Western Middle School teachers have been collaborating to plan IB units. In this picture, Ms. Willie is sharing her student work with the rest of her fellow teachers.
Western Middle School is currently a candidate* school for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP) and is pursuing authorization as an IB World School.
*Only schools authorized by the International Baccalaureate as IB World Schools can offer any of its three academic programmes:
the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), or the Diploma Programme. Schools must meet the requirements of the IB in order to become authorized schools.
About the MYP Programme
The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (MYP) in grades 6-10 connects the IB Primary Years Program (prek-5) and the IB Diploma Program (grades 11-12). Western Middle School is seeking authorization to teach the MYP in grades 6 - 8. The MYP provides a framework of academic rigor that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, becoming critical and reflective thinkers.
The MYP programme requires mastery of eight subjects -English (Language A), History (Humanities), Science, Mathematics, Foreign Language (Language B), Physical Education, Technology, and the Arts. The engine driving the MYP through every class moves on the belief that all students can be taught to be independent problem-solvers with strong study skills. The Learner Profile allows students to assess their progress against clearly defined personal attributes.
The three fundamental concepts that support the MYP are intercultural awareness, holistic learning, and communication. The MYP differs from other educational programs by incorporating the Areas of Interaction into each subject. These Areas of Interaction are: Approaches to Learning, Community and Service, Health and Social Education, Environments, and Human Ingenuity. These themes provide a framework for developing connections between the eight subjects in a real-world context.
MYP teachers use internationally published IB assessment criteria as a benchmark for their grading. They provide a variety of assessment tasks, such as open-ended activities, investigations, organized debates, hands-on experimentations, and reflections, allowing students to demonstrate their achievement according to the determined criteria.
For more information please contact:
Richard Crawford
MYP Coordinator
or visit
Western Jr. Hwy., Greenwich 06830