International HonoUrs Program: 7th-10th grade
hours: 8.30 a.m. - 3.30 p.m.
The IHP, naturally follows on from the primary program, but with greater rigor. By the time students have reached this age, we expect them to have the maturity to step into a higher level of learning. However, motivation is often difficult during these years. Therefore, we have designed our curriculum to engage students through the inclusion of interest-based and interactive projects. There is a strong focus on developing the students’ work ethic and encouraging them to take responsibility for their own learning as an active participant. By year 9 and 10, preparation for the International Baccalaureate Diploma begins in earnest and therefore motivation, organization, commitment, and a positive attitude are highly encouraged.
Highlights of our lower secondary programme include:
Big question driven programme of instruction; for example, How Does Place Define Who We Are?
Continued development of personal skills, attitudes and values.
Expansion of core skills, problem solving and critical thinking.
Honing of public speaking, discussion, presentation and debate skills.
Challenging and relevant curriculum.
Outdoor projects.
Community service.
Numerous subject related field trips.
Signature Subjects include:
Education for Sustainability and Ingenuity.
Education for Global Awareness, Leadership and Business.
As with the IB PYP, the curriculum is inquiry driven and is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. We don't want students to leave our school with just academic acuity; we want them to have practical real life skills that will help them thrive in all of their endeavours. From roundtable discussions to building bridges (literally), to sewing a button on a shirt, to writing a resume, to financial management, to entrepreneurship - all of these enhance their studies of history, geography, anthropology, mathematics, English, French, chemistry, biology, earth science, physics, health and fitness, arts, and so on. There is a symbiotic relationship between academic skills and what we refer to as 'application skills'. Application skills build confidence and enhance greater understanding of concepts through meaningful applications that reinforce academic constructs.
Our classrooms also represent a combination of both a curriculum center method and a learning center method. A curriculum centered approach is one where the teacher determines what, when, and how the curriculum will be taught (traditional). A learning center approach engages students to be independent and self directed in learning activities, best supporting the inquiry approach (progressive). By blending the two diametrically opposed methods, we believe that we offer balance between support and guidance, and self regulation. Additionally this allows us to cater to the different learning styles of students. As we grow, supporting the learning center approach, we plan to develop our curriculum to encompass personalized learning plans (sample video). This will also allow us to expand our subject offerings to our students. So keep an eye out on this development.
For further details about our curriculum outline click here. Please note that document is currently being updated.
