Middle Years Program (MYP) Grades 7-10
As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, we provide students in grades 7-10 with the Middle Years Program (MYP). The MYP emphasizes interdisciplinary challenges and encourages students to make connections between their studies in traditional subjects and the real world. It fosters the development of skills for communication, intercultural understanding and global engagement - essential qualities for young people who are becoming global leaders. The MYP culminates with a Personal Project in Grade 10.
An IB student’s school year is broken down into six key units of study throughout the school year. Through inquiry and project based learning, lessons are focused around answering an essential question themed around each unit. An example of MYP studies is an annual unit focused on the central theme of Leadership:
Students in the ninth grade European History class begin their unit in studying Literature and Philosophy by reading Machiavelli’s The Prince as a part of their IB Individuals and Societies course. The book was written as a handbook for rulers more than 500 years ago, and gives insight on various types of leadership styles and practices that can still be applied today. As a summative assessment, students partake in an annual Leadership Summit that gives them the opportunity to apply the knowledge they learned in the classroom and converse with local business and government leaders about their views on leadership. Significant community figures have included police and fire representatives, business entrepreneurs, corporate CEOs, and government officials to include judges and legislators. Students ask questions about leadership by referencing their studies and their understanding of Machiavelli during Q&A sessions.
The MYP culminates in Grade 10 with the Personal Project. The Personal Project can take various forms, such as an essay or piece of creative writing, an original science experiment, the organization of an event or creation of an original work of art. The personal project is an opportunity for MYP students to develop their known strengths and discover new ones. Through the Personal Project students in Grade 10 must demonstrate interdisciplinary understanding.