International School of Monaco

🇮🇸 Our Year 11 students enjoyed an unforgettable week in Iceland, soaking in the geothermal waters of the famous Blue Lagoon and journeying along the spectacular Golden Circle to witness the thundering Gullfoss waterfall, the erupting Strokkur geyser, and the meeting of two tectonic plates at Þingvellir National Park. Highlights of the South Shore adventure included a guided glacier walk on Sólheimajökull and the breathtaking Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss waterfalls, as well as a rugged 4x4 excursion to Thórsmörk. Students also got to enjoy the capital city of Reykjavik in beautiful sunshine, taking in panoramic views from the Perlan Centre and attending the dramatic Lava Show. Throughout the trip, our students were a credit to the school, embracing every experience with enthusiasm, curiosity, and great team spirit, and they returned home with wonderful memories and a deeper appreciation of the natural world. 🌍

We’re delighted to introduce another excellent addition to the ISM community for the 2026-27 academic year! Please join us in warmly welcoming Barbara Bernard, who will be joining us as a French Teacher in the Primary Years. ✨

Barbara is an experienced Grade 5 teacher with many years of practice across both public and private schools in France, where she taught for eight years before continuing her international journey. She then spent a year at the Toronto French School in an IB environment, followed by five years at the Lycée Français de Los Angeles, including two years as Grade 5 Coordinator within a supportive and collaborative team.

Known for her positive attitude, flexibility, and strong team spirit, Barbara particularly enjoys working closely with colleagues and contributing to a warm, effective learning environment. Always eager to learn and take on new challenges, she jokes that her English “can only keep improving”! 😉

During her time in California, she also enjoyed many family adventures and travel experiences. She is now very much looking forward to continuing her journey here in Monaco and becoming part of the ISM community.

Welcome, Barbara! 🙌

We’re pleased to introduce another wonderful addition to the ISM community for the 2026-27 academic year! Please join us in welcoming Siobhan O’Shea, who will be joining ISM as an English Teacher in the Primary School. ✨

Born in Australia with Irish heritage but raised in Hong Kong, Siobhan has lived a global upbringing, attending international schools herself. After graduating in Australia, she returned to Hong Kong to teach because like other third-culture children, she appreciates having a blended identity and exploring diverse cultures, values and ways of life. 🌏

With over eight years of experience in IB PYP international schools and bilingual schools in Hong Kong, Siobhan brings a global perspective and open-minded curiosity to everything she does. She values the individuality of each student and is committed to helping them feel supported, challenged, and inspired. Siobhan is excited to join the ISM community, to encourage students to achieve their academic best whilst also nurturing their social and emotional wellbeing. She is looking forward to building strong relationships with students, families, and colleagues as she believes this is the foundation of trust and success.

Passionate about life-long learning, Siobhan has been studying Italian language for the last three years and is excited to improve on these skills while living in Europe. In her free time, she enjoys travelling the world (over 40 countries and counting!), diving into books and swimming in the ocean.

In addition to her love of teaching, Siobhan enjoys working with animals and has supported a number of animal shelters, putting her compassion into action. She works with Animals Asia to bring awareness to animal rights and the benefits of animal therapy. Through this passion, she has volunteered at numerous schools, hospitals, and elderly-care homes bringing connection between hearts in need and paws in need. 🐾

We’re excited to introduce another fantastic addition to the ISM community for the 2026-27 academic year! Please join us in welcoming Katie Sadaphal, who will be joining us as a PYP English Teacher in the Primary School! ✨

Originally from the beautiful island of Trinidad, Katie brings over a decade of international teaching experience, having worked across Trinidad and Tobago, Japan, England, the United States, Thailand, and the UAE. Most recently, she has been teaching in Abu Dhabi, where she continued to develop her practice as an inquiry-driven educator within the IB PYP framework. 🌍

Katie is passionate about creating classroom environments where every child feels valued, supported, and inspired to learn. She strongly believes in fostering curiosity, student agency, and a growth mindset through meaningful, concept-driven learning experiences. She particularly enjoys integrating science, design thinking, and real-world connections into the classroom to help bring learning to life.

She is very much looking forward to joining ISM, collaborating with colleagues, and contributing to a learning environment that values innovation, inquiry, and global citizenship. Katie is excited to continue growing as an educator while supporting students to become confident, reflective, and compassionate learners.

Outside of the classroom, Katie enjoys playing volleyball and has supported both school teams and her local community through coaching. She also loves spending time outdoors - whether exploring nature, staying active, relaxing by the water, or camping with family. When slowing down, she enjoys knitting, mindful activities, gaming with her son, and spending quality time with friends and family. (In Trinidad, they call that “liming”! 😉)

We are delighted to welcome Katie to ISM, and we can’t wait for our students to experience her warmth, international perspective, and passion for inquiry-based learning.

We’re delighted to introduce another wonderful addition to our team for the 2026-27 academic year! Please join us in welcoming Stéphane Bernard, who will be joining ISM next year as our new Head of Performing Arts. 🎭🎹

Stéphane began studying classical piano at a very young age in music conservatories in the Paris region. Having always been passionate about jazz music, he later oriented his musical path toward this style by studying at the Nadia and Lili Boulanger Conservatory in Paris, where he was later awarded a gold medal in jazz piano. He also pursued studies in musicology, earning a bachelor’s degree, and he successfully passed the French national teaching certification exam at Paris-Sorbonne University.

He went on to teach for ten years at La Maison d’Éducation de la Légion d’Honneur, a prestigious boarding school near Paris. Alongside his teaching career, he conducted orchestras and choirs while also performing regularly in concert with his jazz trio. Wishing to further enrich his teaching practices and artistic experiences, he moved to Toronto, Canada, where he taught at an IB school before spending several years in Los Angeles, USA, teaching at Le Lycée Français. 🌎

As an educator, Stéphane is passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and creating meaningful artistic experiences that inspire creativity, confidence, and participation for all students. He is excited to help ISM students discover the joy of performing arts throughout their school journey.

Outside the classroom, Stéphane enjoys attending concerts, travelling with his family to off-the-beaten-path destinations, and exploring his passions for photography and gastronomy.

Welcome, Stéphane! 🌟

We’re excited to introduce another fantastic addition to the ISM community for the 2026-27 academic year! Please join us in welcoming Sonny Lim, who will be joining ISM as our new Director of Sports. ✨

Sonny is a truly global citizen and a seasoned educator with a career spanning over 25 years and four continents. Originally from Cambodia and raised in the United States, he joins ISM most recently from the Bavarian International School in Germany. His career has taken him across Switzerland, Jordan, China, Pakistan, Canada, the US, and the Northern Mariana Islands. This extensive international journey has shaped him into a highly adaptive leader who finds great joy in sharing his enthusiasm for life, movement, and the foundational values of respect and diversity with everyone he meets.

Throughout his career, Sonny has held senior leadership roles including Director of Athletics at the Latin School of Chicago, as well as the dual role of Athletic Director and Head of PE at TASIS (The American School in Switzerland). From managing multi-million dollar sports complex constructions in Beijing to rebuilding vibrant athletic programs in Jordan, Sonny’s career is defined by a ‘servant leadership’ mindset. A graduate of Willamette University (M.A.T.), a Certified Athletic Administrator (CAA) and a former “Teacher of the Year” for the Northern Mariana Islands, he brings a visionary approach to program development and a deep commitment to mentoring student-athletes to rise above the crowd.

Outside of school, Sonny fully embraces an active, adventurous lifestyle and enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, sailing, fishing. A self-proclaimed “foodie,” Sonny also enjoys cooking, exploring global cuisines, or unwinding with a good comedy or medical TV series.

Welcome, Sonny! 🙌

We are delighted to begin introducing the talented educators and professionals joining the ISM community for the 2026-27 academic year! Please join us in welcoming Ciarian Fay, who will be joining ISM as the new Director of Health and Safety, Risk Management and Compliance. ✨

Originally from the UK where he began his career in education, Ciarian has spent the last sixteen years in Hong Kong serving as Vice Principal at a large IB school. His journey in leadership has spanned twenty four years across Hong Kong and UK settings and he brings specialisation in risk management, safeguarding and pastoral care.

With a background that includes a BA in Education, the National Professional Qualification for Headship, a Diploma in Clinical and Pastoral Counselling as well as Health and Safety qualifications, Ciarian’s approach to safety and risk is always centered on people. He is passionate about creating inclusive environments where robust systems and genuine wellbeing go hand in hand.

Ciarian is a strong believer in an IB education, and both of his children are successful IB and now university graduates. Outside of school you will likely find Ciarian on the football pitch or the tennis court. He is also a keen trail runner who is looking forward to exploring the terrain of the South of France, having exhausted the hills and mountains of Hong Kong.

We are delighted to welcome Ciarian to ISM, and we look forward to the leadership, care, and expertise he will bring as he helps strengthen a culture of safety, wellbeing, and excellence across our school community. 💙

🇮🇹 Last week, our Year 8 students enjoyed an unforgettable cultural and sporting adventure in Verona and the stunning Lake Garda region!

During this action-packed trip, students explored the fascinating history behind Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and visited Verona’s magnificent Roman amphitheatre, which continues to host world-class operas and concerts today. 🎭

The adventure continued with canoeing and cycling along the breathtaking shores of Lake Garda, before discovering the secrets of creating the perfect Neapolitan pizza during a hands-on culinary experience. 🍕

A fantastic opportunity to combine learning, culture, sport, and fun while creating lasting memories together!

📢 Reminder: The PTA Uniform Event starts today!

Join us today and tomorrow to prepare for the new school year while supporting our school community and sustainability efforts. ♻️

🗓️ Monday 15 June & Tuesday 16 June
⏰ 08:00-09:30 and 14:30-16:30

👕 Free pre-loved uniforms
Browse available uniform items and find what you need for the year ahead.

🛍️ Chat Malo pop-up stand
Our official uniform provider will be on site with uniform samples to try on, sizing guidance, and the opportunity to place orders directly.

🔎 Lost & Found table
Take a moment to check for any misplaced belongings before the end of the school year.

This initiative, organised by the PTA in partnership with the Sustainability Club, helps reduce waste and supports ISM families. 🌍

We look forward to seeing you there!

🇫🇷 Our Year 7 students had a fantastic end to their school trip, with a special visit to Prison Island Nîmes! This escape room experience was like no other, combining physical challenges, teamwork, problem-solving and quick thinking as students worked their way through a series of unique cells. From testing their agility to putting their minds to the test, everyone showed great determination, resilience and collaboration. It was a fun-filled adventure and the perfect way to round off an unforgettable trip! ☀️