HS Student Arts & Cultural Opportunities

At the HS level, ISM has many arts and cultural groups. The groups all have adult supervisors, but are very student-driven. Joining one or more of these groups is an excellent way to make new friends with similar interests from all grades. To join these communities, students sign up at the Club Fair that takes place during the first few weeks of school (this year, it will take place on August 28th, 2024). After sign ups, the student representatives and/ or the teacher supervisor will then mail out contact details for the group. Here are a few Arts and Culture related groups at ISM:

Fine Arts Council & Committee

The Fine Arts Council is responsible for promoting Arts and Culture at ISM, encouraging collaboration between different Arts and Cultural groups, and organizing logistical support for events at ISM.

The group fulfills essential roles such as front-of-house, photography, hair and make up, or back stage crew duties. When ISM hosts arts conventions, such as IASAS, ISTA or AMIS, they are the core group of students who help organize and then run the events. The council also runs meet ups and connects different clubs with artists to support with events and service learning. To be considered for the council, students must make a meaningful contribution to their chosen art and contribute as a volunteer on the Fine Arts Committee or on the council of another Arts clubs or society. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Marsha Hillman

24-25 Fine Arts Council: President- Jordano W/ Vice President- Nikki G

Council Instagram @ism_finearts

Arts and Cultural Clubs

Arts and Cultural clubs at ISM are very student driven. Although there will always be a Faculty Advisor to support the group, it is the council for each club that is responsible for making most of decisions about club activities and events. To become a leader within the group, student will typically have been members for at least a year and very active when it came to club activities and events. Most clubs will include some sort of school service component related to their art form. 

Debate & Forensic Club

ISM HS Debate and Forensics Club runs from August to March. It's members work together to build skills in the lead up to IASAS Debate & Forensics. The school year 2020-21 will be a big one for the club as we are hosting IASAS Debate & Forensics.

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Shirley Hsueh Li Wang

24-25 Student Presidents: Miel W-P and Manushri G

Model United Nations Club

Model United Nations runs from August to November for the HS. The season culminates in two events, where experienced members are selected to represent ISM at either IASAS or THIMUN. 

24-25 Faculty Advisors: Colin Aitken (Lead), Jonathan McCarthy, Eamonn Hobbins, Hema Rai

24-25 Student Presidents: Mika T and Niyanthri A

Club Instagram @ism_mun

Film Club

Any HS student can join. The club runs Film showings throughout the year as well as the Manila Student Film Festival and the HS Film Festival. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Deborah Lemmer

24-25 Student Presidents: Ava B and Samuel M

Club Instagram @ismfilmclub

Photography Club

Any HS student can join. Other clubs approach this group to get suport with taking photos of their events. There are also opportunities to further develop skills. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Jonathan McCarthy

24-25 Student President: TBD

Club Instagram @photographyclub.ism

Character Design Club

Any HS student can join. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Shirley Hsueh Li Wang

24-25 Student Presidents: Chaewoo (Amy) K and Yul K

Club Instagram @chardesignism

Visual Arts Club

Student artists building community whilst helping other clubs with specific design needs. This club is open to all interested artists. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Dennis Respecki and Will Clark

24-25 Student President: TBD

Club instagram @ism_vac

ISM Arts-based Honor Societies

There are four arts-based honor societies at ISM. Entrance to these groups is selective and applications are submitted towards the end of the school year. However, students should decide early if they would like to apply for one of these groups as active engagement with their chosen Art throughout the school year will dictate if they are successful in your application. Active engagement includes enrollment in relevant Arts classes; Membership in clubs and activities that involve the art form; Attendance at events run by the honor society, especially those connected to service; and finding ways to promote your art form or embed it in other service work. The best way to find out about Honor Society events is to subscribe to their mailing list or social media at Club Expo as well as reading the Student Daily Notices regularly. 

Tri-M Honor Society

Students need to apply to become a member and only a select group who prove themselves dedicated to promoting music in the community are inducted at the end of each school year to this worldwide society. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Tom Nazareno

24-25 Student President: TBD

National Arts Honor Society

Students need to apply to become a member and only a select group who prove themselves dedicated to promoting Visual Arts in the community are inducted at the end of each school year to this worldwide society. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Will Clark

24-25 Student Presidents: Chaewoo K


National Dance Honors' Society

Students need to apply to become a member and only a select group who prove themselves dedicated to promoting dance in the community are inducted at the end of each school year to this worldwide society. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Yek Barlongay

24-25 Student President: TBD

Society Instagram @nds.ism

International Thespian Society

Students need to apply to become a member and only a select group who prove themselves dedicated to promoting Theatre in the community are inducted at the end of each school year to this worldwide society. 

24-25 Faculty Advisor: Tami Monsod

24-24 Student Presidents: TBD

Arts & Cultural Activities

The ISM Activities Office also offers many creative after school courses for ES, MS and HS students. These are run in four quarters throughout the year and are more adult led activities. Here is a link to the Activities Office website.  Creative courses in the first quarter include: