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For more information see the links and resources below that explain the basics of the PYP Program and how it is being implemented at Sierra Elementary.  If you have more questions please contact our PYP Coordinator.

 

Sierra’s IB/PYP Coordinator: Lisa Johnson

 
 

International Baccalaureate Programme

International Baccalaureate Mission Statement

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. 
 
 
Primary Years Programme

Primary Years Programme

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) develops young students as caring, active participants in a lifelong journey of learning.  Through its inquiry-led, transdisciplinary framework, the PYP challenges students to think for themselves and take responsibility for their learning as they explore local and global issues and opportunities in real-life contexts.

 

Sierra Elementary School was the first authorized IB World School public elementary school offering the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the greater Sacramento region.

 
 
 
IB PYP Program Logo
Helpful Resources

Helpful Resources

What is the IB Program?

The IB continuum of international education for 3 to 19 year olds is unique because of its academic and personal rigour. We challenge students to excel in their studies and in their personal growth. We aim to inspire a quest for learning throughout life that is marked by enthusiasm and empathy.
 
The IB aspires to help schools develop well-rounded students with character who respond to challenges with optimism and an open mind, are confident in their own identities, make ethical decisions, join with others in celebrating our common humanity and are prepared to apply what they learn in real-world, complex and unpredictable situations.
 
The IB philosophy is centered around the following elements:
* Learner Profile Attributes - IB learners strive to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. These attributes represent a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond intellectual development and academic success. 
* Knowledge - Significant, relevant content that we wish the students to explore and know about, taking into consideration their prior experience and understanding.
* Concepts - Powerful ideas that have relevance within the subject areas but also transcend them and that students must explore and re-explore in order to develop a coherent, in-depth understanding.
* Approaches to Learning - Those capabilities that the students need to demonstrate to succeed in a changing, challenging world, which may be disciplinary or transdisciplinary in nature.
 

More Information

IB at Sierra Elementary

Program of Inquiry

The PYP programme of inquiry is defined by the six transdisciplinary themes that are considered worthy of inquiry. These are: Who we are, Where we are in place and time, How we express ourselves, How the world works, How we organize ourselves, and Sharing the planet. Each theme is explored in a unit of inquiry for each grade level.
 
Click on the link below to see our Sierra Elementary Program of Inquiry for grades K - 6.
 
 

Sierra Elementary IB Parent Handbook

We at Sierra know that parents are a child’s first and most important teacher so we are hopeful that the information in this handbook will help you to support your child’s IB education at home.  Click on the link below to learn more about our program.
 
 
 
 

PYP in a Glance

The PYP focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside. It is a framework guided by six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, explored using knowledge and skills derived from six subjects areas, as well as transdisplinary skills, with a powerful emphasis on inquiry. 
 
There are many pieces to our IB program.  To see a general overview of all the elements click the link below.
 
 

Sierra IB Policies

Language

Language
The teaching and learning of language at Sierra Elementary stems from the belief that language is fundamental to lifelong learning. Language helps students understand other cultures and builds connections developing internationally-minded students. Language connects all aspects of learning and allows students to demonstrate their knowledge, ask questions, and engage with others.  All teachers at Sierra are language teachers and are responsible for language instruction. Every Sierra student is a language learner. We believe that our students will become effective communicators through the exploration of a rich language program and environment. Click on the link below to learn more.
 

Assessment

Assessment at Sierra Elementary is an integral and ongoing part of the planning, teaching and learning process. The purpose of assessment is to understand where students are in their learning, to guide teachers’ planning for instruction and learning engagements, and to provide students with valuable feedback, allowing them to participate in feed-forward processes of setting goals that they will work towards achieving throughout the year. Frequent, regular, and continuous assessment is integral to all teaching and learning. The types of assessment listed in this policy are used regularly in the classroom to guide instruction.  Click on the link below to learn more.
 
 
 

Academic Integrity

The Academic Integrity Policy at Sierra Elementary is designed to inform and guide the Sierra school community on the expectations and responsibilities for ensuring academic integrity along with a principled, balanced academic environment. Click on the link below to learn more.
 

Inclusion

Sierra Elementary’s vision for creating an inclusive environment and education for all is one that removes barriers to learning and ensures that students’ needs are at the center of the learning community to help each individual reach their full potential academically, socially, and emotionally. Building relationships with students and all the members of our school community are a priority along with a shared responsibility for the health and well-being of all of our students.We believe that all of our students are on a life-long learning journey. An emphasis on the attributes of the Learner Profile will serve as the foundation of our vision with an emphasis on modeling and embracing being caring, principled, and reflective. Click on the link below to learn more.
 
 

Access

Sierra Elementary School is a public school of the Rocklin Unified School District. As such, there is no cost or additional fees to participate in our IB program or any other programs related to the child’s education. Children in all classes and in all grade levels that are enrolled at Sierra Elementary are enrolled in our IB Primary Years Programme. Click on the link below to learn more.
 



IB and the Common Core

The IB and the CCSS share many goals, the foremost of which is their mutual emphasis on career and college readiness. An IB education not only holds students to the highest academic standards but also incorporates an understanding and appreciation of other cultures and points of view, and world language competency—precisely the soft skills in demand by the global economy. IB students demonstrate a strong competency in the context of global readiness and are, not surprisingly, sought after by colleges and universities for their soft skills as well as their hard-earned academic achievements.
 
Check out the links below to learn how the Common Core Standards are incorporated into our IB Program.
 
Connecting IB to the Core - English Language Arts Standards
 
Connecting IB to the Core - Mathematics Standards

Parent/Legal Guardian and Student Complaints Procedures

The school follows the procedures outlined in the link below to address parent concerns and complaints.  Click on the link to learn more.