The Communicator
PYP and MYP Update
The Current State of IB at Peirce
Primary Years Programme (PYP) - Candidate School - Authorization Visit Spring 2017
**The Application for Authorization has been ACCEPTED!
**The Verification Visit is going to be May 25-26, 2017.
Middle Years Programme (MYP) - IB World School - Evaluation Fall 2017
The Learner Profile
APRIL
RISK-TAKER
We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
Officer Friendly Visits Preschool and Kindergarten
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HAPPINESS - March 20th
IMAGES OF INQUIRY
Engage in Inquiry
- Ask about what your child is learning in class.
- Support and encourage interest and curiosity by following up with activities at home.
- Encourage and practice good communication skills such as starting conversations and debates about current events.
- Help your kids develop research skills online and from text.
- Enjoy building projects together in the home.
How To Ask Questions
**15 Questions to replace “How was your Day” - Edutopia **30 Questions to ask your kid - Parent.co **25 ways to ask your child “So how was school today” - Huffington Post **The Importance and Impact of Asking Good Questions - Global Digital Citizen **How to be Amazingly Good at Asking Questions - LIfe Hack
Supporting Language at Peirce
While there, check out the Peirce PYP Language Policy.
Have you looked at the Peirce PYP Documents lately?
You will find:
PYP Assessment Policy
PYP Language Policy
Peirce PYP Programme of Inquiry
And coming soon...
Peirce Specialists Programmes of Inquiry
The MYP at Peirce
MYP Teachers are RISK TAKERS! Find out how!!
Ms. Puente- MYP Year 1, Language and Literature
Next on the Agenda For April: We have completed our graphic organizer and our final Summative Assessment Essay for our novel, El Deafo by Cece Bell. Students wrote fabulous argument essays and produced compelling papers! Our next step in the unit is to begin working with Writers Theatre to produce text (MYP-Criteria C) for a perform event.
Ms. Brugman- MYP Year 3 Language and Literature
In February of 2001(instead of staying at home and saving some money after student teaching) I decided to move to Chicago. I figured I would spend a few years “playing” in the big city and then return to Ohio. Sixteen years later, I’m still here - and still at Peirce! I’ve been fortunate enough to create a happy life in Chicago, even though part of my heart is still in Ohio.
Next on the Agenda for April: 8th graders are in the midst of studying the Holocaust and WWII through various novels. Students are focusing upon developing independent thesis statements and writing analytical essays. The 8th graders will be going to MSI the first week of April to specifically tour the WWII exhibit. They will also see Dream Big at the Omnimax Theater and tie it to learning from science.
Mr. Roche- MYP Years 1-3, Diverse Learners
Next on the Agenda for April: In Math, MYP Year 2 students will begin working with probability and statistics. The 8th graders will finish up with the Pythagorean Theorem, which I am sure they are very thankful for, and begin learning about parallel and intersecting lines, transversals, and the properties of angles created by these lines.
Ms. Hopkins- MYP Year 3 Mathematics
I took a risk by hanging upside down while parasailing!! Super Fun!
- Write and solve systems of linear equations by graphing.
- Write and solve systems of linear equations by substitution.
- Write and solve systems of linear equations by elimination.
- Solve systems of linear equations with no solution or infinitely many solutions.
- Solve linear equations by graphing a system of linear equations.
- Solve real-life problems.
Ms. Hernandez- Science
I signed up for my first marathon back in high school. It was the scariest and best decision of my life! I will be running my 5th marathon this year!
Next on the agenda for April: In Science, MYP year 2 and 3 students will begin with our unit on Sexual Health. Topics will range from safe sex practices to decision making strategies. Students will create educational brochures on sex education and resources available to the community.
Mr. Greenwell- MYP Years 1-3 Spanish
I was a risk-taker by jumping out of a plane… with a parachute of course!
Next on the agenda for April:
MYP Year 3- Unit on Costa Rica and daily activities
MYP Year 2- Unit on Ecuador and irregular present tense verbs
MYP Year 1- Unit on Mexico and School.
Ms. Andrade- MYP Years 1-3 Design and technology
I take risks because I dabble in Real Estate.
Next on the agenda in April: MYP Year 1 students will complete Blender Designs of a Robot and a Solar Car which will then be uploaded to SketchFab for feedback.
MYP Year 2 Students will complete Scratch Programming games and present to other classes for feedback.
MYP Year 3 students will complete coursework in CodeCombat and CodeAcademy developing a foundation for learning programming languages in high school.Nancy Zawayta- Diverse Learners
Next on the agenda for April: MYP Years 1 and 2 Science classes will begin their sexual education lessons. In MYP Year 1 Math we are exploring Paw - Ville, a community with family systems (small groups) where students have to budget, work through problems to earn income, and pursue other sources of income. Real world application of mathematics will offer students an upper hand at evaluating their budget, converting percents to decimals, and the correlation between ratios. When we conclude in this process we will be running a Stock Market activity where students learn how to navigate the stock market, identify trends, and forecast the success of certain stocks. In Advisory we will be focusing on creating a service action project for 4th quarter to show how we are CARING, PRINCIPLED, REFLECTIVE, and RISK TAKERS in our community.
Ms. Jetton- Year 1 & Year 3 Science
I took a risk by changing careers in my late 20’s. I decided to return to school to get my teaching degree after working in the corporate world for 4 years.
Next on the agenda for April: This month in MYP Year 1 Science, we will begin with our unit on Sexual Health. After Spring Break, our unit, Heat Wave will begin. Heat Wave will be a six week unit covering weather and climate.
MYP Year 3 Science will also begin the month with our unit on Sexual Health. After Spring Break, we will dive into our unit on Forces and Motion.
Ms. Keiner: MYP Year 2 Math & Year 3 Science
Next on the agenda in April: MYP Year 2 students “Moved on up!” to “Paw-Ville” probability city. This month MYP Year 2 students are working as ‘families’ to solve rigorous statistics and probability math problems and earn paws to keep the city of “Paw-Ville” thriving and successful. Some days are prosperous and some have real-life disasters that need to be mathematically solved to keep the city safe and sound. Each family will create a tourism commercial that promotes “Paw-Ville” using statistics and probability as their summative assessment.
Mr. Skvarenina- Physical and Health Education
Growing up I played a lot of sports and I really wanted to play in college. I took a risk and picked to a college that I was unsure if I was going to be able to make the team. I was able to make the team and make friends that I still talk to to this day.
Next on the agenda for April: As the weather turns and opening day is upon us,the students will begin work on baseball/softball/kickball unit. All middle school classes will explore these sports as well as some of the history behind it. Students will also complete the final leg of fitness testing, reflect upon, and review their scores and goals from the entire year.
Ms. Kerkstra- Year 1 Mathematics
I attended college at the University of Missouri, six hours from home and not knowing a single other person going there. Within a few weeks, I met people who not only shaped who I am, but whom I still count among my closest friends to this very day.
Next on the agenda in April:
In MYP Year 1 Math, will begin our new unit, “You’re Being Irrational.” This unit will focus on rational numbers, integers, positive and negative numbers, coordinate planes and absolute value.
Ms. Ferrand- Library
Next on the agenda in April: All grades will continue checking out books to read for pleasure, additionally unit subjects as they relate to “risk taker”
MYP Year 1 - Components of mysteries MYP Year 2 - General biographies as well as those about young activists
Ms. Lawrenz, MYP Year 2 Language and Literature
Next on the agenda in April: MYP year 2 students will be working with Writers’ Theatre to extend our unit on young activists. Using improv techniques, the student will present a collection of stories, poems and scenes that feature both personal and historical choices that highlight the courage and strength of young people. In addition, we will continue our work with Argument Centered Education to analyze debatable issues that have emerged throughout the unit.
Talyia Eve Riemer- Assistant Principal & MYP Coordinator
Next on the agenda for April:
This month’s MYP Learning Celebration is Career Day! On April 21, students will talk with professionals representing a wide variety of Careers. This will not only broaden students perspectives, but also give them some valuable input that they can use in making decisions about their futures.
Student Spotlight: Find out how our MYP students are doing their part to protect our Earth!
I recycle paper and plastic bottles.
MYP Year 1
I recycle to make sure the landfills don't get full.
MYP Year 1
I help the Earth by picking up trash and recycling.
MYP Year 1
I don't litter and I try to recycle.
MYP Year 2
I pick up trash on the ground.
MYP Year 2
Picking up cans, bottles and trash, to keep it out of the ocean
MYP Year2
I recycle.
MYP Year 1
I throw away all of my trash and recycle as much as I can.
MYP Year 3
I help the environment by cleaning up after myself and planting.
MYP Year 3
To protect my Earth, I pick up trash that other people leave behind, and pick up after my dogs.
MYP Year 3
I clean up trash in my community.
MYP Year 3
We can ALL do our part!
Career Day at Peirce is April 21, 2017
Career Day is part of the Spring Learning Celebration that takes place at the end of the quarter. On this day, students in our Middle Years Programme (grades 6-8) attend four hour long presentations given by our guest speakers, professionals representing a variety of careers. The purpose of our Career Day is to have students meet and talk with a variety professionals in different career fields to help them explore their interests and to create realistic plans of action.
As a result of Career Day, we would like our students to know:
- It's never too early to start planning for your future. The choices you make today have a great impact on your tomorrow.
- There are a wide variety of careers available to you. You can do whatever you choose with the proper preparation and training.
- You can always change your mind. May people start down one career path and later pick something different.
Register HERE to be a part of Career Day at Peirce. If you cannot attend, please consider sharing this information with other colleagues who may be interested in speaking at Career Day.
T-Shirts for Sale
We have new PEIRCE SWAG for sale. Brand new T-shirts in all sizes are available for $10!
Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies
773-534-2841
Dr. Talyia Eve Riemer - MYP Coordinator
773-534-2440
Website: peirce.cps.k12.il.us
Location: 1423 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States
Phone: 773-534-2440
PYP Disclaimer for Being A Candidate School in the International Baccalaureate
Helen C. Peirce School of International Studies is a candidate school* for the Primary Years Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Peirce Elementary School believes is important for our students.
*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.
For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org
MYP Teachers are RISK TAKERS!
Field Trip Forecast
- A group of 7th and 8th graders will travel to our Nation's Capital, Washington, DC from May 10-12, 2017.
- On May 26th, 8th graders will visit Robert Morris College for a day of Junior Achievement.
- On Friday, June 9th,201, the 7th graders will also be visiting our Springfield during the third quarter to learn more about the history and government of the state of Illinois.