Teachers and students at the International Community School

Imagine yourself in the midst of war, running for safety with just the clothes on your back and your dear, precious children to shelter from harm. This is what more than half of our families at International Community School have done. They are from Afghanistan, Kurdistan, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Myanmar (Burma), and so many more countries where there is war.

Just outside Atlanta, GA, you will find Sister Patty Caraher, OP, and Sister Nora Ryan, OP, with many others putting their arms and hearts around these fragile children. Frightened looks soften and tears turn into joy as they begin to speak new words and hold hands with 375 children, half of whom are from 35 countries speaking 40 languages at home.

This free charter elementary school uses the inquiry-based International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program as a lens through which we help the children become principled, reflective thinkers. Our staff from 20 countries, small class sizes with assistants, and an array of special programs—Reading Recovery, English as a Second Language, School within the School tutoring program, an after-school program, and a Saturday School—all combine to bring the best to our children. French, Spanish, and English languages are taught, as well as music and art. We even have Mandarin Chinese classes after school. Don’t you want to start over again?

Starting over again is what our parents have to do, and we are intimately involved in their lives. Imagine one of our families who lost their 6- and 8-year-old sons in the panic of war in Afghanistan. Fast forward 10 years to greet them at the Atlanta airport with their parents and six siblings. Dominican fire burns in our hearts as we embrace our children and families each day. Check us out at www.intcomschool.org.

Sister Patty Caraher, OP (Alberta) International Community School Atlanta, GA