ICC + India Parent Magazine Interview Rhea & Meena

1. Can you please tell us your philosophy and the basic premise of AfterSchool?

ICC Afterschool is built on the philosophy of holistic child development in a safe, structured, and nurturing environment. We provide a platform where a child’s academic, social, emotional, nutritional, and extracurricular needs are all thoughtfully taken care of under one roof.

Our core belief is that learning does not end when school ends. When a child arrives at ICC after school, they should feel a sense of comfort, safety, and belonging—almost like a home away from home—while simultaneously experiencing an environment that feels like a second school where structured learning, enrichment, and growth continue seamlessly.

2. How do you think it's different from other similar schools? 

What truly differentiates ICC Afterschool is our integrated, all-in-one approach to a child’s daily development. We not only provide school pick-up and homework assistance, but also ensure children receive a nutritious vegetarian hot lunch, which supports their physical well-being and energy throughout the day.

Beyond this, we offer a wide variety of daily extracurricular activities under one roof—removing the need for parents to coordinate multiple classes across different locations. Children can explore Spanish, Hindi, piano, sports, coding, theatre, chess, dance, and more such enrichment options in a single structured environment.

We also focus heavily on experiential learning. Throughout the year, we organize field trips, seasonal events such as Winter Bash and Carnival, and cultural celebrations that bring learning to life. One of the highlights is our annual showcase, where students proudly present everything they have learned on a stage.

Importantly, we operate year-round. Even when schools are closed, ICC continues through camps and programs, ensuring continuity in learning and care. We maintain strong parent communication, regularly sharing updates not only on academic progress but also on social-emotional learning and development.

3. What is your child/teacher ratio?

We typically maintain a 10:1 to 12:1 child-to-teacher ratio. This is intentional, as we strongly believe in differentiated instruction—ensuring each child receives the attention, guidance, and support they need based on their individual learning style, pace, and personality.

4. Can you explain a little bit about the kind of Summer Camps you have? 

ICC offers 11 weeks of summer camps every year, this year from June 1 to August 17, designed for children aged 3 to 18 years. Our camps are built to provide both academic enrichment and joyful exploration.

STEM & Academic Enrichment: robotics, coding, AI, STEM, physics, chemistry, biology, financial literacy, logical reasoning, college prep, math hackathons, spelling bee, civics, history, geography, and moral science.

Creative & Performing Arts: ICC Bollywood dance, theatre, drama, photography, filmmaking, music, public speaking, debate, creative writing, Kathak, Kuchipudi, pottery, sculpture, and aroma artistry.

Physical & Wellness Activities: sports, table tennis, kung fu, yoga, and movement-based learning.

Life Skills & Experiential Learning: entrepreneurship, cooking, crochet, slime science, drones, world exploration, life-skills, India-immersion, and tech essentials.

Strategy & Cognitive Development: chess, mystery-solving, and structured problem-solving activities.

Our goal is to ensure that every child finds something they are excited about while also being exposed to new areas of learning they may not encounter in traditional schooling.

5. What is the typical schedule for a child?

A typical ICC day runs from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Core camp hours are from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, with extended care available from 8:00–9:00 AM in the morning and 4:00–6:00 PM in the evening.

The day is thoughtfully divided into pre-lunch and post-lunch sessions, with two snack breaks at around 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. Children participate in 2–3 structured activities each day.

We intentionally design combinations where at least one activity is educational and one is learning with fun, ensuring that learning is engaging and balanced. Extended care includes a mix of structured and free play such as chess, carrom, board games, reading time, math and English activities, and arts and crafts.

We also consciously minimize device usage, encouraging children to engage in hands-on learning, social interaction, and creative play.

6. How do you deal with challenging kids? What are your training methods? 

We strongly believe that every child is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to learning or behavior management. Our philosophy is rooted in differentiated learning tailored to each child’s needs, strengths, and challenges.

Our teachers undergo continuous training throughout the year to develop effective strategies that support diverse learners. We focus on child-centric approaches that prioritize understanding, patience, and positive reinforcement.

We also maintain close collaboration with parents at every step, ensuring open communication and shared responsibility in supporting the child’s academic, behavioral, and emotional growth. Our goal is always to help each child overcome challenges and grow confidently at their own pace.

7. What kind of background do you expect from your teachers? 

Our teachers come from a diverse mix of backgrounds. Some are experienced educators from school districts, while others come from varied professional fields that bring fresh perspectives into teaching and learning.

Every teacher at ICC undergoes thorough background verification and training. We deeply value this diversity, as each educator brings unique experiences, skills, and insights that enrich our programs and enhance the learning environment for children.

8. How is the ethnic mix in your school? Do you welcome all? 

Absolutely—ICC is an inclusive space that welcomes everyone. While a significant portion of our student community may have Indian heritage, we also proudly welcome children from Hispanic, American, Asian, and many other backgrounds.

We believe diversity strengthens our community and creates richer learning experiences for all children. Our programs are designed to be culturally inclusive and globally aware.

9. Do you think an ambitious student can be helped to move forward faster? 

We believe that every student can accelerate their learning journey when supported correctly. However, we emphasize that each child’s true competition is only with themselves.

Success, for us, is measured by consistent personal growth—becoming better than they were yesterday—while also being happy, healthy, and confident in their learning journey. We’ve had many parents share how their children have grown more confident, socially active, and naturally curious learners who look forward to returning to ICC each time. Some students who began with us in preschool years ago now return as high school counselors and volunteers, choosing to give back to the same community that supported their growth. There is truly no greater joy than witnessing this full-circle journey and knowing we have made a meaningful difference in their lives.

10. What is your message to our readers? These questions for india community center programs

At ICC, our mission is to unite, serve, and celebrate every individual who walks through our doors. We believe in creating opportunities that are accessible, meaningful, and transformative.

We invite everyone to explore our website or visit our centers in person. You never know what new interest, opportunity, or passion you might discover here.

11. What else does ICC offer besides Afterschool & Camps?

ICC is a truly intergenerational community space offering programs for everyone—from 18-month-old toddlers to senior citizens over the age of 100. And yes, I don’t mean this as an expression. Several seniors have actually crossed a 100. Infact one of them celebrated their 100th birthday at ICC.

We offer a licensed preschool, toddler care, afterschool programs, and year-round camps including spring, summer, Thanksgiving, and winter breaks. We also provide weekday and weekend classes in arts, music, public speaking, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and our highly popular Bollywood dance program, ICC Bollywood by Amit & Hiren.

In addition, we have a growing robotics and drones program, volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and vibrant senior programs where participants engage in activities, meals, and social connection.

ICC also hosts a wide range of community events including marathons, dance competitions, cultural festivals such as Holi and Eid celebrations, artisan fairs, and more. Our facilities—including banquet halls and studios—are availableto rent for community use.

We also run wellness and engagement programs such as fitness classes, karaoke clubs, movie clubs, and weekly events across our ICC centers in West Valley, Mid-Peninsula and Tri-Valley.