Middle Years Programme (MYP)
MYP staff changes in the Geneva office
- Luz Maria Gutierrez has taken up a new position Head of School Services for IBAEM as of 1 April 2009. She has thus left the MYP unit although she will still be working closely with us.
- Heleen Tims will take up the position of Acting MYP regional manager for the coming months.
- Julie Jean has joined the MYP unit in replacing Christine Armfield as MYP administrative assistant.
MYP curriculum planning at Amsterdam conference, 5-8 March 2009
'MYP curriculum planning from Z to A' was the theme of this conference, where teachers and coordinators experienced with the MYP were taken through the complete process of curriculum development as described in MYP: from principles into practice. The conference was opened with a plenary session on the continuum from MYP to DP, given by Tristian Stobie, Head of DP.
Basel workshops, 1-3 July 2009
Registrations are still open for these workshops for teachers and coordinators new to the MYP. An MYP introductory workshop for heads of school will also be offered at this time. For schools applying for candidate status in May it is advisable to send new teachers to the workshop at this time as it can be more difficult to find opportunities for teachers new to the programme to attend training in the course of the school year. Registrations are open until 20 May.
MYP team leader training
From 15-18 April we will be training seven experienced MYP team members to become team leaders for authorization and evaluation visits. Training events will be advertised on the MYP regional page. As more training opportunities become available we encourage teachers and administrators to apply and contribute to the work of the IB in the region. We are particularly looking to further increase the language and cultural diversity of those who contribute to the work of the regional office.
MYP schools in the UK
The network of MYP school in the UK is expanding, and most are part of IBSCA (International Baccalaureate Schools and Colleges Association in the UK and Ireland). More information on IBSCA events and details of how to join IBSCA.
MYP coordinators from MYP schools in the UK met at Havelock Academy in Grimsby on 9 March to share information and discuss the development and implementation of the MYP in schools in the UK. Another meeting is planned for later in the year. If you wish to be contacted about these meetings, follow the link to IBSCA given above.
An IBSCA/IB MYP Information Event for schools in the UK will be held at Dartford Grammar School, 14-15 May 2009.
Associations of IB world schools
Local associations of IB World schools provide useful opportunities for collaboration and the exchange of good practice. The IB is increasingly working on a formal basis with these associations, recognising the key role that they play in supporting the school network and developing the IB mission around the world. More information on school associations.
MYP: from principles into practice
As mentioned in our previous newsletter, schools undergoing a programme evaluation visit between January and June 2009 are expected to have developed one unit per subject taught at the school using the new unit planning process. The curriculum planning process described in the guide will be phased in further, ensuring schools have the time to incorporate the new developments of the planner as well as all the guidelines on MYP curriculum planning. Schools should be aware that the learning process associated with the implementation of the new guidelines is essential and needs to allow time for teachers to understand how teaching and learning benefits from the new planning processes.
MYP committee meeting
The MYP committee meeting took place from 27-28 February. Mike Weston from International School Groningen in the Netherlands attended as newly appointed school representative for the IBAEM region.
Programme evaluation visits from September 2009
A new IBAEM clarification of the list of supporting documents for programme evaluation visits has been posted on the IB website (bottom of the page). The list has been adapted to reflect the changes introduced in MYP: from principles into practice. All schools with evaluation visits planned from September 2009 should use the new list.
Application to become an MYP candidate school
We would like to remind interested schools that 1 May 2009 is the deadline to apply for becoming an MYP candidate school as of 1 September 2009. Please remember to submit complete applications together with the required supporting documentation as listed in the Guide to school application. In our efforts to limit the amount of paper used, we will accept applications with electronic documents sent to us on a CD. We remind all interested schools that it is a requirement for the head of school to attend an MYP introductory workshop before the submission of Part A.
The MYP in numbers
From January to March 2009, the MYP unit organized/undertook:
5 Authorization visits
1 Authorization follow-up visit
5 Programme evaluation visits
11 In-school workshops
7 Consultation visits
There are:
702 MYP schools in 74 countries in the world
116 MYP schools in 42 countries in IBAEM
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