International Friends School

Spring at IFS always feels like learning that steps outside the classroom.

For our 3-year-olds, field trips aren’t “special outings” — they are part of the learning. Following their interests and classroom projects, the children go out to places that make their questions feel real and alive.

In spring, that often means time in nature, slowing down to notice what’s changing, what’s growing, what’s moving. They learn by looking closely, asking simple but deep questions, and staying with their curiosity a little longer.

It’s learning that doesn’t stay on paper. It breathes outside.

What’s happening this week at International Friends School? One of those weeks where every classroom felt extra alive.

There was flour on tables and green onions everywhere as our kiddos made 葱油饼 together. Some carefully rolled their dough. Some proudly announced theirs was “the best one ever.” A few just wanted to eat it immediately!

We spent time doing science experiments too - watching, testing, guessing, and hearing the endless “why?” and “how?” questions that make these moments so fun to witness as teachers.

The Kindergarten class also welcomed a guest speaker from Birds Connect Seattle, who introduced the children to local birds including the Steller’s Jay, Northern Flicker, Spotted Towhee, Black-capped Chickadee, and Barn Owl!

Just a really good week at IFS!

Buddy Program is a long-standing tradition at IFS, where our older students are paired with younger ones to foster responsibility, leadership, and positive role modeling. This meaningful mixed-age connection helps build a caring school community where everyone grows together.

A big shoutout to our Big Buddies this year—they showed so much kindness, patience, and care for their younger partners. Cheers to these wonderful role models!

See. Think. Wonder.

At our school, learning is made visible through thinking routines that encourage children to observe closely, think deeply, and express their ideas in meaningful ways.

In our Little Dragons classroom, students explored a simple yet powerful question: What does water look like?Through color, movement, and pattern, they captured their observations using vivid imagery and creative expression.

It was a joy to see each child translate their thinking into art. Every perspective was different- yet each one reflected curiosity, imagination, and a unique way of seeing the world. Cheers for another week at IFS!

Suddenly, it’s spring. 🌸 The air feels warmer, the campus is alive with color, and everywhere you look, little hands are busy planting seeds - not just seeds in the soil, but in curious minds. Our kids are exploring, experimenting, and imagining: conducting science experiments, designing airplanes, and diving into new projects!

Spring at our school is more than flowers blooming, it’s growth, discovery, and the magic of learning together.

Family Fun Day, one of our favorite IFS traditions

Days like today just feel really good. Classrooms open, parents coming in, kids pulling you by the hand - “come see this!”

They were so proud to show what they’ve been working on. Little things, big things, half-finished ideas… all of it mattered to them, and you could see how much it meant to be seen and heard.

Thank you for being here and being part of it with us!

❄️☃️ Snow day fun at campus! Our little ones turned the playground into a winter wonderland today—laughing, sliding, and making memories in the snow. There’s nothing like the joy of kids playing together in the crisp winter air! ❄️

Another week has gone by, and campus has been full of its usual little moments — busy hands, laughter, and each class moving along at their own pace.

We’re wrapping up our Lunar New Year celebrations, and this week the children got to make real tangyuan together. Rolling the dough, shaping them carefully, and of course tasting them at the end — a lot of proud little IFS chefs in the room.

In art, we’ve been exploring in a very hands-on way. The children looked at the works of Joan Miró and Piet Mondrian, noticing their shapes, lines, and colors, and talking about how different artists see the world. We also spent some time with the colorful, playful animals of Laurel Burch, which sparked lots of imagination.

Our elementary students have been deep into STEAM learning, and you can really feel them settling into more focused academic work — thinking, building, testing ideas, and asking great questions.

One week wraps up, and we’re ready for whatever the next adventure brings!

Happy Lunar New Year, IFS family!

Today was SO much fun. The energy, the drums, the lion dance, the performances — our kids were incredible!! Watching them up there with such big smiles (and big confidence!) was truly the best part. And of course, our IFS tradition — the lion dance — brought our courtyard to life. The moment the drums started, you could feel the excitement everywhere!

Thank you to all our parents and family members for being there and celebrating with us. We’re so lucky to have this community.

Wishing everyone a new year full of joy, health, and lots of happy moments together!

The campus is wearing a brand-new look this week, humming with the vibrant energy of the approaching Lunar New Year. While the traditions we celebrate are ancient, at IFS, we believe there is always a new way to learn, to feel, and to create!

Walking through the campus, you’ll see our students deep in the heart of the holiday. They aren't just observing; they are busy preparing a symbolic Nián Yè Fàn (年夜饭), inking rhythmic blessings for Chūnlián (春联), and finding focus in the delicate snips of Jiǎnchuānghuā (剪窗花). From the history of the legends to the assembly of vibrant, handmade firecrackers, our kids are connecting the dots between "then" and "now."

It’s more than a celebration—it’s about understanding the "why" behind the beauty. By weaving history into every craft, we’re helping our students step into the new year with a deeper sense of culture and a fresh perspective on the world. ✨

❄️ Another meaningful winter week at IFS ❄️
In the heart of this cold winter, penguins waddled their way into our classrooms and became a beloved study subject across many grades. What began as curiosity quickly turned into deep, joyful learning.

Students painted icy landscapes where penguins live and thrive, carefully observing how light, texture, and color tell stories of cold places. They zoomed in on penguin footprints, analyzing patterns, size, and symmetry—discovering how even the smallest details in nature can hold clues about movement, survival, and adaptation.
Learning didn’t stop there. Through a teacher-designed game, “Penguin Land,” math came alive as students counted, strategized, problem-solved, and collaborated. Numbers weren’t just written on paper—they were tools for thinking, negotiating, and exploring together!