ISS2025 – FAQs

Location & how to get here

  • The McDonald College is located in North Strathfield, an inner west suburb of Sydney NSW and an easy 20-minute train trip from Central Station.
  • The McDonald College has a private and secure entrance from the station to the school. A security code to the gate will be provided upon request.
  • Should you choose to drive, there is limited parking on the school grounds and nearby streets.

Accommodation

  • The College is conveniently located in Sydney’s inner west, close to Strathfield, Homebush, and Sydney Olympic Park.
  • Many interstate and regional visitors stay in the CBD and commute by train to North Strathfield station, while others choose to stay at Sydney Olympic Park. The train station has direct access to the College campus.

Booking confirmation

  • TryBooking, our ticketing system, automatically sends an email confirmation once you have paid and the transaction has been completed. 
  • If you have paid and have not received either of these emails, please contact us at hello@internationalsummerschool.com.au and supply your name and details.

Cancellations & refunds

  • If ISS2025 is cancelled for any reason, you will be offered a refund. However, no compensation will be provided for any travel and accommodation expenses incurred.
  • If you are sick or injured before ISS2025 commences, we can issue a refund, less a 15% administration fee, upon presentation of a medical certificate.
  • Other refunds may be offered at our discretion, depending on the circumstances and the date you contact us.
  • We cannot issue refunds once ISS2025 has commenced.

Child protection policy

Discounts

  • Past students of International Summer School will be emailed a unique code for a further 10% discount to apply at the TryBooking checkout.
  • All current students of The McDonald College and After Hours will receive a unique code for a further 10% discount to apply at the TryBooking checkout. (If you have also attended ISS previously, you will only be entitled to one discount.)
  • All other students can take advantage of the Early Bird discount (10%) until 30 October 2024.

Medical information

  • Students are to email us a Medical Consent before ISS2025 commences to participate.
  • If applicable, please email us any Medical Action Plans before ISS2025 commences.

Photography / videography

  • By participating in ISS2025, you understand and agree that photographs taken during ISS, including your child, may be used to educate students or for promotional purposes. You may opt out of this by letting us know via email before the program commences.

Attire

Students may choose which attire they prefer to wear depending on their choice of identification.

Females

  1. Any colour leotard, pink tights, ballet shoes. Pointe shoes are only for those who have previously done pointework.

    If your child is starting on pointe in 2025, please do not bring their pointe shoes. This is not the time to commence pointe work; that is for their own teachers to do in a safe and progressive way. Pointe work is not compulsory for any student.
  2. Jazz shoes (if they have any)
  3. Hair must be in a neat and secure bun for ALL students, including Juniors. 
  4. Please do not allow your child to wear jewellery, including watches, fitbits, etc. We prefer all valuables to be left at home.
  5. JUNIOR students are to bring character skirts and shoes IF they already have them.

Males 

  1. A leotard or tight-fitting T-shirt, tights, and ballet shoes are required (you may do pointe work, but you must have done previous pointe training as above).
  2. Jazz shoes (if they have any)
  3. Long hair must be tied back and off the face. 
  4. Please do not allow your child to wear jewellery, including watches, fitbits, etc. We prefer all valuables to be left at home.

What do I need to bring or prepare?

  • Students will be emailed an Information Pack in early January, which details what to bring and everything else you need to know before attending.

Is lunch provided?

  • Lunch is not provided, we kindly ask that you bring your lunch. Due to safety restrictions, students must stay at the College during lunch and other breaks. Please ensure that your child has a full water bottle each day. We do have facilities to fill water bottles. This is vitally important, as the weather during summer school is usually very hot, and students need to remain hydrated.

Are private lessons available?

  • Depending on staff availability, senior and pre-professional students may be able to book 30-minute private lessons. Further information and bookings will be available by the end of the year.

Can parents watch classes?

  • On the program’s final day, parents will be invited to observe a class and a demonstration of the work achieved.

Privacy policy

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