Why consider an International Baccalaureate program for middle school?

International Baccalaureate programs, offered to kindergarten through high school students, aim to go beyond basic curricula by developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people. In the Middle Years Program (MYP), students are at the center of their learning. They draw connections between all subject areas, participate in a world language, and learning is explicitly linked to the world around them.

The MYP has at its foundation the focus of helping students learn how to learn by developing skills for research, critical and creative thinking, communication, collaboration, and self-management. It’s designed to help students explore big ideas that matter to them in an interrelated manner. Lastly, it requires students to reflect on their studies and their relevance for developing an understanding of common humanity and a shared guardianship of the planet.

All MYP students participate in coursework in the language arts, social studies, sciences, math, the arts, world language, physical education and health as well as design/STEM. These courses are not electives but a part of their core studies all three years of middle school.

On Monday, October 29th from 6:30-8 p.m., the three Boulder County schools offering the IB Middle Years Program (Boulder Country Day School, Mackintosh Academy, and Sunset Middle School) will hold a panel discussion along with IB Consultant Lou Marchesano on the foundations and benefits of an MYP.