Sequoia Middle School- IB update

This is an ongoing location to read the Staff Updates of how Sequoia Middle School is moving through the IB MYP Candidacy Phases. Below includes updates for the 2024/2025 school year as well as the 2025/2026 school year.

International Baccalaureate (IB) staff training is in full swing! In October, several Sequoia staff members including Mr. Nichols, Ms. Jaimes, Ms. Skellenger, Ms. Amenta and Mrs. Hochevar will attend training sessions in Los Angeles, bringing valuable insights back to their departments. Most departments have at least two staff members who have attended IB training.

Some Sequoia teachers are already developing and implementing IB unit planners in their classrooms. On-site IB unit planner training sessions are scheduled throughout the school year so each teacher feels empowered to confidently implement these plans next school year.

What are IB unit planners? IB unit planners are a specific type of unit planner, a structured framework, similar to traditional lesson plans used to organize lessons and units. The difference between typical lesson plans and the IB unit planners is the IB unit planners incorporate the IB philosophy of inquiry, action and reflection in our teaching practices. Each IB unit plan outlines a unit’s objectives, connecting skills to real-world relevance, and highlighting their importance. Basically, it is a way for teachers to intentionally employ best teaching practices which our teaching staff is already known for doing! When we use IB unit planners, the curriculum does not change - English teachers still teach students to use evidence to support claims, science teachers still teach the scientific method and work in the lab - the style in which ideas are presented and the ways the students are engaged with the curriculum becomes more dynamic. Teachers are currently learning the new IB terminology and are excited by the prospect of engaging students in dynamic new ways.

The IB Coordinator at Sequoia, Karin Hochevar, and the IB Coordinator at NPHS, Debbie Dogancay, are attending biweekly meetings with principals, district leaders and our IB consultant to identify ways to move efficiently towards IB authorization. The IB Middle Years Program (MYP) is a 5 year program that spans from 6th grade through 10th grade so we are working together to make that transition from 8th grade to 9th grade as seamless as possible.

Stay tuned for more updates as we progress on this exciting journey!

Exciting news! Our school has formed an International Baccalaureate (IB) Steering Committee, comprised of teachers, administrators, and staff. This team is working together after school hours to develop policies that will guide our transformation into an official IB Middle Years Program (MYP) campus over the next few years. Becoming an IB school is a multi-year journey, and the steering committee will play an important role in shaping the way we teach and how our students learn.

In December, teachers will continue their training in unit planning, further deepening their understanding of the Middle Years Program. As a campus, we are collectively exploring how the MYP differs from our current traditional and Discover programs through discussions in staff meetings, leadership meetings and with our IB continuum partners, Cypress Elementary and Newbury Park High School. We met many parents at Incoming Parent Night on November 17th and we shared information about the exceptional programs offered at Sequoia.

Curious to learn more about the IB Middle Years Program? Visit the Sequoia website and check out the IB tab for a list of frequently asked questions and the Incoming Parent Night presentation. Let’s embark on this exciting journey together!

We are steadily moving towards our goal of becoming an International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) school! The teachers are hard at work developing and beginning to implement special unit planners that capture the IB philosophy of inquiry-based learning, teaching concepts and skills students will need in our ever changing world. These unit planners help teachers and students identify unit themes, concepts and global connections which increases student engagement. Students will clearly be able to know what they are learning, why they are learning it, and how they will use the knowledge in the future.

The IB Steering Committee, comprised of teachers, administrators, and staff continues to craft policies that help shape our school mission, as well as policies like Academic Integrity and Assessment and what those look like in the classroom. We are actively integrating successful practices currently implemented at Sequoia with innovative International Baccalaureate (IB) philosophies and strategies to further enhance our programs.

As we build our IB program at Sequoia we are working closely with Cypress Elementary and Newbury Park High School who each have their own IB programs. Once authorized, CVUSD will offer the first IB continuum for students from Kindergarten at Cypress through grade 12 at Newbury Park High School. Big things are happening for our Sequoia Bears! Stay tuned for more information in the coming months.

Spring has been busy at Sequoia as teachers and staff prepare for next year’s “dry run” of the IB principles, practices, teaching and learning. Teachers are beginning to reimagine their curriculum in ways that will improve student engagement by helping students see connections between what they learn in the classroom and the world around them. IB calls this ‘international-mindedness’ and it’s a great way for students to learn about and respect the variety of cultures found on our campuses and in our community. Did you know that more than 23 languages are spoken by Sequoia students and their families? Our students have a wealth of knowledge to share when it comes to the customs, traditions, and languages of their cultures - let’s celebrate them!

The Sequoia IB Steering Committee is drafting the IB Language and Inclusion policies which will inform how we deliver meaningful, culturally responsive and inclusive learning experiences on campus. Some teachers have already started using the IB 1-8 grading scale in anticipation of next year’s rollout. The 1-8 grading scale allows teachers to assess each student’s mastery of the content by using a simple 1-8 scale. The scale looks different from the traditional percentage-based grading model and we find it is a more accurate reflection of what students actually know. It is very similar to the scale used in early elementary grading so parents will be familiar with it. Staff training on the 1-8 grading scale implementation will take place in May.

The staff’s enthusiasm for transitioning to the IB model is clearly evident. After years of discussions and professional development training, we are excited to implement what we have learned while remaining committed to providing an exceptional learning environment for all Sequoia students.

Did you know that the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Program (MYP) is a five-year program spanning grades 6th through 10th? In May, veteran Newbury Park High School educator Jill Magnante joined the Middle Years Program team in the role of IB MYP Coordinator for Newbury Park High School’s IB Middle Years Program. Jill will help train staff members at NPHS as they begin to implement the MYP for their 9th and 10th graders. We will continue to work closely with NPHS as we move towards MYP authorization together.

In May, Sequoia staff were trained on IB grading practices. These practices align closely with grading for mastery where students’ grades will be a direct reflection of their mastery of content. The MYP uses a 1-8 grading scale (similar to the grading scale used in lower elementary grades) instead of traditional 0-100 percentages. More information will be provided to families over the summer.

One component of the IB program is its use of ten Learner Profiles. These ten attributes (Inquirer, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Risk-Takers, Open-Minded, Communicators, Caring, Balanced, Principles, and Reflective) guide students personal, academic, and social development, preparing them for a globalized world. These learner profile attributes will be woven into the curriculum and conversations across campus next year.

Another change you may notice on campus next year is our Discover Academy program will primarily live in the 6th grade as we begin to implement the IB framework. Seventh and eighth graders in the Discover program will begin to shift towards IB where they will still experience the engaging, inquiry-based curriculum and high-quality teaching practices found in Discover but with the addition of IB terminology, expanded multidisciplinary units, and a focus on global connections within their classes. Once Sequoia achieves authorization as an IB World School, Discover will phase out as IB strategies and principles become established across the entire campus.

Our campus is “chalk full” of IB! In August, during our schoolwide Professional Development day, all teachers set up their grading platforms to align with the IB 1-8 scale. We are assessing students using this scale going forward. The students' feedback has been great! Here is what some students have said about the IB grading system:

“The new grading system is better.”

“Kids have more chances to improve their grades.”

“It seems more fair.”

“It makes you want to work harder.”

“I know what I have to do to get a better grade.”

“I am having a better experience at school with the new grading system.”

Teachers are beginning to incorporate the IB Learner Profile Attributes in their classrooms. Students are introduced to each learner profile attribute during CREW time. We’ve learned what it means to be an Inquirer and to be Knowledgeable and played a fun Jeopardy game during CREW to test our general knowledge!

Teachers are using IB unit planners to organize their teaching. These planners help teacher explicitly teach global contexts to what they are teaching, as well as including Approaches to Learning. These ATLs are the “soft skills” that help students approach the content like taking effective notes, bringing the right materials to class, and how to give and receive meaningful feedback. Sequoia English teacher Morgan Jaimes is leading the way with ATLs. Sequoia science teacher, Mari Reyes, is helping teachers incorporating design elements into their teaching so students can experience the IB MYP design cycle of inquiring and analyzing, developing ideas, creating solutions and evaluating.

In September and October, the Newbury Park High School IB MYP coordinator, Jill Magnante, and Sequoia IB MYP Coordinator, Karin Hochevar met to align shared visions of MYP programs on both campuses and to prepare for IB Consultant visit in December. Topics like unit planning, grading and vertical articulation were the focus of these meetings. As a reminder, the IB MYP runs from 6th grade to 9th grade (or IB MPY Years 1-5) so all Sequoia students and Newbury Park High School 9th and 10th graders will experience the IB MYP.

Our IB MYP Consultant Visit is in December so we’ve been busy compiling documents and evidence of IB teaching and learning happening at Sequoia. This three-day visit will evaluate our progress towards becoming an authorized IB World School.

And finally, Sequoia Bears were in the news! A great article was published in the Thousand Oaks Acorn newspaper about our journey towards IB authorization.

During our November professional development, teachers worked within their departments to refine unit plans, identify common themes, and explore potential interdisciplinary connections. Science teacher Mari Reyes led a session on integrating design elements into classroom projects, and English teacher Morgan Jaimes introduced Approaches to Learning (ATLs)—key “soft skills” such as self-management, communication, thinking, research, and social skills.

In December, IB consultant Amy Pasko visited Sequoia and Newbury Park High School to evaluate our readiness for MYP authorization. Over three days (12/3–12/5), she visited classrooms, met with leadership teams, teachers, students, and parents on both campuses. At the concluding meeting on 12/5, she met with district leadership, Board of Education Trustees, school principals, and IB Coordinators. Ms. Pasko will provide a report next month outlining required action items prior to authorization. Her overall impression of our MYP partnership was very positive—she noted strong student engagement and excellent staff collaboration. We wholeheartedly agree!

As we continue working toward full implementation of IB MYP grading across our school, you may still see some assignments reflected using the traditional 100-point grading scale. Our team is currently reviewing and aligning all assessments to ensure they match the IB MYP criteria and scoring expectations.

We will continue IB MYP 1-8 Grading for Semester 2.

If you have any questions, please feel free to your student’s teacher.

After returning from winter break, we received our consultant report from IB Consultant Amy Pasko. Ms. Pasko visited Sequoia and Newbury Park High School to assess our progress towards becoming authorized Middle Years Programs. We were thrilled to learn that we have made great progress towards our goal! The report illustrated areas we firmly have in place such as a strong mission statement, clear IB policies, a solid leadership team, state-of-the-art school facilities, access for all Sequoia students, well-trained and qualified staff, in addition to having systems in place for further growth and development of the program. Some of the areas that are still “in progress” are fine-tuning our assessment system, further developing our unit planners to include reflections after teaching, and creating calendars of future collaboration time between departments and campuses. We are off to a great start and continue working towards implementing the IB MYP with fidelity!

In February, we submitted our IB application for authorization. Because Sequoia and NPHS are partnership schools, both MYP coordinators collaborated on the application. Once the application is approved, IB will send out a team to Sequoia to further evaluate our programs. All authorized IB schools then undergo five-year evaluations to ensure the growth and development of the program.

We are pleased to announce that our IB Application for Authorization passed with flying colors! This is a testament to all the hard work teachers, staff, and students have done to transform their teaching and learning to align with IB philosophies and principles. While there were no specific matters to be addressed in our application, we are working diligently on calibrating grades within and between departments while continuing to build engaging and challenging units for our students. Remember, IB grading uses a 1-8 scale, rather than traditional percentages. Student learning is assessed multiple times throughout the year, with an emphasis on demonstrating growth within each subject over time. Each of the eight IB subjects is as important as the next. Next year we will be expanding our Language Acquisition department so all students will have the opportunity to learn Spanish.

At our March 3rd staff meeting the Physical and Health Education shared their latest tumbling unit with us and modeled what IB grading looks like for such a unit. Each assignment aligns with a specific IB objective or strand (think “standards”) and students' performances are measured using subject-specific criteria on a 1-8 scale. As students' work becomes more sophisticated, their scores go up!

Coming up next: The IB Verification team will visit Sequoia on May 27-29 to celebrate our progress towards becoming an official IB World School. This visit will include classroom visits, meetings with staff and community stakeholders and strategic planning to further develop and strengthen our IB program across both campuses.. Following the verification visit, we anticipate being granted designation of CVUSD's next IB World School which will make us the only IB continuum (Cypress/Sequoia/NPHS) in Ventura County. Go Bears!

Please visit the schools website and click on the IB CANDIDACY UPDATE tab for more information.