International Baccalaureate at MPS

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GRADE 6 STUDENT SURVEY RESULTS 2020

Murrumbeena Primary school has proudly been an authorised International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) school since 2012.

Every 5 years, we reflect on our implementation of the IB Primary Years Program by participating in a self study. The self study informs a formal review process conducted by IB trained evaluators. We are currently completing our self study which is a 12 - 18 month process.

Program evaluation is the primary means of ensuring that schools meet the IB program standards and practices.

This process also serves as a catalyst for school improvement, as we continually strive to improve the quality of all programs at Murrumbeena Primary School.

Community perspectives are an important part of the self study. In November 2020 we conducted a parent survey, the results of which were published in the Newsletter Issue 19 - 2 Dec 2020. We also conducted a student survey with the Grade 6 students to provide feedback on their experience at Murrumbeena Primary School and the IB PYP.

Here is sample of typical responses received from student for each question from the survey:

What have been the benefits of attending an IB school and completing the Primary Years Program?

Some benefits of being part of an IB school is that we are able to understand and build knowledge about different topics that we may have not been able to learn if we were not an IB school. We have been able to also build leadership skills throughout this experience.
Learning new languages (Japanese), doing the Exhibition and knowing that other students across countries do the same things.
Being able to study units of inquiry and doing Exhibition.
I have had a say in some of the things I learned over the years.
It really helps build a wide range of knowledge on different topics and is lots of fun.
I have a greater knowledge on real world issues.
I can explore the topics that I am passionate about and learn a broad range of knowledge.
I have learned to communicate my ideas as I explore new ways of learning to the best of my ability.

What opportunities have you had to develop leadership skills?

School captains, leadership teams, Exhibition.
We have developed good manners and learnt how to stand up for others and to do the right things.
I have participated in the global citizenship team.
Well, there are many different opportunities like being a peer mediator and going for SRC (Student Representative Council). These opportunities helped me prepare for high school and being a buddy.
Exhibition and summative tasks and house captain speech.
Lead groups and help classmates.
Group activities, peer mediation and inter school sport.
Units of inquiry and group presentation for different projects.
We were able to choose what kind of action we wanted to take.
I got to do a speech in front of the class at the start of this year for SRC. And I got to have a say in things regarding the school.
My group would ask me questions on what work they needed to do.
Exhibition - we had to take responsibility by managing and performing tasks on time,
Buddies - being a role model for preps.

What units of inquiry have had the greatest impact on you?

All of them have had a great impact on me.
Exhibition and all units of inquiry so far.
Human rights.
How the world works, it made me think about the world and our impact on it.
The Exhibition had the greatest impact on me because it got me to realise that ocean pollution is taking over the world.
Inquiries across my 7 years at MPS including health, human rights, space, energy, Exhibition and many more.
Sharing the planet because it was when we did Exhibition and that helped me see the world in another perspective, like people living in poverty.
Location has an impact on access to opportunities.
I really liked all of the ‘Where we are in place and time’ units because they were so much fun, especially when we went to Sovereign Hill.
Learning about the history of Australia gave me a chance to find out the origin of this country.
Gender equality/stereotypes, the human rights unit and Exhibition.
Probably the unit of inquiry into health in grade 5, it taught me how to take care of my body.
How we express ourselves, because I love how unique the world can be.

How have you been given the opportunity to have input/voice in your learning and experiences at MPS?

We have been able to choose, create and understand our lines of inquiry.
I have had the opportunity to give speeches.
We get to suggest ideas of what kind of things we learn and do during the units of inquiry.
Exhibition because I was a leader and also speaking in front of people.
By speaking in assembly and at SRC.
I have tried many things such as debating, going for roles as a leader for school captain and house captain. This has made my resilience and risk taking bigger and stronger.
The teachers here are all keen to listen to what we have to say.
Definitely during Exhibition. We get to choose how to present our work, what we want to write about and we also have a choice if we want to go to camp and a lot more.
We got to choose what we learn and what we do for our learning.!
SRC teachers give us a input at times.
When the teachers asked us to complete surveys for bullying and feelings about school.
We are able to run for SRC (Student Representative Council).
A lot of different ways- leadership programs, remote learning, in the classroom.
I was able to comment on what I would love to learn in the different units of inquiry and during Grade 6 I was able to have complete power over what my Exhibition would be about.
By saying my ideas, making decisions as a class, and answering PYP questions.

How has Murrumbeena Primary School acknowledged the cultural diversity of yourself or others?

MPS has acknowledged the different cultures and that this land will always be traditional Aboriginal land.
Cultural day, canteen multi-cultural lunches.
Harmony day, multicultural days that celebrate different cultures.
By having Japanese days and doing activities.
With the different units of inquiry in the past 7 years we have been able to understand cultural diversity.
We have acknowledged the Aboriginal culture and we have had many days when we dress as our background/religion.
Learning Japanese and cultural activities.
Murrumbeena holds cultural days like Diwali and Lunar New Year. Also, on one of the days, we get to dress up in our cultural style of clothing.
Every Monday before we sing the national anthem we acknowledge the cultural diversity of others.
By not making fun of cultures.
They make sure that everyone gets the correct amount of respect no matter their colour or Religion!
By mostly accepting me for who I am.
They treat everyone with respect.
By acknowledging them, introducing new cultures and celebrating them!

Why would you recommend Murrumbeena Primary School to another student/family?

MPS teachers and peers help us to get our work done and by the time we graduate Primary School, we have learnt a lot.
Because it’s very inviting and open to people and gives lots of opportunities.
Different experiences as it’s an IB school.
Because it lets you further understand the topic through a variety of subjects.
Because a lot of the teachers have a great love and care for the students. They teach in very simple ways to get you to know more things.
Because they let everyone have a say and treat everyone the same.
I would definitely recommend this program to anyone because of the knowledge we gain throughout this experience.
Because at our school we can express who we are, and make new friends and learn in an entertaining fun way! ,
Murrumbeena Primary School is an amazing school. Everyone here is so friendly and all the teachers are amazing. They have great camps and amazing options for inter school sports. Everything here is amazing (the resources provided to us). We are so lucky and grateful to the teachers and everyone for how amazing Murrumbeena Primary School is and how supportive the students, parents and teachers are.
I would definitely recommend Murrumbeena Primary School to others because the things we do here are really fun and engaging. Also, the teachers are really helpful.
It is a very inclusive environment and always so much fun. There are also some really amazing teachers
It is a great school and you will say later on ‘I went to Murrumbeena Primary’.
Yes, because it’s diverse and teaches students values.
I would say that it’s never boring
This school is very welcoming and there are lots of people to make friends with.
I would say how it has loads of opportunities including the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.
It’s excellent, it accepts, acknowledges and introduces diversity. Everyone is equal.
Because you can express yourself and learning is really fun.
It’s a fun place, the teachers are amazing.

What has been the benefit of participating in the Exhibition?

Exhibition has helped me understand better who I am and who I can be.
We got to learn about topics we are passionate about.
Awareness that the world isn’t perfect.
By helping us with our organisation and research skills.
Learning about a new topic and being able to communicate ideas and present them to audiences to improve their knowledge on the topic.
Being a risk taker.
The benefit of doing Exhibition is being able to learn about a new topic and allowing me to experience what the reality of the world is.
Working in a group and learning how to be a leader.
Learning new things and experiencing and how hard it is for teachers when we start a new inquiry.
It showed us how to take action.
I think my leadership skills have improved.
To manage tasks and time yourself, being resilient, respectful and responsible.
Practising my speaking skills, and being able to show what I know and can do.

What have you learnt about yourself as a learner during Exhibition?

That I get distracted easily.
What topics I’m interested in.
That I work well in a group.
That I can bring the expectations to reality.
Being proud of myself and not giving up.
That it’s always ok to ask your group members for help or ideas.
I have learnt that I can accomplish a lot more than I think I can.
I have learnt that I am an independent person who can learn and pursue new ideas and form them in a way to show others.
I have learnt that I am a risk taker and a cooperative person. I have learnt to take on risks and struggles during the Exhibition.
That if you work hard enough on something you can achieve it.
I have learnt that I am more of a visual learner but I can also skim and scan a text to get the information that I need.
That I can speak in front of other people better.
That I am passionate about a lot of different things.
I work well in a group.
That I can remember things and I can be confident in front of a crowd.
How creative I really am.
I am more organised than I thought and really like teaching younger kids.
I think I’m a leader.
I like working by myself.
I work better in a group.
I can grow my knowledge in depth quickly.
I don’t like using computers because I prefer books so I can spread everything out and see all my work in front of me.
I can get off topic easily.
I like being responsible and handling my own tasks, working collaboratively .
I am a communicator and I love to work in a group
That I feel more confident for the next time I do a presentation in front of people.

What else would you like the school to know about your experience at Murrumbeena Primary School?

I have learnt a lot and the principal and vice principal have made this school a better place. Also many people in this school are very funny and nice to be around.
That all the teachers are amazing and support you no matter what.
That it’s easy to make friends and that everyone will welcome you.
The IB program has assisted me in so many ways so due to this reason I would like to see this program continuing in the future! :)
I like how we get to work in groups, and how learning is engaging and fun for everyone.
I have loved how engaging the work and learning is here.
I love everything about this school.
Before COVID 19 happened, during the holidays I never wanted to come to school, I just wanted to stay and have fun with my family. After COVID 19 I then realised how much I missed everything here and I realised that I’m a part of this school and I have a family/class and friends who care about me. I will miss this school after graduation.
That it has been an amazing experience that heaps of other schools won’t have.
I love going on excursions and incursions.
That I am very thankful that they have helped me throughout the past 7 years.
It’s super fun most of the time, and has helped me develop lots of social and emotional skills.
I made some good friends, and the teachers are great.
It was a unique experience.
I want them to know that they have done such a great job so thank you to all my teachers and the principals.
That it was really good and fun, I’ve grown as a learner.

The students responses were overwhelmingly positive about their experience at Murrumbeena Primary School and with the IB PYP. The self study will support us to further improve the experience for our current and future students.

Angela Houghton

Primary Years Program Coordinator