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International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme

International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme

Washington Elementary is a Candidate School* for the Primary Years Program (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 Washington Elementary believes is important for our students. 

*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit International Education.

A circular diagram outlines the IB Primary Years Programme, with concentric rings and key concepts.

 Copyright International Baccalaureate Organization 2018

Getting to know the IB Learner Profiles
IB Transdisciplinary Themes
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) is underpinned by six transdisciplinary themes around which learning is planned.

These are:

  1. Who we are.
  2. Where we are in place and time.
  3. How we express ourselves.
  4. How the world works.
  5. How we organize ourselves.
  6. Sharing the planet.

These themes are selected for their relevance to the real world. They are described as transdisciplinary because they focus on issues that go across subject areas.

The transdisciplinary themes help teachers to develop a programme of inquiry. Teachers work together to develop investigations into important ideas, which require a substantial and high level of involvement on the part of students.

The IB knows that young learners are intelligent, resourceful and creative individuals who grow, develop and learn at different rates. They explore their environment and learn about their world through play and relationships with peers, teachers, family and community members.

Early learning in the PYP is a holistic learning experience that integrates socio-emotional, physical and cognitive development. In the PYP classroom, it takes place in dynamic environments that promote play, discovery and exploration.

Parents whose children have experienced the PYP in an early years setting like how the programme acknowledges that each child is unique.