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Vista Verde Middle School is a candidate school* for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy - a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Vista Verde Middle School believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) as IB World Schools can offer any of its three academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), or the Diploma Programme. Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.
For further information about the IBO and its programmes, visit http://http://www.ibo.org/.
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The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP)
Recipients: Middle School Students
In 2005, Vista Verde Middle School, under the direction of its principal, Elaine Jacobs and in cooperation with the teaching staff, applied for Applicant Status (Application A) as a Middle Years Programme. Currently, North Canyon High School has the Diploma Programme. Once candidacy has been approved, this will the first program in the State of Arizona where students may begin their International Baccalaureate studies in middle school and continue on through the high school IB Diploma Program.
The MYP is based on best practices in education and is designed for college-going students. It seeks to give students an international perspective to help them become informed about the experiences of people and cultures throughout the world. It also fosters a commitment to help others to act as a responsible member of the community at the local, national, and international levels. It embraces all traditional school subjects and all Arizona State Standards as well as a holistic view of learning and intercultural awareness. Teachers have an online curriculum center for teaching ideas and guided essential questions.
Measurements:
Vista Verde will have to demonstrate that the curriculum they have developed for their students emphasizes the five areas of interaction, is transparent, addresses community service and evokes the principles and philosophies of IBO. A consultant with IBO will meet with the school. If they have met all of IB's standards, they will officially be recognized as an IB Middle Years Program school. After that, every few years there is another evaluative process.
The International Baccalaureate Organization is a non-profit, Swiss educational foundation that was established in 1968. Today the IBO offers three programmes to schools. The Diploma Programme is for students in the final two years of secondary school (US grades eleven and twelve). The Middle Years Programme, adopted in 1994, is for students aged 11 to 16 (US grades six through ten), and the Primary Years Programme, adopted in 1997, is for students aged 3 to 12. The IBO in June of 2003 had 1,438 authorized schools in 114 countries. The number is nearly evenly divided between state schools and private, including international, schools.
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