Good afternoon!

I hope everyone is having a great day on this chilly Monday!  The teachers at SJA  have spent the weekend participating in a number of professional development activities which have given us a number of great ideas to discuss and reflect on this week.  A really great visual was brought to my attention which I would love to share with you as well.


This image is a great visual to help explain the inquiry cycle, which is a fundamental part of the IB program here at SJA.  Our hope is that children at SJA become more than 'teacher-directed' students. We want our students to be interested in the world around, and go out and problem solve on their own terms.  The inquiry cycle helps children develop these important life long skills.  Children will learn how to identify issues that are important to them.  They will learn how to take steps that will help them find answers and make discoveries.  The next step is an important one- communicating their ideas!  The final stage of the inquiry cycle is when children learn how to reflect and make action based changes once they have successfully inquired into an issue.

This is an important model to help design a child's thought process in the classroom, but imagine a child's success if they begin using this model in the outside world.  Our students will become independent, self motivating, and resourceful, which are qualities we hope to groom in all of our students here at SJA.

Have a great week,

Mrs. Nelson

Good afternoon!

I wanted to thank all the families that attended the SJA IB Information Night this past Tuesday.  It was nice to see so many parents with an interest and connection to their children's education.

The night started with a power point presentation with an overall summary of the IB PYP (Primary Youth Program) and the way it is run at SJA.  We then had an opportunity to have a question  and answer period with parents to help wrap up any outstanding questions.

Here are a few of the main topics that were brought up in the question and answer period:

What are the different programs IB offers?

There are three different programs that are part of the IB program.  These 3 programs operate in a continuum with one program directly linking to the next.
The Primary Youth Program focuses on children aged 3 through 12.  This is the program of which we are in the final candidacy stage at SJA.  This program focuses on whole-child education, with a focus on inquiry in the classroom and the outside world (ibo.org).
The Middle Years Program (MYP) is based on children aged 11 - 16. With the Diploma Program being designed for students aged 16 through 19.  SJA is currently in the candidacy stage for the PYP program only.

What does action mean in the world of IB?

The PYP program is very concerned with action.  It is a way for children to demonstrate that the learning they have been doing in their classroom and around the school is meaningful to them, and significant in their lives outside of the school.  When a child is involved in an IB unit about living things, and at your trip to the park they pick out a number a living things to show you- this is learning in action!  They have taken the concepts they have explored in the classroom, and used them to make decisions and interpretations in the world.  As students develop in the program, their actions will become larger and more significant.  Students involved in a unit about homelessness might start encouraging their families to contribute to a food drive, or may volunteer at a homeless shelter.  This is how education helps make a difference in the community.  This is why student led action is so crucial to the IB program.

How can a parent help their child reach their educational goals at home?

You are already doing it!  By staying up to date on IB topics and information, you are helping your child by being aware of what is going on in their school.  My blog, our monthly newsletter and your child's classroom teacher's blog are all ways that you can be aware of what is going on with the IB program at SJA.
Keep up to date about what is happening in your child's classroom.  Watch your child for evidence of action at home.  This shows that the learning they are doing in their classroom is real and significant to their outside world.  Encourage them to continue learning at home and in the outside world!

If you have examples of your child putting their learning into action, please send me an email at cnelson@stjudesacademy.com so that they can be nominated for the IB Action Star for the month of January.

Also please let me know if you have any other questions I may help answer.

Have a great weekend!

Mrs. Nelson

Good evening!

I am very much looking forward to tomorrow night when I am going to get a chance to meet with SJA parents from all grade levels about the IB program at SJA.  I understand how the IB program may need further explanation when first presented with the terms, units and other fundamental pieces of the program.  I want to be sure that any questions you might have about the program as a whole, and the journey your child will be going on while undertaking the IB program at SJA are fully answered.

Our monthly newsletter, my weekly blog updates and your child's classroom teacher are all great sources of information about the PYP.  But I also wanted to create an opportunity for parents to come together to chat, ask questions and discuss topics pertaining to IB that are important to them. 

Tomorrow night at 7pm we are having just that opportunity with our IB Information Session.  If you are interested in attending the event, please send me an email to cnelson@stjudesacademy.com.  I hope to see you all there tomorrow night!

Best regards,

Mrs. Nelson

Good morning!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!  The holidays were busy and exciting but it is great to be back to a new year at SJA. 

There are a number of exciting things happening at SJA this month.  One important event to mark on your calendars is the IB Information Night at SJA.  This event is taking place on Tuesday, January 15th at 7pm in the school auditorium.  I will be running the session, along with Ms. Elliott.  We will be hosting a discussion on the PYP program at SJA, and answering questions about our upcoming candidacy for the IB MYP program. This is going to be a great night with lots of information for families of SJA.  Please RVSP your attendance to me at cnelson@stjudesacademy.com.

The month of January also brings our new Learner Profile attribute.  This month we are focusing on students who are Open-minded. This means that we are looking for students who '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.' (ibo.org).  If you witness your child showing any of these important qualities at home please let us know because they could be nominated as the next IB Action Star!

Have a great week,

Mrs. Nelson




 

Good evening!

I have written a great deal about the IB Learner Profile in my last few posts, as I want to stress their importance to the IB program and your child's growth and development.  In addition to the IB Learner Profile, there are also 12 IB Attitudes that are very important to the IB program.  You may find the 12 Attitudes listed below.  These Attitudes are yet another way that the IB program aims to help your child develop socially and emotionally, in addition to the academic program it provides.  Important characteristics like being independent, showing creativity and being tolerant of others are all emphasized and encouraged in the IB program.  You will find these attitudes and their definitions displayed in the classrooms at SJA, you will find that your child is studying what these attitudes are, and I hope that you will see and hear your child speaking and showing these traits at home!  Again, if you find your child showing these qualities in their actions at home, please send me an email to cnelson@stjudesacademy.com so they can be nominated for the IB Action Star of the month.

Have a great week,

Mrs. Nelson

Appreciation	appreciating the wonder and beauty of the world and its people
Commitment	being committed to their 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	cooperating, collaborating and leading or following as the situation demands
Creativity	being creative and imaginative in their thinking and in their approach to problems and dilemmas
Curiosity	being curious about the nature of learning and of the world, its people and cultures
Empathy	imaginatively projecting themselves into another's situation, in order to understand his/her thoughts, reasoning and emotions
Enthusiasm	enjoying learning
Independence	thinking and acting independently, making their own judgements based on reasoned principles and being able to defend their judgements
Integrity	having integrity and a firm sense of fairness and honesty
Respect	respecting themselves, others and the world around them
Tolerance	feeling sensitivity towards differences and diversity in the world and being responsive to the needs of others

Good evening!

I hope that is becoming clear to parents, both returning and new to SJA, how important the Learner Profile is to the IB program.  The Learner Profile helps the children develop into the type of kind, independent, and successful adults we all want for our children.  By focusing on this type of 'long-term education' IB has found a way to teach children important skills they will use the rest of their life.
I know that we do not all share the same type of learning style.  For those of you that are more visual learners, I found a nice slideshow that presents the 10 Learner Profile Attributes and includes a small description of each one.
Please click on the link below to be re-directed to the YouTube video on the IB Learner Profile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NFoxlRTvUs

Have a great week!

Mrs. Nelson

 

Good morning!

It is the start of a new month, which means we are ready to announce the new IB Learner Profile attribute that SJA will be focusing on.  As a reminder, the Learner Profile is an essential aspect of the IB program because it introduces 'a set of ideals that can inspire, motivate and focus the work of schools and teachers, uniting them in a common purpose.' (www.ibo.org).

For the month of December we are going to be looking for students who are 'Knowledgeable'.  Being a Knowledgeable student within the IB program means that students will '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.' (www.ibo.org) 

Teachers are going to be on the look out for students who at showing these important qualities in their classrooms and in real world situations.  Don't forget, that we are also looking for nominations for the IB Action Star of the month for the school's newsletter.  If you witness your child showing an action that demonstrates them being Knowledgeable send me an email to let me know at cnelson@stjudesacademy.com. 

Have a great week!

Mrs. Nelson