[WHMS-Parents] 4-5 parents only
WHMS Parents Information Email List
Dear Parents of Grade 4-5 students,
Those of you who attended Lone Pine last year will be familiar with this e-mail. This information will be new to our Pine Lake and new families to West Hills. It is the heart of the character education aspect of the PYP program. Dr. Hillberry sent this to her Lone Pine Community recently, and I wanted to pass it along to you as background information for what our staff and students are experiencing at the West Hills 4/5 program as we implement the PYP.
Sincerely,
Tony Kruzman
Principal, Grades 4-5
Associate Principal WHMS
"Comprehensive Education At Its Finest"
Dear Parents,
Today’s Lesson: The IB Learner Profile and Attitudes
Why are the IB Learner Profile and the Attitudes important?
Student attainment of the qualities described in the IB Learner Profile is the goal of all IB Programmes. It describes the attributes and characteristics of individuals we hope to produce through all of our efforts as a school community. According to the IBO, “the profile is central to the work of the PYP….It represents the qualities of internationalism which the PYP hopes will characterize its graduates” (Making the PYP Happen).
As for the Attitudes, the IBO believes that “positive attitudes towards people, towards the environment, and towards learning” are essential in an internationally educated person. The organization does not believe these attitudes should be fostered implicitly, but rather explicitly within the written curriculum in a very conscious and structured way. (Making the PYP Happen).
Together, the Learner Profile and the Attitudes form the foundation of character education at Lone Pine.
What are the attributes of the IB Learner Profile?
IB students are:
Inquirers: Their natural curiosity has been nurtured. They have acquired the skills necessary to conduct purposeful, constructive research. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
Thinkers: They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to make sound decisions and to solve complex problems.
Communicators: They receive and express ideas and information confidently in more than one language, including the language of mathematical symbols.
Risk-takers: They approach unfamiliar situations without anxiety and have the confidence and independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas, and strategies. They are courageous and articulate in defending those things in which they believe.
Knowledgeable: They have spent time in our schools exploring themes which have global relevance and importance. In doing so, they have acquired a critical mass of significant knowledge.
Principled: They have a sound grasp of the principles of moral reasoning. They have integrity, honesty, and a sense of fairness and justice.
Caring: They show sensitivity towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a sense of personal commitment to action and service.
Open-minded: They respect the views, values, and traditions of other individuals and cultures and are accustomed to seeking and considering a range of points of view.
Balanced: They understand the importance of physical and mental balance and personal well-being.
Reflective: They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and analyze their personal strengths and weaknesses in a constructive manner (Making the PYP Happen).
What are the PYP Attitudes?
Appreciation: Appreciating the wonder and beauty of the world and its people.
Commitment: Being committed to learning, persevering, and showing self-discipline and responsibility.
Confidence: Feeling confident in one’s ability as a learner, having the courage to take risks, applying what one has learned, and making appropriate decisions and choices.
Cooperation: Cooperating, collaborating, and leading or following as the situation demands.
Creativity: Being creative and imaginative in one’s thinking and in one’s approach to problems and dilemmas.
Curiosity: Being curious about the nature of learning and of the world, its people, and cultures.
Empathy: Imaginatively projecting oneself into another’s situation, in order to understand his/her thoughts, reasoning, and emotions.
Enthusiasm: Enjoying learning.
Independence: Thinking and acting independently, making one’s own judgments based on reasoned principles and being able to defend one’s judgments.
Integrity: Having integrity and a firm sense of fairness and honesty.
Respect: Respecting oneself, others, and the world.
Tolerance: Feeling sensitivity toward differences and diversity in the world and being responsive to the needs of others (Making the PYP Happen).
How does all of this benefit my student ?
The IB Learner Profile and the Attitudes form the foundation of school and classroom essential agreements (i.e. agreed upon standards of behavior) and of expected behavior between all members of our school community in all contexts. Because the Profile attributes and the Attitudes are explicitly taught, this approach toward character development in our school aligns with the concept of Positive Behavior Support, a highly researched approach to behavior management in schools. You will see that the Learner Profile serves as the basis of behavior evaluation on the Lone Pine report card when it arrives home this winter.
The Profile and the Attitudes are displayed throughout the school—in classrooms, common areas, and the office. You have likely noticed them on prominent display along the fascia in the media center. Our teachers provide direct instruction on these concepts, and reinforce them at every opportunity throughout the year in academic, social, and behavioral contexts.
As a staff, we have agreed this year to designate an Attitude and Profile attribute of the month, and will focus heavily on those particular concepts within the scheduled timeframe. For example, for the month of December, we have focused on Empathy and Caring. In January, we will shift to Integrity and Principled. In addition to highlighting these within our daily instructional dialogue, the media center offers a display of books focusing on these concepts each month.
What can I do at home to support the IB Learner Profile and Attitudes?
Reinforcement of the Profile attributes and the Attitudes on the home front send a clear message to students that we are all on the same page regarding our expectations for behavior. Students quickly build familiarity with these terms, and because they are explicitly taught, should understand them when used in context. For parents, they make an excellent foundation for literature discussions, a wonderful leaping-off point for conversations about choices, a solid basis for reflections on a child’s day-to-day observations and inquiries regarding human behavior, and certainly can act as a discussion point to help young people digest the messages they are bombarded by in today’s media.
Coming in January: Instructional Practices in the PYP
Mary Hillberry
Principal
Lone Pine Elementary School
An International Baccalaureate PYP World School
Bloomfield Hills Schools
Comprehensive education at its finest
Phone 248.341.7300
Fax 248.341.7399