• PYP International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program
  • MYP International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program
  • IB .... International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
 
     
     
   
International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program
 
 
 
The historic success of IB students was the catalyst for Casuarinas becoming the first school in Peru to offer the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) in grades PreK-5. We wanted younger students to be exposed to the unique IB approach: learn a second language, begin to apply higher-level skills that focus on real world problems, and be sensitive to other cultures. The IB PYP, MYP, and Diploma Programs have brought the entire school faculty closer together. Enhanced communication has resulted in teaching advanced principles in the early grades. A unique dynamism in grades K-5 has been created through vital cross-grade exchange.
 
 
All Casuarinas PYP teachers routinely attend teacher training workshops held in North America and Europe, where they can share strategies for success and receive information about new curricular ideas from around the world.

Students are encouraged to reflect on their own growth by having concrete opportunities to engage in critical thinking, risk-taking, leadership, and perseverance. By being involved in situations that foster these attributes, students of this age are beginning to form the IB Learner Profile, which characterizes the desirable personal qualities for which students can aim. Examples of how the IB Primary Years Program provides students with opportunities to develop these qualities include:
  • During the Unit of Inquiry on Friendship, Kindergarten students incorporate global awareness by learning how to say “hello” and “good morning” in many different languages through their Morning Song.
  • First grade students complete a Unit of Inquiry on Parks, during which they focus on how to best take care of parks. The action plans the students develop in order to accomplish this goal further develop their sense of caring for others and the Earth.
  • Second grade students complete nutrition research projects, wherein the children research a specific vitamin or mineral and share their findings with the class.
  • During their Unit of Inquiry into Our Place in Space, Third Grade students are presented with the challenging task of communicating what they learned about The Solar System in an engaging way for an audience. This requires them to apply their knowledge of the planets in order to produce large to-scale models of appropriate color and texture
  • In the Fourth Grade's unit on World Religions, they learn tolerance and appreciation for what might be very different from their own experiences. They study how important figures, including Gandhi, Jesus, the Dalai Lama, and Muhammad, impact on the world. By reflecting on the lives of others, students work towards changing their own behaviors to become better citizens and loving members of the human race.
  • The Final Exhibition in the Fifth Grade provides an opportunity for students to present individual examples of work that shows the growth they have made as a student during the PYP years. Examples include research on the culture of ancient Incas and research on the Japanese Samurai culture.
 
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program
 
 
 

The IB Middle Years Program (MYP) in grades 6-10 links the IB Primary Years Program (PreK-5) and the Diploma Program (11-12). The program requires mastery of eight domains of learning - English, History, Science, Math, Foreign Language, Physical Education, Technology, and the Arts. The engine driving the MYP through every class moves on the belief that all students can be taught to be independent problem-solvers with strong study skills. Three themes focus this program on clear communication, global awareness, and intercultural sensitivity. All subject areas include these five key areas: community service, self-reflection, human inventiveness, the environment, and health and social education. The MYP differs from other educational programs by incorporating these themes and key areas into each subject.

Each student in the Middle Years Program is taught how to produce quality in all written production. In grades six and seven, they have additional English periods per week devoted to the skill and process of writing. All students take the ERB Writing Test as a useful diagnostic each year.

While there are no external examinations administered in the MYP, teachers use published IB assessment criteria in their grading. In addition, teachers must send samples of student work to the International Baccalaureate Organization to ensure the high expectation standards are maintained. The Middle Years Program culminates in the submission of a Personal Project in grade 10, where students may exhibit flair and knowledge in a subject area of their own choosing. Teacher teams meet each week by grade level to examine the curriculum horizontally so that each MYP subject supports the others to provide students with a holistic experience of curriculum and assessment.

With its emphasis on written production, holistic learning experience, and the use of criterion-referenced assessment, the MYP is excellent preparation for the Diploma Program in grades 11 and 12. During the final year of the Middle Years Program in grade 10, students are given lengthy personal interviews to determine the appropriate course choices in the Diploma Program.

Highlights:

  • Small classes
  • Talented Middle School teachers
  • IB MYP framework for excellence
  • Strong art, drama and music programs
  • Latin, French, Spanish – and many other second languages by special request
  • Outward Bound experience
  • Foreign study programs
  • Strong community service and leadership program
  • Strong athletic program
  • Daily community or advisory meetings
  • Native language instruction available in French and Spanish
  • Personal Project allows for demonstration of excellence
 
  IB International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
 

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is one of the world's most respected pre-university courses of study. At The Casuarinas School, four-fifths of the junior and senior classes take the full Diploma Program, although it is open to all students. The powerful components of the Casuarinas IB Program include concurrent learning across six subject areas and consistent, high academic standards. The Program requires of all students good study habits, an open mind, and an ability to plan ahead.

The IB Diploma provides graduating seniors with multiple tools to approach study in college and beyond.

The full Diploma Program requires that students take six academic courses per day for two years. These subjects are carefully chosen from six major areas:

 
  • Language A1 (Native language)
  • Language B (Second language)
  • Social science (History, Business & management)
  • Laboratory science (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Environmental Systems or Design Technology)
  • Mathematics
  • The Arts  (Theatre, Visual Arts, or Music)
     
 

In addition, all students perform significant community service, participate in a two-year theory of knowledge philosophy course, and prepare an original research essay of 4000 words. Most of the IB courses are of two-year duration: breadth is not sacrificed for depth.

The IB Diploma provides graduating seniors with multiple tools to approach study in college and beyond. The IB Diploma gives students a global perspective on academic study, ensuring that they will be ready to enter the world's marketplace with competence, good questions, and a respect for other cultures. While writing is a main component in assessment, multiple forms of assessment allow students a broad range of access to the Diploma Program.

Colleges and universities recognize the Diploma Program as superior preparation, and all Diploma Program courses are viewed as Honors courses. Students routinely receive advanced placement and/or college credit for their examination results. Students not taking the full IB Diploma may still take up the challenge of individual IB courses and be eligible for college credit.
   
Unique offerings:
  • Foreign languages taught: Dutch, French, Spanish, Latin, German, Italian, Japanese, Hebrew, Chinese, Arabic, Russian
  • Native language study – students can continue the study of numerous native languages in a ‘self-taught' program
  • IB Business and Management  - a study of microeconomics and organizational management
  • IB Design Technology - Applications of technology and engineering for art and science students 
  • Theory of Knowledge – Raises questions such as: What is truth in each discipline? What are different ways of knowing related to discipline or culture?
  • Creativity, Action and Service – limitless opportunities to show leadership in action
  • Annual Carnegie Hall performance by students enrolled in IB Visual Arts, Theatre Arts and Music
  • School Exchange Programs
 
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