International Baccalaureate - PYP

http://www.ibo.org

What are IBO and PYP?

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) was established in 1968 as a non-profit educational foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland. There are currently 1,462 authorized IB world schools in 118 countries, and there is a significant increase in interest in the IBO programs and schools that are currently either Prospective or Candidate schools. The IBO offers a wide range of services to the schools authorized to administer its programs, such as curriculum and assessment development, teacher training, and seminars.  The IBO Programs and IB Diploma are internationally recognized.  The diploma received upon successful completion of the IBO Diploma Program is held with high regard throughout the academic world. Specifically, prestigious colleges including Berkeley, Stanford, and Harvard grant undergraduate course credits to incoming IBO Diploma Program freshmen.

Within San Jose Unified School District, we have experience with IBO in our middle and high schools. Burnett Middle School is a certified World School for the Middle Years Program (MYP) and San Jose High is a certified World School for the Diploma Program (DP). The addition of the elementary school PYP creates the IBO continuum within SJUSD and insures that our efforts to develop inquiring, internationally aware students is reinforced and developed throughout their educational career.

Horace Mann School currently has Candidate School status as an International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Primary Years Program (PYP) World School.

PYP is more than curriculum—it is an international way of experiencing life

PYP focuses on the development of the whole child, both within the classroom and the world outside. It provides a framework that supports a child’s academic, social, emotional, physical, and cultural needs. The program promotes teaching children through hands-on projects and research skills that are founded on the concept of structured inquiry.  In addition, the PYP provides students with an international perspective that helps them to relate their local world to a larger global community.

A key element of PYP is the creation of a program of inquiry and development of units of inquiry.  These units are created per classroom but with alignment both horizontally, within the same grade, as well as vertically, across the K-5 grades, to insure the success of the student program for their entire experience at HMS.

The PYP builds children’s self-esteem by encouraging them to ask questions that drive the inquiry. Therefore, they become more independent and responsible for their own learning. By developing individual talents and setting high academic standards, PYP students become responsible citizens, thinkers, and international life-long learners who respect the culture and attitude of others. The development of explicit attitudes and the expectation of socially responsible behavior are also essential elements of the program.