ISKL Kicks Off the School Year with the Back to School Bash

The start of a new school year always gives the ISKL community something to celebrate. This year’s Back to School Bash (BTSB), brought new and returning students, families, and employees together for an afternoon of fun and connection.

With an array of activities, food stalls, sports showcases, games, and plenty of Panther spirit, BTSB offered a warm welcome to the new academic year and an opportunity for families to reconnect and enjoy time together.

Stephanie F., one of the PTA’s organizers, reflected on the event: “This year, we all came together to make this school-wide kickoff event happen. We couldn’t let anyone miss out on cotton candy! We hope everyone had a chance to play our homemade, larger-than-life ISKL Guess Who game. It was a big hit.”

There was something to discover around every corner. The Little Explorers Zone featured bingo, a chill room, a dunk tank, Twister, a wooden maze, and creative photo opportunities. Meanwhile, the Middle and High School Decks offered ISKL-themed Guess Who, table tennis, cornhole, a dance floor with a DJ, temporary tattoos, a hair-color station, and cotton candy.

For those ready to get moving, the field was the place to be. Students enjoyed slides and splash battles in the Wild Wet Zone, while Community Sports at ISKL introduced families to a range of activities. Basketball with Fastbreak, volleyball with the American Volleyball Academy, football with the Real Madrid Foundation, and badminton with Duo Sparks encouraged everyone to get involved and enjoy some friendly competition.

There were also plenty of opportunities to get creative. The Color Gallery invited community members to help transform a shared space with vibrant chalk art.

The PTA corner was another popular gathering point, with ice cream, the ever-popular candy guessing jars, and bingo prizes. Throughout the afternoon, PTA volunteers helped create the warm and welcoming atmosphere for which the event is known.

Of course, no Back to School Bash would be complete without the dunk tank. Head of School Rami Madani and other faculty members took turns in the hot seat, giving students and families the opportunity to send some familiar ISKL faces into the water. The enthusiastic cheering from the sidelines showed just how much everyone enjoyed this much-loved tradition.

Whether attending for the first time, catching up with familiar faces, cheering from the sidelines, getting soaked in the Wild Wet Zone, or simply relaxing and enjoying the food, families experienced the strong sense of connection at the heart of ISKL.

The afternoon was also a reminder that the ISKL experience extends far beyond the classroom. Our thanks go to everyone who joined us and to the PTA and its team of volunteers, whose planning and hard work brought the event to life.

The Back to School Bash marks the beginning of a busy community calendar, with many more opportunities to connect and celebrate throughout the school year. Learn more about how families can get involved in school life at ISKL here.