International Baccalaureate: The Journey Begins
Scandia Elementary has begun an exciting journey, to become an International Baccalaureate World School. This process of accreditation takes between 3-4 years. Our staff will be working to incorporate the mission, learner profile, and international themes into the school's curriculum. Throughout this journey we will be working with IB to be sure that our school is meeting the rigorous requirements of the program. We will keep you informed of our progress along the way!
The International Baccalaureate has:
*One Mission
*3 challenging programs
*2,200 IB World Schools in 125 countries
*50,000 teachers
*500,000 students ages 3-19 years
The elementary program is called the Primary Years Program (PYP). It focuses on developing the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world. Students in this 21st century need to learn how to be active citizens in an interconnected world that is constantly changing and developing. In order to develop students who are "international-minded" IB develops in students the characteristics of the "Learner Profile":
*Inquirers: students who actively enjoy learning; developing the child's natural curiosity
*Knowledgeable: students acquire in-depth knowledge across a balanced curriculum
*Thinkers: students who apply critical and creative approaches to problems
*Communicators: students understand and express ideas and information in a variety of ways and in more than one language
*Principled: students who act with honesty, fairness, and with respect
*Open-Minded: students who understand and appreciate their own culture and are open to the perspectives of others
*Caring: students who show empathy and compassion
*Risk-Takers: students who face new situations with courage and forethought
*Balanced: students who understand that there should be a balance between their intellectual, physical, and emotional well being
*Reflective: students who are able to look back on their work and behavior in order to plan for the future
To learn more about International Baccalaureate, visit these websites:
http://www.ibo.org
Scandia staff explores International Baccalaureate
