The Middle Years Program: Preparing students to be successful in school and to be active lifelong learners:

 

The MYP is for all students in grades 6 through 10; therefore 6th and 8th grade students at Sequoia Middle School and 9th and 10th grade students at Newbury Park High School are part of the program. Students entering Newbury Park High School from other schools become part of the MYP program in 9th grade.

The MYP provides a framework of learning that encourages students to become creative, critical and reflective thinkers. It emphasizes intellectual challenge, encouraging students to make connections between their studies in traditional subjects and the real world. It fosters the development of communication skills, intercultural understanding and global engagement–qualities that are essential for life in the 21st century. The MYP meets and exceeds the requirements of both Newbury Park High School graduation and Common Core State Standards.

The IB Middle Years Programme:

• Addresses students’ intellectual, social, emotional and physical well-being.

• Enables students to understand and manage the complexities of our world, and provides them with the skills and attitudes they need in order to take responsible action for the future.

• Ensures breadth and depth of knowledge and understanding through the study of eight subject areas.

• Requires the study of at least two languages to support students’ understanding of their own culture and of others.

• Provides the opportunity for students to undertake an independent project in an area of personal interest.

 

The distinction between subject groups blurs to indicate the interdisciplinary nature of the MYP. The subject groups are connected through global contexts and key concepts.

 

Multilingualism

Learning to communicate in a variety of ways in more than one language is fundamental to the development of intercultural understanding in the IB. IB programs, therefore, support complex, rich, dynamic learning across a range of language domains. IN CUSD the program has the opportunity to take German, French, and Spanish. All IB programs mandate that students learn another language.

International Mindedness/Intercultural Understanding

Intercultural understanding involves recognizing and reflecting on one’s own perspective, as well as the perspectives of others. To increase intercultural understanding, IB programmes foster learning how to appreciate critically many beliefs, values, experiences, forms of expression and ways of knowing. The goal of understanding the world’s rich cultural heritage invites the IB community to explore human commonality, diversity, personal identity and interconnection.

The first ring around the student at the center describes the features of the programme that help students develop disciplinary (and interdisciplinary) understanding.

• Approaches to learning (ATL) - demonstrating a commitment to approaches to learning as a key component of the MYP for developing skills for learning.

• Approaches to teaching - emphasizing MYP pedagogy, including collaborative learning through inquiry.

• Concepts - highlighting a concept-driven curriculum.

• Global contexts - showing how learning best takes place in context.

 

The second ring describes some important outcomes of the program.

• Inquiry-based learning result in student-initiated action, which may involve service within the community.

• The MYP at Sequoia Middle School culminates in the community project in student’s 8th grade year.

• The MYP at Newbury Park High School culminates in the personal project in the  student’s 10th grade year.

The third ring describes the MYP’s broad and balanced curriculum.

The MYP organizes teaching and learning through eight subject groups:

1. Language and literature (English)

2. Language acquisition (World Language)

3. Sciences

4. Individuals and societies (Social Science)

5. Design

6. Mathematics

7. Physical and health education

8. Arts

IB Learner Profiles

 

The IB Learner Profile describes the attributes the International Baccalaureate aims to develop in all students to create internationally minded, knowledgeable, and compassionate young people. The 10 learner profile attributes are:

1. Inquirers
   Students develop their natural curiosity, learn how to ask meaningful questions, and actively enjoy learning through inquiry, research, and exploration.
    
2. Knowledgeable
   Learners build and use conceptual understanding, exploring local and global issues across disciplines while developing deep subject knowledge.
    
3. Thinkers
   Students apply critical and creative thinking skills to analyze complex problems, make reasoned and ethical decisions, and reflect on solutions.
    
4. Communicators
   Learners express ideas confidently and creatively in multiple languages and modes, and listen and collaborate effectively with others.
    
5. Principled
   Students act with integrity, honesty, fairness, and respect, taking responsibility for their actions and understanding the consequences of ethical choices.
    
6. Open-minded
   Learners appreciate their own cultures and personal histories while valuing diverse perspectives, traditions, and viewpoints of others.
    
7. Caring
   Students show empathy, compassion, and respect, committing to service and positive action that makes a difference in the lives of others.
    
8. Risk-takers (Courageous)
   Learners approach uncertainty with confidence and resilience, taking initiative, trying new strategies, and learning from both success and failure.
    
9. Balanced
   Students understand the importance of balancing intellectual, physical, and emotional well-being to achieve personal and social success.
    
10. Reflective
    Learners thoughtfully consider their learning and experiences, recognize strengths and areas for growth, and use reflection to inform future actions.

MYP Assessment Polices and Information

Newbury Park High School MYP, Years 4–5 Academic Integrity Policy

Newbury Park High School MYP, Years 4–5 IB Assessment Policy

Newbury Park High School MYP, Years 4–5 Inclusion Policy

Newbury Park High School MYP, Years 4–5 Language Policy