Livermore School District Brings an International Education to Students

Announcement submitted by Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District:

Joe Michell, a kindergarten through eighth grade school in the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD), has become the newest member of the International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools Programme offered in 4,000 schools across 144 countries. Joe Michell School offers both the Primary Years for students in kindergarten through fifth grade and the Middle Years Programme for students in grades six through eight.

“The International Baccalaureate Programme will offer Livermore students the skills, knowledge and perspective to succeed in the 21st century,” said Kelly Bowers, LVJUSD Superintendent. “Livermore students will be well-prepared to make a positive contribution to their social, cultural and economic environments on a local, national and global scale.”

The International Baccalaureate Programme inspires academic success and personal growth to create students who respond to challenges with optimism and an open mind and who are confident to apply their learning in real world, complex, and unpredictable situations. The Primary Years Program (PYP) is designed for elementary school students, while the Middle Years Programme (MYP) is designed for middle school aged students. Both the Primary and Middle Years Programmes focus on the development of the whole child as an inquirer in the classroom and larger world.

“The IB is recognized across the world for its innovative approach to education. We strongly believe that it is important to place an equal focus on academics and other, transferrable skills in order to best prepare students for success beyond high school. That Joe Michell School has now successfully completed the authorization process marks an exciting time for the school community and, more importantly, for the students who will benefit from an IB education”, said Drew Deutsch, Director, IB America, International Baccalaureate.

The IB has a positive impact on students, schools and their wider communities with learning going well beyond the classroom. Its unique and innovative approach to learning means both students and teachers are genuinely engaged with the programmes and benefit from being a part of an unparalleled global network. Students are able to participate in international conferences and educators work with their peers internationally to ensure that the IB remains at the cutting edge of international education. The Programme allows teachers to accommodate the demands of the California Common Core State Standards with a curriculum that strives for students to become inquirers, knowledgeable open-minded thinkers, principled communicators, and balanced risk-takers.

“We wanted to offer our students a more holistic education to prepare them for high school, college and their careers. At the same time, our teachers have the opportunity to be a part of an international network of experts dedicated to the same vision for our students. We are delighted to become an IB World School and provide this opportunity for the students of Livermore,” said Laura Lembo, Principal of Joe Michell School.

As an IB World School, LVJUSD will have access to a stimulating professional development selection of workshops, webinars, resources and conferences that support best practices and collaborative professional learning communities. Joe Michell is the only IB School offering the PYP and MYP in the Tri-Valley region. Classes for both programmes begin August 24th, 2015.

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