International Baccalaureate

What is the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP)?

St. Louis Park Middle School is an IB World School offering the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). All 6th - 8th grade students participate in the MYP.

The MYP accommodates most national or local curriculum requirements, builds upon the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), and prepares students for the challenges of the IB Diploma Programme (DP) or the IB Career-related Certificate (IBCC).

IB-MYP provides a framework of academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and to become critical and reflective thinkers. In the final year of the program, students also engage in a personal project, through which they will demonstrate the understandings and skills they have developed throughout the program.

How is the Middle Years Programme Unique?

We encourage international-mindedness in IB MYP students, starting with a foundation in their own language and culture.
We encourage a positive attitude to learning by challenging students to solve problems, show creativity and resourcefulness, and participate actively in their communities.
We reflect real life by providing a framework that allows students to see the connections among the subjects themselves, and between the subjects and real issues.
We support the development of communication skills to encourage inquiry, understanding, language acquisition, and to allow student reflection and expression.
Through the learner profile, we emphasize the development of the whole student – physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically.

Students will enroll in eight subjects each year, developing their IB learner profile attributes, and reflecting on a variety of learning skills.

IB in Action!

The concepts of community, diversity, inclusion, compassion, and culturally relevant practices permeate and frame the work of all members in the school community.

International Baccalaureate Evaluation Fall 2023

The IB Continuum of International Education

The IB continuum of international education, for students aged 3 to 19, is unique because of its academic and personal rigor. It challenges students to excel in their studies and personal growth while inspiring a lifelong quest for learning marked by enthusiasm and empathy.

The IB’s Vision:
The IB aims to help schools develop well-rounded students who:

Respond to challenges with optimism and an open mind.
Are confident in their own identities.
Make ethical decisions.
Join with others to celebrate our common humanity.
Apply what they learn in real-world, complex, and unpredictable situations.

An IB Education Offers:

Focus on learners:
- The IB’s student-centered programs promote healthy relationships, ethical responsibility, and personal challenge.
Effective teaching and learning approaches:
- Programs develop attitudes and skills needed for academic and personal success.
Global contexts:
- IB programs increase understanding of languages and cultures while exploring globally significant ideas and issues.
Significant content:
- The curriculum is broad and balanced, conceptual, and connected.

Informed by the IB Learner Profile, students strive to embody attributes such as being inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. These attributes go beyond intellectual development to include a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities.

The IB Middle Years Programme

Addresses students’ intellectual, social, emotional, and physical well-being holistically.
Provides opportunities for students to develop knowledge, attitudes, and skills to manage complexity and take responsible action for the future.
Ensures breadth and depth of understanding through study in eight subject groups.
Requires the study of at least two languages to enhance cultural understanding.
Empowers students to participate in community service.
Prepares students for further education, the workplace, and lifelong learning.

The MYP consists of eight subject groups:

Language acquisition
Language and literature
Individuals and societies
Sciences
Mathematics
Arts
Physical and health education
Design

Community Projects

A hallmark of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) is the community project. This project focuses on community and service, encouraging students to explore their right and responsibility to take action in their community.

All eighth-grade students at the Middle School will complete a community project. Through this project, students will:

Develop awareness of needs in different communities.
Address those needs through service learning.
Engage in a sustained, in-depth inquiry that leads to meaningful service as action.

Contact Information:

Mia Waldera, IB-MYP Coordinator
Phone: 952-928-6349
Email: waldera.mia@slpschools.org