PYP Newsletter

V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 1 J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 0

INSIDE
THIS
ISSUE: Welcome to the PYP at Huijia School
What is 2 Dear Parents,
the PYP? My name is Patrick O’Sullivan, and I
am very proud to welcome you to
PYP at Huijia School. I am the
PYP units 3
director of the PYP curriculum, and
of inquiry
it is with great enthusiasm that I
share this program with you.
Semester 4 Our school is in the candidate phase
I review of PYP implementation, and all mem-
bers of our primary school commu-
nity are working incredibly hard as
Semester 5 we continue on our
II journey towards PYP authorization.
preview
I sincerely hope that you will join us
on this fantastic journey and work
with us to make every
success for the future.
 PAGE 2

What is the PYP?

The PYP is an international primary years program that promotes social, physical,
emotional, and cultural needs in addition to academics. High standards are set and
“The PYP is an there are high expectations for the students.
international Curriculum in the IB Primary Years Program (PYP) is shared throughout the world.
primary years The PYP seeks to identify a body of significant knowledge for all students in all

program that
cultures in these principal domains: Languages, Mathematics, Science and

promotes social,
Technology, Personal and Social Education, Physical Education, Social Studies, and
Arts.
physical, emotional,
The methodology of this program uses strategies of inquiry to create depth in
and cultural needs
learning about particular topics. In a nutshell, a great deal of time is spent by
in addition to
students and teachers working toward answering a few broad questions using many
academics”.” resources and a combination of subject areas. Students will still be practicing skills,
but the learning that is taking place goes toward answering those broad ques-
tions. This adds the element of relevance to the learning taking place and a sense of
a product, rather than a seemingly unrelated collection of facts and skills.
All Huijia teachers work together to plan curriculum to guide their classes.
Specialist teachers such as those in art, music, foreign languages, mother tongue and
PE will also be involved in creating this question-focused method of study. Every
student will benefit from and be totally immersed in this all-school program.

PYP NEWSLETTER
 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 3

Through the year our students will study 6 units of inquiry (3 units in each semester). These units are
transdisciplinary, meaning that all teachers from all subject areas are involved in planning, teaching and
assessing each unit.
The PYP units of inquiry are designed around six organizing themes or areas of knowledge which have
significance for all students, in all cultures; and offer students the opportunity to explore knowledge which is
of genuine importance in understanding the human condition; and in understanding the world.
VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1 PAGE 4

The PYP in the classroom - semester I

“In a nutshell,

a great deal of

time is spent by

students and

teachers

working toward

answering a

few broad

questions using

many resources

and a
In semester I all of our students from grade 1-6 inquired into the following 3 themes:
combination of
 Who we are subject areas”
 Where we are in place and time
 How we express ourselves

Each grade explored these themes by focusing on different aspects of the themes. To
put it simply, they inquired into topics that built on their prior understanding and pre-
pared them for their subsequent units by building and developing their knowledge, con-
ceptual understanding, attitudes, skills and promotion of action.
 PAGE 5

Semester II preview
In semester II all of our students will inquire into the following themes:

 How the world works

 How we organize ourselves
 Sharing the planet

I am also very happy to inform you that we will be inviting parents to come into our
school to look at the classrooms, view student work and to attend a PYP workshop,
so that parents can be informed and join our PYP community.

Patrick O’Sullivan
PYP Director

“Too often we

give children

answers to

remember rather

than problems to

solve.”

PYP NEWSLETTER