Are all ICS students required to take part in the internship program?
All ICS students in grade 11 must undertake an internship.
How do mentors apply for the internship program?
Mentors complete and submit an online Internship application on the ICS website.
How are internships assigned?
The CAS Coordinator assigns internships by matching students’ skills and interests with mentors’ needs and requirements. The CAS Coordinator and the High School Principal must approve all internships.
How much time is required for an internship?
Students are expected to complete a forty-hour week of internship that takes place during the second semester of Grade 11. Actual hours with individual mentors may vary somewhat, but this is the general rule.
When does the ICS Internship take place?
For this school year, ICS Internships take place in late March. Students do not attend classes during this week.
Can students take internships at other times of the school year?
All internships must take place during the scheduled week. Students may privately arrange additional internships at other times of the year, such as during vacations and weekends, but not during school time. ICS only arranges internships during the week as scheduled.
Does the school provide transportation to the internship site?
No. Parents are entirely responsible for ensuring that their children arrive promptly at the site and that they are collected in a similar manner at the end of the day.
How do students track or document their internships?
Students use our online program, managebac, to do this. The records are permanently available and may be transferred to other schools and formats. They will also include their internships in their resumes.
Who is responsible for supervising the ICS internship program?
The Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) Coordinator and the Grade 11-12 High School Counselor supervise the students and manage the program. All internships are subject to approval of the High School Principal.
Can my child do an internship at my company or place of employment?
No. Students cannot do internships with any family members. The program is designed to introduce students to new environments, new challenges, and new people. Learning how to function in unfamiliar situations is an essential skill and a goal of the program, and we feel that these objectives would be compromised if we allowed students to proceed in a known environment.
Are ICS interns paid?
No. Students may not receive any form of payment for their services as an intern.
What can I expect from an ICS Intern?
ICS interns are in Grade 11 and are usually 17 years of age. They have very limited, if any, experience in the workplace. The ICS Internship Program is designed to help them to develop skills in many areas and it is primarily a learning experience for them. As such, they cannot be expected to take on responsibility for major projects or to perform faultlessly. We expect them to make mistakes as a normal part of the learning process.
What kind of skills do ICS interns have?
ICS Interns bring a variety of skills, and each student will have his or her own individual strengths and aptitudes. Some will be able to work in IT applications, communication, service, research, teaching, working with children.
What kinds of skills can mentors teach ICS Interns?
ICS Interns’ interests vary from student to student and they will be interested in learning a variety of skills. Depending on the industry, ICS Interns could learn skills in computer programming, communication, design, service, healthcare, business, maintenance, gardening, painting, child care, foodservice, hospitality, administration, translating, design, office work, manual labor, engineering, architecture, photography, filmmaking, – just about anything!
Do students receive high school credit for their internships?
No. Students’ progress toward the eight CAS outcomes is recorded and contributes toward their graduation and IB Diploma requirements. Additionally, they may feature their internship in their resume or portfolio and refer to it their college application essays.
What are the responsibilities of the mentor?
Mentors are responsible for engaging with the Intern before and throughout the Internship in order to plan, provide, and supervise a significant learning experience. Please refer to the ICS Internship Guidelines and Contract for further details.
Who can I contact to get more information on the ICS Internship Program?
Please contact:
