SCIA IB Newsletter

It is hard to believe that we are in the last full month of the 2022-2023 school year. We State Testing last week and this week, students have the opportunity to demonstrate their thinking skills and use the knowledge they have gained as IB Learners this school year. There are still many exciting activities and memories to be made before we say goodbye to our 8th graders and jump into summer vacation. We wish a wonderful and relaxing summer break to each of our amazing families!

Congratulations to the following students who consistently demonstrate the IB Learner Profile Traits through their actions in and out of the classroom:

Katie is an amazing student who always works hard in all subject areas. She is always ready to help her peers and is not afraid to step up and be a risk taker in class. A perfect example of this is when she was challenged to complete the 6th grade proficiency tasks for math. After 6 months, she completed a year’s worth of work, mastering concepts before they were even taught in class. Her achievement has inspired others to work towards completing the same academic goal. She is an amazing and respectful student and we could not think of a better individual to represent exactly what an IB learner strives to be.

Sabrynna is a principled learner and encompasses all other IB traits. She is an involved student on campus and in the community. She is a great role model to her peers and she always strives to be her best. We can always count on Sabrynna to help in and out of the classroom, we are lucky to have her.

Humberto excels in being a scholar, an athlete, and a leader. He is always focused and determined to do well in everything. He is a successful IB learner who will do great things!

Sofia is an amazing ”mini-adult” with an innate maturity and love for learning. She is involved in multiple activities and is always willing to go beyond expectations. She is a good representation of all the IB traits.

Abigail is a great example of the kind of student we want our IB learners to be. Her hard work and warm spirit has become a winning combination for her and a great example for others. She embodies many of the IB traits promoted at SCIA, especially inquirer, principled, and caring. We are so proud of her.

Marayah is a wonderful, well-rounded student. Not only does she excel academically, but she conducts herself in a way that reflects the IB traits expected of every IB learner. Because of this, she has become a role model for others and the pride of SCIA. We are so proud of her.

All 6th and 7th grade students are required to complete their second semester Service as Action by Friday, May 19. Advisory teachers are supporting students through this requirement. Sixth grade students must complete a short-term project for the spring semester, while seventh grade is expected to create and carryout a long-term project. For more information, please follow the link below to the SCIA website. Click on the IB tab then the "Service as Action" link to review the document the students are using.

A person who is OPEN-MINDED is described by the International Baccalaureate as:

"One who understands and appreciates their own culture and personal histories, and is open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience."

Nicole is an amazing example of a student who exhibits the IB trait of being open-minded. Her willingness to step outside of her comfort zone and try new things speaks to her open-mindedness. She adapts to changes and new circumstances well and is always empathetic towards others. This allows for her to have deep connections with her peers and teachers and truly speaks to her ability to be an open-minded IB Learner. Congratulations Nicole!

Leah is a wonderful student who encompasses the trait of open-minded. She listens and is accepting of all others. Leah also is curious to hear what others think and open to having her ideas challenged. She is open-minded to feedback and is accepting of new challenges. Additionally, she is humble about her knowledge and is always open-minded to help others. Congratulations Leah!

Valentina Saltos represents the IB trait of Open-minded because she expresses genuine interest across all content areas. She is open to constructive criticism and applies the feedback to grow as a student. She is also friendly and inviting towards her peers and is willing to befriend others.

Mariah has always asked for constructive criticism and what she can or needs to do to grow. She seeks feedback to improve in her classes and is an active member of our school's ASB Club. She works well with any student in class and uses her time wisely to be productive. Mariah listens to others with different ideas and opinions to better understand them and help herself to grow. Congratulations Mariah!

Mr. Moreno has proven to be open-minded by taking assignments without hesitation. He accepts all feedback and uses it to help himself grow while always looking for new strategies or ideas that can help him to improve his craft. Mr. Moreno has a kind and fair demeanor, always treating others with respect. He is a perfect example of how the IB describes an open-minded person, "He seeks and evaluates a range of points of view and is willing to grow from the experience." Congratulations Mr. Moreno!

Mr. Carrillo genuinely listens to the students he serves with an open-mind which has allowed him to build positive relationships with students. He consistently looks for ways to grow in his position and uses feedback to improve himself. A colleague shared that Mr. Carrillo treats everyone he meets with respect and is considerate of their thoughts and opinions. Congratulations Mr. Carrillo!

The IB describes REFLECTION as:

"Reflective people give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development."

According to the article, Self Reflection: An Important Aspect of IB Curriculum written by Ira Shrivastav, it states "By giving the opportunity to a student for self-reflection, as an educator we are not only giving them an opportunity to identify their own strengths and weaknesses but also guide them on a path of positive thinking, self appreciation and accepting criticism."

Metacognition, which is defined as awareness and understanding of one's own thought proccesses, requires opportunities to practice. Reflection is not just writing your thoughts and feelings in paragraph form, but can be done in creative and engaging ways. Through reflection, students are able to evaluate their own learning to determine their progress and refine their goals that will lead to higher levels of academic achievement.

In the IB document, “Principles into Practice”, it states that a goal of an IB education is to create life-long learners. This can be accomplished through “asking (inquiry), doing (action) and thinking (reflecting).” The chart above demonstrates how students move fluidly from one piece to the next as they ask questions to develop understanding, take action to grow their learning and then reflect on their own strengths, weaknesses and knowledge gained.

Above are a few student examples of reflection in Physical and Health Education and Design classrooms. At the completion of a unit or a Summative Assessment, students are regularly given the opportunity to participate in the reflection process. In an IB education, it is an expectation that students and teachers alike, regularly reflect on their learning to grow as IB Learners.