College Gardens Elementary is in the candidate phase of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) working toward authorization. PYP is the primary version of the prestigious International Baccalaureate (IB) program already established at Richard Montgomery High School and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Julius West Middle School.
The following information is quoted from Schools’ Guide to The Primary Years Programme, a printed guide that is a companion to the schools’ guide that appears on www.ibo.org, the IBO’s public Web site. Please go to the web site to see the official guide – the online version is kept current, the print guide only comes out every 2 years.
"The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), a non-profit educational foundation based in Geneva, Switzerland, offers the Diploma Programme for students in the final two years of school aged 16-19, the Middle Years Programme for students in the11-16 age range, and the Primary Years Programme for students aged 3-12 years.
"The IBO has authorized some 1,300 schools in 110 countries to teach these programmes. In addition, the organization provides curriculum and assessment development, teacher-training and information seminars, electronic networking and other educational services to these schools.
"The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed for students between the ages of 3 and 12 years. It is an international, transdisciplinary programme designed to foster the development of the whole child, not just in the classroom but also through other means of learning. The PYP focuses on the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic welfare.
"The PYP combines the best research and practice from a range of national systems with a wealth of knowledge and experience from international schools to create a relevant and engaging educational framework for all children."
