SJK's International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme
Today's students are confronted with a vast array of options. Our challenge as educators is to provide young people with the values and opportunities that will enable them to make wise choices.
St. John's-Kilmarnock School (SJK) recognizes and is responding to the changing needs of education. A highly regarded leading Canadian independent school, SJK has an international focus and an innovative approach to teaching.
The International Baccalaureate's Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a world-recognized leader in education focusing on the total growth of the developing child through a comprehensive and inquiry-based approach to learning. The PYP is a global approach to education, both in philosophy and content.
The Primary Years Programme is designed for our students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5 and is based on the concept of structured and purposeful inquiry. Teachers and students are guided by six organizing themes which provide the framework for the exploration of knowledge:
- Who we are
- How the world works
- How we express ourselves
- How we share the planet
- How we organize ourselves
- Where we are in place and time
Structured inquiry, using the six organizing themes, relates the experience of the classroom to the realities of the world. The questions are used to explore traditional academic subjects including math, science, information technology, social studies, languages, the arts and personal, social and physical education. The PYP encourages involvement in music, drama, sports and community service. The PYP provides a comprehensive approach to learning, which is aligned with the Ontario Ministry of Education curriculum, and provides an approach to teaching that includes methodology, training and support.
For more information on the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) visit their website.
