The teachers and students are working diligently toward authorization to become an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. Although WHHS is in the candidacy phase of the Middle Years Program, teachers have begun full implementation of the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) curriculum. Western Hills teachers are attending training across the country and bringing back valuable teaching strategies to help make the Western Hills pyramid schools the best in the district.
The MYP Program is for all students in 6th through 10th grade. While the MYP is challenging, the IB curriculum does not change or advance the content in each subject area; however, the content is placed in a real-world context which is meaningful to students. This strategy enables students to learn how to learn and understand their world so they may become life-long learners.
Western Hills is also preparing to teach the IB Diploma Program (DP) to Juniors beginning next fall. This year’s sophomores will be eligible to apply to this rigorous program. Similar to Advanced Placement courses, the Diploma Program awards college credit. The DP, however, requires students to take these advanced courses in 6 subjects over their Junior and Senior year. DP students also engage in international service activities, write an Extended Essay (similar to a senior thesis) and the Theory of Knowledge course which focuses on the question, “how do we know what we know?” Colleges in Texas award a minimum of 24 hours of college credit to Diploma Graduates.
Central to the IB Programs is the development of international-mindedness. The Learner Profile outlines the ten most important attributes of an international-minded person and answers the question, “How do we learn best?” At Western Hills, students and teachers are learning to embody the ten characteristics of the IB Learner Profile: inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, well-balanced and reflective.