VIRTUAL SHOWCASE: You can now visit our individual websites to read, watch, and learn about our unique learning journeys! Please leave us comments! 😊

PYPx News

By Mrs. Aimee Underwood (Grade 5 Homeroom Teacher & Asst PYP Coordinator)
Published April 26, 2024, CIS Newsflash

Action and Engagement in the PYP

Central to the Primary Years Programme (PYP) is the concept of "action," which arises both as a direct response by students to meaningful learning experiences and from intentionally designed activities that honor their voice, choice, and ownership. Our campus has recently been buzzing with action, from Early Years students showcasing their musical composition skills to Grade 3 students creating skits about exploration, and Grade 5 students initiating environmental and literary projects outside of class. These student-driven initiatives not only extend learning beyond the confines of the classroom but also ensure that it has a tangible impact on the world around them, reflecting the PYP's emphasis on meaningful action.

The PYP defines five types of action: Participation, Advocacy, Social Justice, Social Entrepreneurship, and Lifestyle Choices. This framework encourages students to cultivate a proactive mindset, nurturing responsibility and autonomy from an early age. At CIS, we further enrich this framework by integrating learning experiences with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), empowering students to see themselves as active agents of change. By aligning the development of Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills and IB Learner Profile attributes with the SDGs, we prepare students for informed, ethical decision-making and equip them for meaningful change. This approach not only resonates with the IB Mission but also reflects CIS's commitment to nurturing the unique potential of all students to contribute to a better world.

Celebrating the PYP Exhibition: A Community of Inquiry and Impact
The PYP learning journey culminates with the PYP Exhibition (PYPx) —an 8-week collaborative community inquiry that encapsulates students' learning and action under the Central Idea, "Through inquiry into our personal passions, we can discover responsible ways to influence change in the world around us." The Grade 5 students have been inspired to explore local and global perspectives and experiences, driving them toward innovative, sustainable solutions.

Notably, this year's PYP Exhibition saw significant enhancements in collaborative community involvement. These changes reflect the positive impact of our community's involvement in student learning and development:

Increased Parental Engagement: Nearly 90% of parents engaged in interactive, hands-on workshops with the students on campus this year, strengthening our foundational home-school partnership.
Expanded Mentorship: Staff members from various roles served as PYPx mentors this year, alongside PYP, MYP, and DP teachers. They met regularly with students on a four-day cycle to provide a wide range of insights and guidance, thereby enriching project depth and diversity.
Deeper Interdisciplinary Support: Subject teachers and community members across disciplines shared their expertise, offering students a diverse set of information, perspectives, and skills.
Wider Community Engagement: Students actively engaged the broader CIS community through surveys and interviews, both on-campus and off-campus. This helped students enhance their research and the overall impact of their actions, as well as provided real-life opportunities for them to practice skills such as composing emails to request interviews, sending calendar invitations, following up, and practicing interview etiquette.

As the final PYP Exhibition showcase date approaches, we extend a warm invitation to the CIS community to witness our students' inspiring journeys on Friday, May 3, 2024. PYPx is not merely a celebration of the Grade 5 students' growth but also an acknowledgment of our school-wide dedication to fostering a community committed to making a difference.

By Ms. Maureen Juanson (Elementary School Principal)
Published May 3, 2024, CIS Newsflash

PYP Exhibition Showcase

This morning, the Grade 5 PYP Exhibition culminated with a special assembly and in-person showcase, delving into a range of passions and issues they’ve explored over the past eight weeks. From reading, coding, and gaming to fashion, art, and sports, these students demonstrated not only growth in their research, thinking, and communication skills but also development in their character as they became more resilient, empathetic, responsible, and collaborative throughout the process.

Each student presented their journey, connecting their interests to global and local issues. They articulated causes and effects and proposed responsible actions, inspiring others to take part.

As they conclude their showcase, let’s remember the messages from the songs “Paraiso” and “Fight Song.” Just as they sang about flying high and reclaiming their life song, let’s embrace change and stand together to make a positive impact.

The Grade 5 PYP Exhibition marks not just the end of their PYP journey but the beginning of greater opportunities to become empowered citizens who can make a difference wherever they go.

Congratulations, Grade 5s!

By Ms. Mary Jean Cordova (Media Literacy Teacher & Media Center Coordinator)
Published May 3, 2024, CIS Newsflash

As the Grade 5s concluded their 8-week PYP Exhibition journey, they demonstrated strong research skills by delving deeper into their passions. Students began their inquiry by identifying possible questions they wanted to investigate about each of their passions. These inquiry questions guided their PYPx journey as they explored the issues and opportunities related to their passions and took action to make a difference in their community. To gather information relevant to their research questions, Grade 5 students utilized the MISO (Media, Interview, Survey, Observation) method.

The Grade 5 students are working with their mentors to share about what they’ve found in their research about their passions.

Students put their research skills into practice by utilizing lateral reading to find reliable sources online. They also leveraged AI to curate multiple sources of information beneficial to their research. With this approach, they effectively analyzed and synthesized the information they gathered, gaining a deeper understanding of their chosen topics. To ensure the accuracy of the information collated by AI, students critically examine each source and utilize the information they find there. They also ensure proper acknowledgment of the information’s creators by citing their sources in MLA format.

To delve deeper into their passions, students conducted interviews with individuals to gain perspectives and insights into the real-world applications of their chosen passion. They had the opportunity to interview reliable experts within their field of passion, asking specific questions to enhance their understanding. Not only did students interview individuals within the school community, but they also reached out to people beyond the school, ranging from family friends to the General Manager of ZARA.

This experience helped them bridge classroom learning with real-world applications, fostering a deeper appreciation for their passions and their significance beyond academic settings. Moreover, interacting with individuals from diverse backgrounds helped improve their communication skills and critical thinking skills, preparing them to navigate complex challenges and opportunities within their chosen fields.

Vida interviewed the owner of one of Cebu’s famous bakeries to inquire about healthier ingredient options for her baking.

Caitlin interviewed the General Manager of Zara and learned more about how they ensure that the touch of Filipino culture is represented in their designs.

In response to their student survey, Yeshua and Andrew built a mini-golf course, giving students the opportunity to play golf at school.

The Grade 5 students delved deeper into understanding their passions by actively seeking the perspectives of their fellow students in school. They created a survey and sent it throughout the school, gathering a wealth of information about what their peers knew about their passions. As they analyzed their survey results, they were able to gain more information and identify some challenges that students experienced. Through this process, students were able to identify opportunities to take action and promote their passions within the learning community.

To learn more about the Grade 5s’ passions and their learning journey, watch their Virtual Showcase on Monday, May 6, 2024. The PYPx Website will be live starting next week. Take some time to explore their websites and see how the Grade 5 students took action through their passions!

Page updated

Report abuse