Harvard Elementary School Houston Texas in the Heart of the Houston Heights

Sharing Our Humanity
The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.... read more

Why has Harvard decided to adopt the IB Primary Years Programme?

IB PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME PRESENTATION

The IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer: someone actively pursuing understanding, both in the classroom and in the world outside. At the heart of the PYP is a commitment to structured inquiry as the engine for learning. And the IB program wants even the youngest students to feel equipped to take action in response to what they’ve learned.

Drawn by the promise of working on assuring best educational practice in our school, as well as the possibility of joining a community of educators around the world, all of whom aspired to provide the best education in the world. We also thought that a focus on internationalism was appropriate for the twenty-first century. As we considered the Primary Years Programme, we compared these programs to our current school program.

In many ways, they were very similar. The IB programs stress inquiry and thoughtfulness in education, in addition to the teaching basic skills.

IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives. Knowledgeable They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines. Thinkers They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions. Open-minded They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.	Risk-takers They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage andforethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs. Reflective They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development. Communicators They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others. Principled They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.	Balanced They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others. Caring They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
The IB learner profile © International Baccalauriate Organization

In International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme Schools, all people (students, teachers, staff members, parents and community members) should demonstrate: Appreciate Appreciate the wonder and beauty of the world and its people. Commitment Being committed to their own learning, persevering and showing self-discipline and responsibility. Confidence Feeling confident in their ability as learners, having the courage to take risks, applying what they have learned and making appropriate decisions and choices. Cooperation Cooperative, collaborating, and leading or following as the situation demands.	Creativity Being creative and imaginative in their thinking and in approaching to problems and dilemmas. Curiosity Being curious about the nature of learning, about the world, its people and cultures. Empathy Imagining them in another’s situation in order to understand his or her reasoning and emotions, so as to be open minded and reflective about the perspective of others. Enthusiasm Enjoying learning and willingly putting the effort into the process. Independence Thinking and acting independently, making their own judgments based on reasoned argument, and being able to defend their judgments.	Integrity Being honest and demonstrating a considered sense of fairness. Respect Respecting themselves others and the world around them. Tolerance Being sensitive about differences and diversity in the world and being responsive to the needs of others.

Harvard Elementary School is a candidate school* for the Primary Years Programme (PYP). 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 Harvard believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate (IB) as IB World Schools can offer any of its three academic programmes: the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), or the IB Diploma Programme. Interested and Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org

IB Program FAQ

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a non profit educational foundation which was started in Europe in 1968.

It was started in response to international educators who were attempting to establish a common curriculum for international students.

The organization used best practices from a variety of countries, and created the two-year Diploma Programme for grades 11 and 12.

In the early 1990's The Middle Years Programme, (MYP) was introduced as a preparation for the diploma program. The IB completed its framework by adding the Primary Years Program (PYP).

The IB framework has three distinctive, complementary programs:

Primary Years
(grades JK-5)

Middle Years (6-10)

Diploma (11-12)

The IBO has over 1468 programs in over 115 countries.

IB mission statement

Quotes From Educators

Primary Years Program

IB At-A-Glance

IB World magazine is the official magazine of the International Baccalaureate, published three times a year on paper and here, online.

Through the magazine we hope to keep everyone informed about the stories happening across the ever-widening IB community.

Harvard Elementary | 810 Harvard | Houston, TX 77007 | 713.867.5210 | contact@harvardschool.org
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