The IICS mission statement is aligns completely with the philosophical approach of the MYP:

Through its challenging curriculum and strong staff-student relationships, IICS provides a caring environment that inspires each student to excel and to be inquisitive, creative, compassionate, balanced and internationally-minded.

Working within the MYP framework, IICS maintains and continually develops a curriculum that strives to provide the best for our students.

IICS MYP offers courses in 8 subjects groups.

Much like the Primary Years Program, inquiry is at the center of teaching and learning in the MYP at IICS. Inquiry “frames the written, taught, and assessed curriculum” your child will experience in our program.” (Principles to Practice, pg. 50). 

Our inquiry-driven approach means that our teachers develop units of study that build on students prior knowledge and experiences.  Prior knowledge becomes the basis for the inquiry questions that transition students through the out units. Examples of this might include problem-based challenges, project based learning, or self-directed units of inquiry.  Traditional teaching techniques are blended with current practice and technology to provide “learning that is engaging, relevant, challenging, and significant” (Principles to Practice, pg. 11).

  “Conceptual learning focuses on powerful organizing ideas that have relevance within and across subject areas.” (Principles to Practice, pg. 13).  As an MYP school, IICS understand how interdisciplinary connections make learning relevant for students. To do this, all units are based in the IB Global Contexts and Subject Group Key Concepts.  it is not enough just to know something; we strive to teach our students how to make connections between what they have learned and what it means in the context of a globalized world.

Interdisciplinary learning is described as, “two or more subjects coming together to inform a unit of inquiry.” Problem solving in the real world requires knowledge and skills from a multitude of subjects.  An outstanding example of the power of IICS interdisciplinary learning is the 7th grade City in the Sea project.  The City project challenges students to use personal life experiences, Maths, English, Science and Humanities knowledge to find solutions to the challenges of life on a human-made island, full of displaced people located in the Aegean Sea.

A student-centered philosophy is more than just putting students first.  MYP teachers at IICS strive to create opportunities for students to be active participants in their education, rather than passive recipients of knowledge.

At the core of this student-centered philosophy is our strong belief in strong staff-student relationships. By putting the student at the center of our philosophy, “the relationships between teachers and students create a dynamic where teachers are intellectual leaders who can empower students to develop the confidence and personal responsibility needed to deepen understanding”

In addition to being student-centered, we also believe in developing personalized learning options for students in the MYP at IICS. Students are most empowered when they have control over their learning. Wherever appropriate, students are given opportunities to have a say in the subjects they would like to study as well as the formats they would like to use to present.

NOTE: All quotations from IB Principles to Practice.