CURRICULUM
CURRICULUM
(MYP / DP)
St. John's is currently implementing the IB Middle Years Programme (Grades 6-10) to become an IB school throughout. The Middle and High School have followed the IB programme since 1978.
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) comprises eight subject groups:
- Language acquisition
- Language and literature
- Individuals and societies
- Sciences
- Mathematics
- Arts
- Physical and health education
- Design
The MYP requires at least 50 hours of teaching time for each subject group in each year of the programme. In years 4 and 5, students have the option to take courses from six of the eight subject groups within certain limits, to provide greater flexibility in meeting local requirements and individual student learning needs.
Each year, students in the MYP also engage in at least one collaboratively planned interdisciplinary unit that involves at least two subject groups.
MYP students also complete a long-term project, where they decide what they want to learn about, identify what they already know, discovering what they will need to know to complete the project, and create a proposal or criteria for completing it.
TEACHING AND LEARNING IN THE MYP ARE UNDERPINNED BY THE FOLLOWING CONCEPTS :
TEACHING AND LEARNING IN CONTEXT
Students learn best when their learning experiences have context and are connected to their lives and their experience of the world around them.
Using global contexts, MYP students develop an understanding of their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet through developmentally appropriate explorations of:
- Identities and relationships
- Personal and cultural identity
- Orientations in space and time
- Scientific and technical innovation
- Fairness and development
- Globalisation and sustainability
CONCEPTUAL UNDERSTANDING
Concepts are big ideas that have relevance within specific disciplines and across subject areas. MYP students use concepts as a vehicle to inquire into issues and ideas of personal, local and global significance and examine knowledge holistically. The MYP prescribes sixteen key interdisciplinary concepts along with related concepts for each discipline.
APPROACHES TO LEARNING
A unifying thread throughout all MYP subject groups, Approaches to Learning (ATL) provides the foundation for independent learning and encourages the application of their knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts. Developing and applying these social, thinking, research, communication and self-management skills helps students learn how to learn.
SERVICE AS ACTION, THROUGH COMMUNITY SERVICE
Action and service have always been shared values of the IB community.
Students take action when they apply what they are learning, both in the classroom and beyond. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a commitment to service - making a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
Service as action is an integral part of the programme, especially in the MYP community project. The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) is a course of study designed and administered by an international, non-governmental educational organisation based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IB is a two-year programme (at St. John’s normally Grades 11 and 12, or, exceptionally, Grade 12 and a post-graduate Grade 13 year), which offers students the opportunity to engage in intellectually stimulating academic studies, and which culminates in an “externally assessed” secondary school leaving qualification, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, recognised as an entrance credential by universities throughout the world. Many U.S. institutions grant advanced standing in selected subjects to the diploma holder.
Teaching Programme
What are we trying to achieve?
In the High School, we believe success is achieved through good leadership, planning and the setting of clear goals. To that end, St. John’s High School is inclusive in intention, international in perspective, caring in spirit, committed in action and dedicated to excellence.
As such:
- we will reinforce the philosophy, mission and objectives of St. John’s International School;
- we will promote academic excellence;
- we will enable each student to reach his or her potential in all dimensions: academic, artistic, physical, social, personal and spiritual, through the provision of a broad and balanced education;
- we will encourage students to develop self-esteem, self-discipline and self-awareness, and respect and tolerance for others;
- we will create a harmonious, enjoyable and safe learning environment which is characterized by trusting and caring relationships among students, teachers, parents and administrators;
- we will enable students to develop global awareness through the celebration of cultural diversity;
- we will guide students to make the appropriate choices and prepare them effectively to meet life's challenges;
- we will promote an ideal of life-long learning in an atmosphere of openness and critical inquiry;
- we will engage the student and parent voice in issues affecting the High School where appropriate.
View The High School Profile 2017-18 here.
The International Baccalaureate
The High School Diploma
The International Baccalaureate
The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IB DP) is a course of study designed and administered by an international, non-governmental educational organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. The IB is a two-year program (at St. John’s normally Grades 11 and 12, or, exceptionally, Grade 12 and a post-graduate Grade 13 year), which offers students the opportunity to engage in intellectually stimulating academic studies, and which culminates in an “externally assessed” secondary school leaving qualification, the International Baccalaureate Diploma, recognized as an entrance credential by universities throughout the world. Many U.S. institutions grant advanced standing in selected subjects to the diploma holder.
Optional programs
FULL DIPLOMA
To obtain the IB diploma, a student must:
- Study subjects from six groups, three at Higher Level (HL) and three at Standard Level (SL), or four at HL and two at SL
- Write an Extended Essay in one of the IB subjects
- Complete the Theory of Knowledge course
- Participate in the CAS program (Creativity, Action, Service), the equivalent of three to four hours per week
INDIVIDUAL IB COURSES, EXTENDED ESSAY OR TOK COURSE
For students not wishing to obtain the full diploma, individual IB diploma courses, the extended essay and/or the TOK course can be chosen instead of the full IB programme.
Note: Higher Level grades are recognised by U.S. institutions as equivalent to Advanced Placement grades, with advanced standing in that subject usually granted. Most competitive universities in the U.K. require the full IB Diploma to be presented as an alternative qualification for admissions’ consideration, as do most European universities.
PERSONAL CHOICE
IB-designated courses may be studied by a well-motivated student who does not wish, or is not academically strong enough, to take the external final examinations. In such cases, students will either take the course for honours credit, being assessed internally by IB criteria, or an Alternative Course Form will be completed which modifies the name of the course, the content and the assessment criteria.
To view our IB results, click here.
The High School Diploma
St. John’s International School is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and by the Council of International Schools. The school awards a General Diploma and an Academic Diploma. In addition, a student may work for the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma which is awarded upon successful completion of requirements set by the International Baccalaureate organization.
The St. John’s program of secondary studies extends over four years in Grades 9 to 12. The Academic Diploma and the General Diploma require 28 and 24 credits respectively from a maximum of 45 to graduate, with the Academic Diploma with honors being awarded to outstanding students who fulfill the High School’s additional academic criteria.
Advanced Placement
Thirteen Year Offering
Advanced Placement
The Advanced Placement (AP) program consists of challenging college-level courses and examinations for secondary school students. St. John's is the only school in Belgium offering AP courses. Student scores in the AP: 70% scored a 5 in the exams taken, 83% scored 4 or 5 and 94% scored 3 or higher.
Over 90 percent of the colleges and universities in the U.S. give academic credit and/or advanced standing to students whose AP Examination grades are considered acceptable. Course exam offerings may be found in the summary below.
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IB | AP |
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English Language |
x |
x |
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English Literature |
x |
x |
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French |
x |
x |
|
German |
x |
x |
|
Spanish |
x |
x |
|
Dutch |
x |
|
|
Korean |
x |
|
|
Chemistry |
x |
|
|
Physics |
x |
|
|
Biology |
x |
|
|
Environmental Systems and Society |
x |
|
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Sports. Exercise and Health Science |
x |
|
|
Design & Technology |
x |
|
|
Calculus |
|
x |
|
Mathematics |
x |
|
|
Economics |
x |
x |
|
Geography |
x |
|
|
History |
x |
|
|
Philosophy |
x |
|
|
Information Technology |
x |
|
|
Business Management |
x |
|
|
Music Theory |
x |
x |
|
Theater Arts |
x |
|
|
Art & Design |
x |
|
Thirteen Year Offering
St. John’s offers a thirteenth graduate year for students who want to:
- complete their IB Diploma
- improve their skills and opportunities for university studies
- improve their English
Thirteenth year students, although having already formally graduated, participate in all of the activities of Grade 12 including the senior retreat and the Advisory program. Likewise, they typically take advantage of the extra-curricular offerings of St. John’s including sports, drama, dance, video, music and art. Housing can be arranged in the community for students who wish to board for that year. This has been a very successful program receiving positive feedback from the students it has served.
