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What is an IB School?
HFES is proud to be an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) school.
IB develops:
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Critical thinkers who question, investigate, and innovate.
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Globally-minded learners who see multiple perspectives.
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Students who care about people and the planet.
Our IB framework emphasizes:
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Inquiry-Based Learning: Students ask questions, explore, and discover.
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Whole-Child Development: Social, emotional, and ethical growth.
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Learner Profile: We nurture kids who are principled, caring, open-minded, balanced, and reflective.
Learn more about the IB PYP
The Huntingtowne Farms Elementary School Advantage
HFES is the only CMS school to offer both an IB education and a Dual Language immersion program—in a school community that feels like home.
Academics & Enrichment
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Strong student-teacher relationships.
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High-quality instruction across subjects – including Art, Music, Inquiry, PE, and Spanish.
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Connections classes aligned with IB unit.
Cultural Immersion
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Diverse staff from around the world bring authentic language and cultural exposure.
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Students learn alongside native Spanish speakers.
Community & Culture
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Cultural Nights, bilingual celebrations, and global showcases.
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Engaged families and vibrant school spirit.
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Opportunities for students to lead, present, and celebrate identity.
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Active Parent Teacher Association.
Extracurricular Programs
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Reading Rumble (rigorous reading challenge).
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Math-a-palooza (problem-solving competitions).
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Girls on the Run & Girls in Science.
Clubs and after-school activities designed for fun and growth.
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Curriculum Framework
The PYP curriculum framework
The PYP curriculum framework begins with the premise that students are agents of their own learning and partners in the learning process. It prioritizes people and their relationships to build a strong learning community.
PYP students use their initiative to take responsibility and ownership of their learning. By learning through inquiry and reflecting on their own learning, PYP students develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, skills and the attributes of the IB Learner profile to make a difference in their own lives, their communities, and beyond.
The framework emphasizes the central principle of agency, which underpins the three pillars of school life:
Embedded in the framework is the recognition of the importance of fostering an individual's self-efficacy. Students with a strong sense of self-efficacy are active in their own learning and take action in their learning community.
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Special Features
Special Features of the Elementary IB
- Emphasis on speaking a foreign language in the primary years
- Opportunities for accelerated curriculum in writing and speaking
- Emphasis on community awareness and service projects
- Opportunities for accelerated curriculum in mathematics
- Opportunity to develop study skills and introduction to time management strategies
- Greater focus on becoming an independent learner able to research and develop projects
- Development of a strong academic foundation in all subject areas
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PYP Inquiry Themes
Who We Are
Where We Are in Place and Time
How We Express Ourselves
How the World Works
How We Organize Ourselves
Sharing the Planet
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Learner Profile for IB students
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) learner profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success.
They imply a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.
Each of the IB's programmes is committed to the development of students according to the IB learner profile.
The profile aims to develop learners who are:
- Inquirers
- Knowledgeable
- Thinkers
- Communicators
- Principled
- Open-minded
- Caring
- Risk-takers
- Balanced
- Reflective