Fundamental Concepts

Fundamental Concepts

The aim of the IB program is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

In order to work towards this goal, the school environment has very specific ingredients. These global aims can only be put into practise by teachers who can ‘think out of the box’.

How to help create a person who respects him(her) self and others?

1)  INTERNATIONAL MINDEDNESS

• Value differences
• Enhance learning by making productive use of the diversity of cultures/perspectives in school – local – national-international communities
• Commitment to international understanding
• Fostering responsible citizenship
• Strengthening student’s own cultural identity
• Celebrate differences
• Learning involves local-national-global significance
• Open communication
• Expression of ideas – attitudes – feelings
• Safe, secure environment based on understanding and respect
• Language Learning enhances cultural understanding: English-French-German-Dutch. (Finnish on Saturdays)
• Individual support to speakers of other languages
• Access to global information through internet and international newspapers
• Use of IB international network through conferences, workshops, personal exchanges
• Use of AMI international network through conferences, workshops, personal exchanges
• Use of school exchanges and staff’s international networks
• Resources that access different cultures, languages, perspectives
  

2) INTEGRATED CURRICULUM

• A comprehensive curriculum is available in written form
• The curriculum is based on children’s previous learning experiences and required future educational needs
• It places appropriate demands on students according to their age and stage of development
• Encourages students to become aware of individual, local, national and international issues
• Promotes all attributes of the learner profile
• Encourages responsibility
• Encourages students to develop strategies for their own learning and evaluation
• Provides ample opportunity for personal input, enquiry and presentation of ideas
• Provides learning at an individual and collaborative level
• Is sensitive towards cultural, gender, linguistic, ethnic and religious differences
• Is regularly reviewed
• Incorporates local individual expertise and organizations to foster learning
• Provides opportunities to share learning experiences with others through presentations, displays, posters, public speaking, performances, newsletters.
• Active development of mother-tongue in English, French, Dutch and German
• Students learn at least one additional language, but in most cases 2
  

3) COMMUNICATION

Is key to Personal development and Intercultural respect

The school offers the opportunity to have:

-    A good command in several languages
-    Multiple forms of expression
-    Confident use of language in a variety of situations