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Primary Years Program (PYP)

August 2010 brought the opening of the Adams 12 Five Star School District Primary Years Program, also known as PYP, at Leroy Drive Elementary. This program is part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum continuum, and is a strong complement to existing IB programming at Century Middle School and Thornton High School. August 2011 brought the opening of PYP programs at Coronado Hills, McElwain and Thornton Elementaries and a MYP program at Thornton Middle.  PYP offers a strong, high quality academic program option to all families throughout the district.

PYP Program Information

What is Primary Years Program?
The IB Primary Years Program for all students in grades K-5, focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside and prepares them to be active participants as lifelong learners. (www.ibo.org)

The Curriculum
The IB Primary Years Program focuses on 6 themes that are integrated into 6 subject areas. These themes of global significance create a transdisciplinary framework that allows students to "step up" beyond the confines of learning within subject areas.

  1. Who we are
  2. Where we are in place and time
  3. How we express ourselves
  4. How the world works
  5. How we organize ourselves
  6. Sharing the planet

The six transdisciplinary themes help teachers to develop a program of inquiries–in-depth investigations into important ideas, identified by the teachers, and requiring a high level of involvement on the part of the students. These inquiries are substantial, in-depth and usually last for several weeks. The six themes are integrated into 6 subject areas.

  1. Language
  2. Social Studies
  3. Mathematics
  4. Arts
  5. Science
  6. Personal, social, and physical education

The teaching learning cycle will continually answers 3 critical questions:

  1. What do we want to learn?
  2. How best will we learn?
  3. How will we know what we have learned?

Assessment
Assessment is an important part of each unit of inquiry as it both enhances learning and provides opportunities for students to reflect on what they know, understand and can do. The teacher's feedback to the students provides the guidance, the tools and the incentive for them to become more competent, more skillful and better at understanding how to learn.

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end, the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment. These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. (www.ibo.org)

Admissions
Beginning with admissions for the 2012-13 school year, applications to attend PYP programs in Adams 12 shall be submitted via the Schools of Choice Program.  For an updated list of PYP programs open to choice and more information on the application process please visit the Schools of Choice Program webpage.

For more information regarding the International Baccalaureate program and PYP, go to www.ibo.org.

Upcoming Events
Leroy Drive Elementary will host a number of informational events at 1451 Leroy Drive Northglenn, CO 80233.

Tours for Prospective PYP Families
January 18, 2012 - 10:00-11:00 a.m.
January 23, 2012 - 9:00-10:00 a.m.
January 30, 2012 - 1:00-2:00 p.m.

Parent Information Nights
January 12, 2012 - 5:30-7:00 p.m.
February 16, 2012 – 5:30-7:00 p.m.