, exceptional standards of learning and teaching

and a rich and varied extra-curricular program which enables

students to explore their interests, develop talents and expand

their horizons. The school’s program provides an excellent

foundation for University and beyond, preparing students for

the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of adult life so

that each student is given the opportunities to develop his

or her own abilities and potential to their fullest.

Welcome to the British School of Chicago

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Cambridge International Examinations IGCSE Grade

Suggested US equivalent grade

A*, A AB A-C BD C+E CF D+G D


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The British School of Chicago belongs to the British

Schools of American network, a division of World

Class Learning Schools. World Class Learning

Schools offer a learning focused environment in

an international setting supported by high caliber

educators. The British School of Chicago has sister

schools in Boston, Charlotte, Houston, and

Washington, D.C.

Award Winning School, Award Winning StudentsThe British School of Chicago was awarded the

2009 ”Best Small Business Award in Chicago” by the

Chicago Chamber of Commerce Association as well

as a staff member selected as the “Best Educator” in

2007. Students at the British School of Chicago have

also won awards in a number of different areas

including art and design awards.

Exceptional Academic OutcomesThe British School of Chicago has earned a deserved

reputation for high academic standards. On US

standardized tests, the British School of Chicago

has produced results in the high percentile ranks.

Students have also consistently performed well

beyond the expected target levels of the UK when

taking the UK National tests.

The school is in the process of choosing an American

test that students will take alongside the Independent

School Entrance Examination and the ACT and SAT

examinations.

Personalized LearningStudents are partners in learning with teachers at

the British School of Chicago. Teachers work with

students to make judgments about their own

learning and set targets for themselves, as well as

assessing their learning along with their peers.

The school’s pastoral care system sets it apart from

other private schools by providing each student

with a form tutor who looks after the welfare of the

student. This creates an open learning community

in which the academic, social and personal needs of

the student are recognized, nurtured and

supported.

Students also have access to their Year Leader who

are available to discuss any concerns the student

might have as well as a Pastoral Leader who follows

students who may need extra support.

Global PerspectiveBecause of their access to internationally trained

teachers and curriculum, lessons are taught from a

global perspective and include a wide variety of

viewpoints and ideas from around the world. The

school also embraces the diversity in the student

and parent body and draws on these unique

experiences into the classroom. While in Grades

9 & 10 (Years 10 & 11), students also partake in a

“Global Perspectives” class.

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World ClassLearning School


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The British School of Chicago provides students in

the Middle and High School with a range of

opportunities to explore interests, develop skills,

and develop individual attention across a range of

areas, helping each student to grow and develop

and enabling them to meet the challenges of a

changing and exciting world.

Learning Focused Trips AbroadEach year students have the opportunity to travel

within the US and abroad with their class and

teachers to explore the wider world around them.

Each trip has an educational focus and identified

outcomes to ensure that the experience abroad

dovetails with the educational program as a whole.

Recent trips abroad have included excursions to

Paris, Costa Rica, Quebec, Montreal, Washington

and Florida for the Space Program Week.

Community OutreachStudents of the British School of Chicago are active

participants in the local Chicagoland community,

instilling a sense of community responsibility and

preparing students to take their place as active

members of the global community. Students take

responsibility for organizing, operating and

promoting a number of community outreach

programs and fundraising events. Past events have

included the American Heart Association’s Jump

Rope/Hoops for Heart fundraising program and the

Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon, Chicago’s largest

community service day.

Career Experience The British School of Chicago’s Career Experience

Program provides the opportunity for students to

gain greater insight into a variety of career paths. The

intensive two-week program led by professionals

from a range of sectors includes a week-long work

experience segment, role playing, guidance and

training in resume preparation, the interview

process and the career search. Each year teaching

staff work with local businesses to match students’

career interests with companies. Students have spent

their time at a very wide variety of organizations

including the National Institutes of Health, the

British Consulate, advertising agencies, embassies and

a children’s museum.

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ExpandingHorizons


76

Student CouncilThe school’s Student Council is extremely active

and includes a representative from each grade level.

Weekly meetings bring this group together and

responsibilities include event planning and serving

as the voice to the school leadership. Student

Council leadership positions like President, Vice

President and Secretary are chosen through a

student election.

Presidential AwardThe Presidential Award is an award designed to

recognize those students directly involved in the

community. The award was established in 2003 to

recognize the valuable contributions volunteers were

making in local communities and to encourage more

people to become actively involved. Many British

School of Chicago students already regularly help

the community, but the award has recognized some

stellar efforts and contributions by students and has

encouraged other students to become more involved.

LeadershipOpportunities


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British School of Chicago students have the

opportunity to play and compete in a wide variety

of athletics including soccer, basketball, volleyball,

track and field and softball. 2009 was an outstanding

year in athletics – the school’s Junior Varsity Girls

Basketball Team became League Champions, and

the Boy’s Varsity Soccer Team and the Track & Field

Team were runners-up in the local Chicago Area

Middle Schools (CAMS) league. The school frequently

competes against many schools both within the

CAMS league and outside the league in friendly

matches. Competitor teams include Catherine Cook

School, Lycée Français de Chicago, Near North

Montessori School, Chicago Waldorf School, and

the Sacred Heart Schools.

Athleticsand Sports


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Drama and music are an important part of life and

tradition at the British School of Chicago. Students

start performing at a young age, and middle and

high school students have the opportunity to

participate and perform in a multitude of settings.

DramaDrama is offered as part of the curriculum for all

middle school students and may be chosen as a

subject for their studies. Drama offers students at

the British School of Chicago a challenging medium

in which to explore their individual and group

creativity, and creates opportunities for students to

develop a strong sense of teamwork. All students

from Grade 6 (Year 7) are provided with opportunities

to participate in annual theatre productions, many

of which in the past have been performed in pubic

theatres in Chicago. Students have most recently

performed Annie and Little Shop of Horrors.

DanceDance is taught as part of the Physical Education

program and it is planned to introduce it as an after

school club or as a club on a Saturday as part of the

Music School during the academic Year 2009-2010.

MusicMusic has a tremendous effect on the development

of individuals and plays an important role in students’

lives. Beginning in Grade 4 (Year 5)*, students are

given a musical instrument and are encouraged to

play and perform in school bands. High school

students also have the option to choose Music as

an option for class.

Each December, all bands and choirs across the

school perform in a musical evening. The schools’

choirs also perform at the annual British American

Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner. A number of

students from the British School of Chicago also

perform with the Protégé Philharmonic of Chicago.

There are also many extra-curricular music programs

offered, including the Varsity Concert Band which

enables students to develop and extend their

musical skill even further by preparing to play in

concerts and at events. School of Rock, a unique

extra-curricular course, gives the students an

opportunity to develop their rock performance skills,

including practice with the use of amplifiers and

sound systems. Students also become experienced

with lyric writing, rhythm, tempo and what it takes

to be part of a collaborative group of musicians.

Art and DesignThe British School of Chicago has an extremely

strong art department with art being part of the

curriculum throughout the school and taught by

specialists from Grade 4(Year 5)*. Art remains a part

of the curriculum until Grade 8 (Year 9)* when

students may choose to continue their art studies

as an option.

The Art and Design department believes in offering

students the opportunity to experience a wide

range of media, materials, techniques and processes.

All students are given the opportunity for individual

and personalized learning to ensure they receive the

stimulation and challenges necessary to achieve

their best, both creatively and socially.

Strong links to critical and contextual studies are

inherent in all schemes of work. Art history assign-

ments are a regular feature and require students to

form and evaluate their own opinions. Students are

encouraged to recognize that art is all around them,

and to try and interpret and understand what they

see. Visiting artists and trips to galleries provide

valuable tools for enrichment.

Performingand Visual Arts


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The British School of Chicago aims to offer the best

environment for learning and to encourage students

to expand their creative thinking through the use of

practical work, projects, multimedia resources and

interactive technology. Middle school students

cover two separate areas of technology, design and

information, and both may be taken as an IGCSE

and IB subject in the high school. Both technology

courses are taught through three key stages;

development of mental and physical skills; reinforce-

ment of these abilities and techniques; and the

application of this knowledge to real-life scenarios.

Design Technology (DT)Design technology covers a wide spectrum of topics

that are taught through a series of projects each year

and include a substantial amount of Math and Science

skills. This course teaches students the importance

of quality design and development as well as respect

for the environment. Various topics can include:

• Packaging and Manufacturing

• Technical Drawing and Graphic Design

• CAD/CAM

• Structures and Forces

• Energy Production and Conservation

Information, Communication and Technology (ICT)ICT covers a range of theory and practical topics

which teach the importance of technology and how

it is incorporated in each of our lives. While practical

application is a large part of the course students will

also learn the social implications and expectations

of where technology will take them in the future.

Some of the topics covered include:

• Multimedia Presentation

• Spreadsheet Modeling

• HTML and Web Design

• Computer Control

• Information Reliability and Validity

Students in the high school taking DT or ICT as an

IGCSE or IB course are required to complete a project

comprising 60% of their grade as well an exam.

Information andDesign Technology

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The Educational ProgramThe British School of Chicago offers Middle and

High School students a rich and varied curriculum

that provides significant opportunities for students

to realize their potential. Based on the highly regarded

National Curriculum of England, the broad and

structured framework outlines expected levels of

achievement and provides a regular program of

student assessment and evaluation.

Middle School – Grades 6 to 8 (Years 7 to 9) At the British School of Chicago, the curriculum is

designed to provide a broad individualized program

for students. Beginning in Grade 6 (Year 7), students

at the British School of Chicago begin the transition

to more in-depth study of subjects with specialist

teachers for each subject. This transition is carefully

monitored by Form Tutors who look after not only

the academic needs of their group of students but

also their social and emotional needs. The small size,

combined with the unique pastoral care system,

ensures that students remain challenged while

experiencing a smooth transition.

High School – Grades 9-12 (Years 10-13)The British School of Chicago’s High School program

consists of two 2-year courses of study with externally

moderated exams, making it unique in the Chicago

high school landscape. During the first two years,

students take ten International General Certificate

of Secondary Education (IGCSE) courses allowing

for much more in-depth study than traditional

semester-long courses. All students are required to

take IGCSE courses in English Literature, English

Language, Mathematics, a foreign language, Global

Perspectives and Science and may select options in

Humanities and Arts to round out their course of

study. At the end of the two years, students are

assessed on both course-work and external exams.

The International Baccalaureate Programme – Recognized by Prestigious Universities around the WorldThe International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is a

challenging two-year program offered in the last

two years of high school leading to an International

Baccalaureate Diploma, a qualification that is widely

recognized by the world’s leading colleges and

universities.

Students in the International Baccalaureate

Programme take courses in six academic areas as

shown in the hexagon below that are combined

with three core requirements:

• Theory of Knowledge

• Creativity, action and service

• Extended essay

Unlike most high

schools offering the

IB, the program is

not considered

an honors-only

course of study,

open only to the

brightest and

most able students.

All students at the

British School of Chicago

take IB courses, although not

all will be entered for the IB

Diploma. Students and their parents meet

with IB faculty to design a programme of study that is

suited to the individual needs of the student.

Students who are not entered for the full IB Diploma

programme will have the opportunity to take

certificates within the IB Diploma programme which

are equivalent to an Advanced Placement (AP)

certificate. All students will also be eligible for a

British School of Chicago High School Diploma by

meeting the subject requirements during their four

years of High School.

of LearningOpportunities

A World


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High Calibre TeachersAll teaching staff at the British School of Chicago are

highly qualified and UK trained teachers. Being an

international school, teachers are offered an exciting

international experience and professional develop-

ment opportunities. As a result, the British School of

Chicago recruits some of the very best UK qualified

teachers and the very best educators from the

United Kingdom.

All educators who are involved in the IB diploma

program are trained by the International Baccalaureate

Organization (IBO). As a learning focused school,

teachers at the British School of Chicago participate

in regular, ongoing professional development

programs to ensure that learning and teaching

standards remain high and practice in the classroom

and beyond is of an exceptional standard. A number

of internationally-acclaimed speakers and trainers

who work regularly with teachers ensure that

teachers are at the cutting edge of educational

thinking and practice.

Teachers at the British School of Chicago are trained

to support each individual student in achieving his

or her full potential, instilling the value of lifelong

learning.

Year Group Entry InformationAt the British School of Chicago, students are placed

in Year Groups (better known as Grades in the US)

based on their age before September 1 of the

academic year they are applying to like schools in

the United Kingdom,. The table below indicates the

appropriate Year Group applicable to a student’s

age (as on September 1) and equivalent Grade as is

used in the US.

Focusedon Learning

Teachers

Age Before September 1

BSC Year Group (UK System)

United States Equivalent

BSC Stage

11 years old Year 7 Grade 6 Key Stage 3



14 years old Year 10 Grade 9Key Stage 4 (IGCSE)

15 years old Year 11 Grade 10Key Stage 4 (IGCSE)

16 years old Year 12 Grade 11International Baccalaureate

17 years old Year 13 Grade 12International Baccalaureate


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The British School of Chicago believes that regular

communication with parents is vital to a successful

school experience for the parent and student. Weekly

curriculum overviews and updates are sent electroni-

cally, and newsletters are posted to the website every

half-term.

School Town is used throughout the Middle and

High School years and acts as an interface for

teachers, students and parents to communicate and

organize assignments. This secure website tool is

only for British School of Chicago students, parents

and staff and gives the opportunity for teachers

to post homework sheets, create calendars for

assignments and activities and notify a student and

parent of any missed assignments. Students are also

given a safe place to chat online with their classmates

and write or post questions to their teachers. School

Town offers parents an opportunity to view their

student’s personal calendar, reminders, homework

and announcements to better able their student’s

organization in school and at home.

Parents can be also involved in one of two school

groups – the Parent Representative Group or the

School Consultative Group. The Parent Representative

Group’s purpose is to promote understanding

between the home and school by serving as a means

of communication between parents and the school.

Each class has a representative who attends meetings

within their Key Stage. There are nine committees

for parent representatives to serve on which help

promote community spirit within the school.

The School Consultative Group (SCG) is an elected

group of twelve parents plus two co-opted members

combined with the school leadership team and

staff representative. It is the objective of the SCG

to support the school in developing partnerships

with parents, teachers, staff and the local and

international community. The SCG works in

conjunction with the school to provide long term

vision and work on specific projects for the growth

and development of the school.

From time to time other parental committees are

set up in order that the school can involve as many

parents as possible in the development of the school.

The school also offers all parents the opportunity to

visit the specialist classrooms to observe some

lessons and to take part in lessons to help them

understand how their son/daughter learns at the

British School. Other opportunities for parents

include specialist subject information on how

Mathematics and English are taught, how the

school carries out it’s assessments of the students,

International Baccalaureate and IGCSE evenings

plus three occasions a year to meet for a talk and

coffee with the head of school. Parents also receive

five written reports a year which are followed by

five parent evenings to meet the teacher to discuss

these reports.

College & University PlacementThe British School of Chicago will have its first

graduating class in 2011, but two of its sister schools

have had success in college placement both nationally

and internationally. With a 100% graduation rate,

graduates of the British Schools of America are

attending a wide variety of esteemed colleges and

universities. The opposite page lists educational

institutions graduates have gone on to.

United States College & Universities• Babson College (Massachusetts)• Corcoran College of Art and Design (District of Columbia)• Emerson College (Massachusetts)• Harvard University (Massachusetts)• Johns Hopkins University (Maryland)• Johnson & Wales University (Rhode Island)• New York University (New York)• Oberlin College (Ohio)• Princeton University (New Jersey)• Savannah College of Art and Design (Georgia)• Suffolk University (Massachusetts)• Temple University (Pennsylvania)• Texas A&M University (Texas)• University of California, Los Angeles (California)• University of Connecticut (Connecticut)• University of Denver (Colorado)• University of Maryland (Maryland)• University of North Carolina, Charlotte (North Carolina)• University of Notre Dame (Indiana)• University of Oregon (Oregon)• University of San Diego (California)• University of Texas, Austin (Texas)• University of Utah (Utah)• University of Vermont (Vermont)

International Colleges & Universities• Brunel University (England)• Canterbury Christchurch University (England)• Cardiff University (Wales)• Durham University (England)• Keele University (England)• King’s College London (England)• Lancaster University (England)• London Metropolitan University (England)• Manchester Metropolitan University (England)• Newcastle University (England)• Nottingham Trent University (England)• Oxford Brookes University (England)• Oxford University (St. Hugh’s College)• Queen Mary, University of London (England)• Royal Holloway, University of London (England)• Royal London School of Pharmacy (England)• Sheffield Hallam University (England)• St. Andrews University (Scotland)• Swansea University (Wales)• University College London (England)• University of Aberdeen (Scotland)• University of Bath (England)• University of Birmingham (England)• University of Brighton (England)• University of Bristol (England)• University of East Anglia (England)• University of Edinburgh (Scotland)• University of Exeter (England)• University of Glasgow (Scotland)• University of Kent (England)• University of Leeds (England)• University of Liverpool (England)• University of Manchester (England)• University of Oxford (England)• University of Reading (England)• University of Southampton (England)• University of Stirling (Scotland)• University of Strathclyde (Scotland)• University of Surrey (England)• University of Sussex (England)• University of the Arts London (England)• University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (Wales)• University of West of England (England)• University of York (England)

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The British School of Chicago is located in the

popular Lincoln Park neighborhood, approximately

two blocks south of the North Avenue/Halsted

Street intersection. The school is easily accessible

to I-90/94 and the CTA Red Line.

Visiting the SchoolStreet parking is available at meters on surrounding

streets of the British School of Chicago. If properly

notified, the school will validate parking for the

garage located behind the school at the corner of

Dayton/Eastman Street.

Location

290

90

94

41Irving Park Road

Wes

tern

Ave

Chicago

W North Ave

64

W Division StElston Ave Cherry Ave

N Branch

Hickory Ave

North Branch Canal

Hooker St

Hooker St

90 94

Kennedy Expressway

She�eld A

ve

Clybourn Ave

Dayton St

Fremont St

Weed St

Blackhawk St

Eastman St

Halsted St

Evergreen

BSC

BSC

M

290

90

94

41Irving Park Road

Wes

tern

Ave

Chicago

W North Ave

64

W Division St

Elston Ave Cherry Ave

N Branch

Hickory Ave

North Branch Canal

Hooker St

Hooker St

90 94

Kennedy Expressway

She�eld A

ve

Clybourn Ave

Dayton St

Fremont St

Weed St

Blackhawk St

Eastman St

Halsted St

Evergreen

BSC

BSC

M


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Recognition of QualityThe British School of Chicago has earned a reputation for high academic standards and exceptional learning and teaching practice. Recognized nationally and interna-tionally, the British School of Chicago is accredited and affiliated with a number of prestigious organizations, providing external validation of the quality of the school’s educational programs.

International Baccalaureate (IB) The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is well-esteemed and highly recognized throughout the world, providing students with a powerful credential to obtain admission into highly sought after Universities and Colleges around the world.

Learning Focused School (Fieldwork Education) The British School of Chicago is accredited as a Learning Focused School by Fieldwork Education which means the school can demonstrate publicly its commitment to learning through its mission and vision statements, school improvement plans, brochures and, most importantly, is practically demonstrated in the classroom. Learning-Focused Accreditation is important because the quality and quantity of learning taking place in a school represent the core business of everything a school does. The quality and quantity of learning are of concern to students, their parents, the leadership and management of schools, school boards and governing bodies and teachers themselves.

Council for International Schools (CIS) Following a rigorous two year process, the British School of Chicago was awarded CIS accreditation in November 2008. The British School of Chicago is now a member of this premier world-wide association which encourages high standards of professional performance in interna-tional education and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Council for International Schools in the Americas (CISTA)The Council of International Schools is the premier worldwide accreditation organization for international schools which manages a peer-to-peer Accreditation Programme which encourages school improvement through a process of continuous self-study and peer evaluation. Full accredited status demonstrates that the school has achieved high standards of professional performance in international education and has a commitment to its continuing improvement. Headteachers and teachers play an active role in assessing and evaluating the progress of peer institutions as Visiting Team participants and over the rest of the accreditation cycle, sharing knowledge and Best Practice ideas.

European Council for International Schools (ECIS)The European Council of International Schools is a collaborative network promoting the ideals and best practice of international education. ECIS leads in addressing significant current and future educational and global issues in support of its membership in Europe and worldwide.

Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS)ISACS is a membership organization of 230 independent schools from thirteen states of the Midwest region. The British School of Chicago is a member of ISACS which enables the staff at the British School to attend training events with fellow teachers in Chicago and the greater Midwestern region.

National Independent Private Schools Association (NIPSA) The British School of Chicago has been an accredited member of NIPSA since 2006. NIPSA is accredited by the National Council for Private Schools Accreditation, NCPSA. Schools that are accredited by NCPSA belong to a network of private schools in the United States that demonstrate quality and professional standards.

Examination BoardsThe British School of Chicago is recognized by several external examination boards. The school is authorized to deliver academic qualifications and act as an examination centre, thus allowing students the opportunity to gain a wide range of internationally recognized qualifications.

AQA, Edexcel and CCEA The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Edexcel and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) are all UK-based examination boards. The British School of Chicago is authorized to offer IGCSE, GCSE, AS and A-Level qualifications from these boards.

Cambridge International Examinations (CIE)The Cambridge International Examinations is the world’s largest provider of international qualifications for 14 to 19-year-olds. The British School of Chicago is an authorized CIE centre and offers a number of their IGCSE qualifications.

Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM)The British School of Chicago is a recognized and registered examination centre for the Associated Boards of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM), the world’s leading authority on musical assessment, actively supporting and encouraging music learning for all.

Accreditationsand Affiliations

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The British School of Chicago community is a proud supporter of:American Heart Association

Chicago Cares

Chicago Food Depository

Heroes in the Hood

St. Christopher House

814 W. Eastman Street Chicago, Illinois 60642Phone: 773.506.2097 • Fax: 773.506.4805www.britishschoolchicago.org

25 Buckingham Gate, London, SW1E 6LD, United KingdomPhone: +44 (0)20 7821 4898 • Fax: +44 (0)20 7821 4899www.wclgroup.com

British School of ChicagoInspiring World Class Learning

World Class Learning

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