Murrumbeena P.S. Newsletter

International Baccalaureate 

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THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME 

A survey at the end of 2020 revealed that parents were interested in reading parent friendly information about the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) in the newsletter. Therefore, the newsletter will regularly post articles to better inform the  community about IB PYP at Murrumbeena Primary School.

 

What is an IB Education?

Murrumbeena Primary School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) school implementing the Primary Years Programme (PYP). We are one of many worldwide schools who share the IB vision and mission ‘to empower young people with the skills, values and knowledge to create a better and more peaceful world.’

The IB PYP aims to develop internationally minded students. 

 

Students become internationally minded by:

  • recognising, accepting and appreciating similarities and differences between themselves and others.
  • understanding and appreciating the world and feel a responsibility and motivation to care for it.
  • recognising their interconnectedness and are open minded to others locally, nationally and internationally.
  • inquiring into a range of local and global issues.
  • reflecting on their own and other’s perspective,culture and identities.
  • appreciating different beliefs, values and experiences.
  • studying another language (Japanese) and developing intercultural understanding and respect.
  • taking action in order to change the thinking, behaviour or attitudes of themselves or others.
  • developing the10 Learner Profile attributes of being: inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, caring, open minded, principled, communicators, risk takers, balanced and reflective.

The IB Primary Years Program (PYP) programme supports the cognitive development, and social, emotional and physical wellbeing of students. Through units of inquiry, students explore six transdisciplinary themes of global significance: who we are, where we are in place and time, how we express ourselves, how the world works, how we organize ourselves, and sharing the planet. All units are thoughtfully planned to address the Victorian Curriculum learning areas and capabilities. 

The current Program of Inquiry is available on the Murrumbeena Primary School website. Please be mindful that timing of units and unit goals may change as a result of ongoing reflections from students and teachers, and unforeseen circumstances such as remote learning.

https://murrumbeenaps.vic.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/POI-Murrumbeena-website-1.pdf 

Units of inquiry are transdisciplinary; they require skills from, and beyond, subject areas. Subject specific skills required to become numerate and literate are taught within units of inquiry and explicitly outside of units of inquiry. 

Throughout the units of inquiry, students develop interrelated skills or 'Approaches to Learning', which develop inquiring life long learners:

  • thinking skills
  • research skills
  • communication skills
  • social skills
  • self-management skills

Unit of inquiry overviews are sent home as students begin a new unit of inquiry. The overview outlines the unit goals, while the choice and achievement of goals varies between students. 

A full copy of ‘What is an IB education?’ will be emailed to all parents via Compass for further reading. 

 

Angela Houghton