International Baccalaureate Program
A curriculum that stirs appreciation for various cultures has never been more important than it is now. Our teachers work to foster respect for individual and cultural differences, believing that an understanding of our common humanity will help students assume their responsibility as Americans and citizens of the world. Through classroom work, field trips, cultural events, and technology capable of linking our classrooms to others across the globe, we help prepare our students for the increasingly complex, global community they will inhabit.
Languages
The study of global languages (English, French, and Spanish) is a cornerstone of this philosophy, and for each of our students, language is a core academic subject. Not only do we expose students to the language itself, but they learn about the history and culture of the people and countries they study. This serves to impress upon the children how interconnected our world truly is and better prepares them to live in such a world.
IB-PYP Program
Valley Preparatory School began implementing the International Baccalaureate – Primary Years Program (IB-PYP) in 2016 and received approval as an International Baccalaureate World School in summer 2020. The Primary Years Program is a holistic, inquiry-based, cross-curricular approach to teaching and learning that promotes cultural sensitivity and international mindedness. The program uses six trans-disciplinary themes to organize traditional curricular content. For more details about the program, please visit the International Baccalaureate website.
At Valley Prep, two of these themes are STEAM related, encouraging students to work collaboratively to complete units of study that emphasize math, science, and technology, while still appreciating the importance of the arts. For more information about IB-PYP, please visit the IBO website.
Values-Based Education
While academic achievement is important, IB schools place even greater importance upon the Learner Profile, a set of values and traits which form the foundation of global citizenship: Open-minded, reflective, principled, balanced, and caring. Watch the video below to learn more.