From the PYP Director

Dear Parents,

The curriculum of our school is international. It is based upon the scope and sequence documents of the International Baccalaureate Organization and supplemented by state curricula of English-speaking nations from around the world. It is collaboratively written, taught and assessed by our professionally-trained teachers, and it is the plan which provides a continuum of instruction throughout the Primary Years Programme (Kindergarten to Grade 6).

Students construct learning based on past experiences and prior knowledge. These experiences spark ideas and beliefs that are revisited and revised in relation to new experiences that provide material for deeper development. The theories of the educational psychologist Lev Vygotsky define learning as “the creation of meaning that occurs when an individual links new knowledge with. . . existing knowledge.”

To assist students on their way, teachers provide opportunities for students to test and revise their own thinking, to make connections between what they know and do not know, and to experience the freedom to follow their own curiosity.

Our curriculum addresses three major questions:

• What do we want to learn? (Written curriculum)
• How best will we learn? (Taught curriculum)
• How will we know what we have learned? (Assessed curriculum)

These guiding questions assist our teachers as they design the units and lessons which comprise our course of instruction.

At the same time, teachers use the essential elements of the PYP to pin-point concepts of understanding, develop helpful skills and important attitudes in students, and support actions taken by students on behalf of their own learning.

The curriculum is dynamic, changing as often as students and teachers use it and reflect upon it. A process of continual improvement exemplifies the review process. Like learning itself, the curriculum is updated just as often as new information, supporting resources and more advanced technological pathways are made available and accessible.

As the point of contact for the curriculum of our school, I invite you to view the attached documents that highlight our instruction by grade level. I also welcome your interest and feedback.

Cordially,
Beth Prandelli
PYP Director