BFIS

During our 5 years in Barcelona, Benjamin Franklin International School played a major part in all our lives.  Mary and Matt are both graduates of BFIS.  Johnny and Scott spent 5 of their school years there.  George and I were involved in various committees and parent groups.  We attended numerous Christmas concerts, Halloween Carnivals, International Food Fairs, St. Jordi Festivities….plus field trips, class parties, and volunteering in the class rooms!

                                            

George and I were really excited to go and visit our old 'home away from home'!  Wow! Were we ever surprised at the changes!  During the years we were there (1995-2000) the average number of students was around 300.  Today that number has doubled to 600.  Most surprising of all, the campus has more than doubled.  The campus in our day was only buildings 1, 3, and 8.  Building #6 was where the custodian and his wife, the head cook lived.

 

Today buildings 2, 4, 5 and 7 are all new!  The old 'villa' building #1 is now all offices plus the Elementary library.  Building #3 which was the High School is now the Early Childhood Center.  #6 is a music room!  Building #8 where Scott went to 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades is used only for after school activities.  Building #2 is the elementary school and building #5 is the Middle and High School.  And most amazing of all they have a separate auditorium, building #7!  

The founders of BFIS dreamed of a facility like this.  Best of all they have had this tremendous growth while staying close to the ideal distribution of students.  The founders' goal was to have about 1/3 American, 1/3 Spanish and 1/3 International students.  Right now BFIS has 25% American, 35% Spanish and 40% International.  With the tough American economy in the last years I think those are pretty good numbers.  

The new Elementary School Building

Lunch room door and back of the villa

They covered the old patio and padded the goal posts.

Old High School - Current Early Childhood Building

How many times have we walked up these stairs to the office?

This is the view as you open the door into what was the office.  Looks completely different.

This looks like we remember!

Standing by the new elementary building and looking at the back of the old High School building.

Some things never change!

New Middle/HIgh School Building

We love BFIS!  Thanks for the memories!