Holly Lane IB PYP News
Holly Lane Elementary begins 2015-16 as an authorized International Baccalaureate
World School, offering the Primary Years Programme (IB PYP)
Holly Lane Elementary is proud to announce its authorization as an International Baccalaureate World School offering the
Primary Years Programme (IB PYP), beginning with the 2015-16 school year. It generally takes three to four years to fully
implement the IB PYP and seek authorization, which requires teachers to write and teach units of inquiry that challenge
students to apply their knowledge in real world situations and to follow the learner profile and IB attitudes. Students at
Holly Lane have benefited during these years from individual and collaborative activities to boost their academic
curiosity and ownership of their own learning.
The IB learner profile & IB attitudes
The learner profile attributes and IB attitudes are emphasized throughout the school to help create an environment in
which learning and learners can flourish.
Through the IB learner profile, all learners strive to be: Balanced, Caring, Communicators, Inquirers, Knowledgeable,
Open-minded, Principled, Reflective, Risk-takers, and Thinkers. “The IB learner profile is the IB mission statement
translated into a set of learning outcomes for the 21st century… It is a set of ideals that can inspire, motivate and focus
the work of schools and teachers, uniting them in a common purpose” (Making the PYP Happen, 2009)
In an IB PYP culture, all learners strive to show the IB attitudes in their daily lives, in and out of school. These attitudes
are Appreciation, Commitment, Confidence, Cooperation, Creativity, Empathy, Enthusiasm, Independence,
Integrity, Respect and Tolerance.
Ask your children about the Essential Agreements they created with their teachers and classmates during the first week
of school to help guide their behavior and learning throughout the year. These agreements are developed by students,
with teacher guidance, to help create an environment where inquiry can flourish.
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Holly Lane IB PYP News
Wise Owl Wednesdays: Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Safe
Family involvement and support of student learning is key in the IB PYP learning environment. As partners, Holly Lane
staff and families continue to work together to help our students develop. Through Holly Lane’s Wise Owl Wednesdays
promoting positive behaviors, we will concentrate on specific IB attitudes and learner profile attributes each month.
Staff members at Holly Lane nominate a student each month who most exemplifies a highlighted attitude or attribute
during the month.
During an assembly on Sept. 9, students will be introduced to the learner profile attribute: Knowledgeable and the IB
attitude: Enthusiasm.
Here are some things you can do at home to encourage your child to demonstrate this month’s attribute and attitude:
Knowledgeable: 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.
Activities for Parents:
● Encourage your child to read books at home that correspond to the topics being covered in school.
● Ask your child about what they are learning in school and engage them in conversations about it:
1. “Why do you think that is an important thing to know about?”
2. “Can you think of anything happening in the world today that might be similar to that aspect of history?"
● Encourage your child to become familiar with current events and to read the newspaper and watch the news, when
appropriate.
Enthusiasm: Encourage your child to enjoy learning and willingly put effort into the learning process.
Holly Lane Mission Statement
“The Holly Lane Community
educates for excellence promoting
an inquiry-based environment of
internationally-minded individuals
who become life-long learners.”
All shirts will
be Kelly green.
Short sleeved
are 50/50
Long sleeved
are 100%
cotton
On Wise Owl Wednesdays
students and staff are encouraged
to wear their Big 3 t-shirts, Holly
Lane spirit wear or green. T-shirt
order forms will be sent home
and available on the school
website.
Orders due Sept. 18, 2015
Since our first Wise Owl
Wednesday is on picture day,
students are NOT expected to
wear their big 3 shirt, Holly
Lane spirit wear, or green.
Westlake City Schools Mission Statement
We Educate for Excellence…Empowering all students to achieve their educational goals, to direct their lives and to
contribute to society.
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