Escola Maria Imaculada, founded in 1947, also known as Chapel School, is an accredited American private day school located in a residential suburb of São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in South America, with a metropolitan population of approximately 19 million. It possesses the IB Diploma Programme. Chapel's pre-school, elementary and high school are housed on a single campus with an enrollment of 650 students. Escola Maria Imaculada is a Catholic American elementary and secondary school administered by layman under the mandate issued by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. It is a Catholic international school with an American emphasis. It is "value-centered" in its commitment to the ideal of Christian education as envisioned by the Catholic Church. The school is "international" in the make-up of its student body and in its curriculum, which is geared to prepare students for universities in many countries. Student body The majority of students are from international business and high socio-economic professional families. Faculty Chapel High School faculty consists of a superintendent, principal, Brazilian program director, guidance director, curriculum coordinator, I.B. coordinator, librarian, athletic director, school chaplain, discipliner, 33 teachers, and 3 assistants. The teacher/student ratio is 1:8. Of the high school teachers, 43% have advanced degrees. Teachers are recruited from Brazil, Canada, and the United States. Athletics Chapel School students have the opportunity to participate in several interscholastic competitions. Currently a member of the São Paulo High School League, which involves other English-speaking schools in the State of São Paulo, Chapel participates in Big 8, Big 4, and Little 8 tournaments. A variety of competitive sports are available to students: basketball (boys and girls), cheerleading (girls), indoor soccer / futsal (boys and girls), soccer (boys and girls) softball (boys and girls) and volleyball (boys and girls). All sports are offered on both Junior Varsity and Varsity levels. Curricula There are five periods per day on a two-day schedule. Each day consists of two blocks of 100 minutes and three classes of 50 minutes. The academic year consists of two semesters and four grading quarters. Chapel follows the northern hemisphere school calendar. Chapel School has three comprehensive programs that lead to American, Brazilian and International Baccalaureate diplomas. International Baccalaureate (I.B.) courses are offered in English, mathematics, science, social studies, religion, modern languages and art. Academic courses in grades 9-10 are college preparatory. Juniors and seniors follow the I.B. curriculum. Language arts - An English