The Communicator

Primary Years Programme (PYP) - IB World School

Middle Years Programme (MYP) - IB World School - Evaluation Fall 2017 -

November 8-10

The Learner Profile Attributes

September

CARING

We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.

October

INQUIRER

We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

Take your child/children on an INQUIRY ADVENTURE in October - or any time!

Let us know what you're up to using the form below!

CONGRATULATIONS PEIRCE COMMUNITY! You can now say that you are a part of a Preschool through 12th grade IB World School! Thank you to the entire community that made our visit so successful.

If you have any questions regarding the visit, please contact Kimberly Lebovitz, PYP Coordinator.

Mapping our thinking using a variety of ways!

On September 21, 2017 Peirce celebrated the United Nations International Day of Peace. The students created pinwheels with their messages of peace, and placed on the grounds of the school with the hope that the breeze would spread their ideas far and wide!

The first part of the IB mission statement reflects beautifully what we hope for our students to understand by celebrating this day:

"The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect."

We hope that you have a peacful day, week, month, and year.

“Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are.” ~ Hafsat Abiola

Check them out on the Peirce Website!

You will find:

PYP Assessment Policy

PYP Language Policy

Peirce PYP Programme of Inquiry

Peirce Specialists Programmes of Inquiry

...And Much More!

MYP Students how they practice the art of CARING...

Find out how we lived the learner profile over the summer and what we started studying this September!

Summers, I practice quiet reflective moments through yoga at my church. I took lots of time to reflect on my own teaching practices as well as how to continue to develop and adjust those methods. As a veteran teacher, I know that embracing effective teaching tools is the road to successful student learning.

My family is important too! I spent lots of time with my 80 year old mom and we visited family members in Tennessee and Houston,

How we started our September...

The MYP Year 1 Language and Literature program began with Independent Reading. Students brought books from home, or books they have purchases or even better from the Chicago Public Library to regularly read at home. They should be reading about 60 minutes every night. Students will learn to manage their independent reading time on an individual basis with guidance from the teacher.

While in class, we are reading “Life as We Knew” for our class novel. A very action packed story plot! In addition, all MYP Year 1 students will be utilizing and managing their agenda’s in order to grow independently as well as develop effective self management tools!

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

I was an inquirer this summer by taking classes to get my ESL endorsement. I also was very balanced as I spent a lot of time with my newborn baby, family and friends and went on some state wide vacations..

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

I was reflective this summer and spent a lot of it injured. No boot this time, but a brace at times for my knee. I ran and acquired a torn medial meniscus and partial acl tear. The tears afforded me the opportunity to slow down and focus on where I am today and where I want to be at the end of this school year. I am super pumped to be back and look forward to working with my 7th grade partners as we endeavor through the curriculum!!! I am also very excited to work with the wonderful students in 5th grade this year.

How we started our September...

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

This summer I was extremely balanced. I got to exercise almost every day (and eat ice cream). We hit museums, movies, bike trails, parks, bbqs, and amusement parks! We also spent a lot of time with friends and family in Ohio and Wisconsin. I took one course online, but also read several fun books. I came back to school very excited about my new role at Peirce!

How we started our September...

Students in yeare 1-3 of MYP started off the year by working on fitness. We are focusing on creating realistic, measurable, and attainable goals. All students have begun training for the Panther 1 Miler! We focus a great deal on growth mindset.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

I was a risk-taker and an inquirer this summer by spending my summer working in Africa. I worked with a Boys and Girls club and learned a lot. I also went on a safari so I am feeling more knowledgeable about African wildlife and habitats. I am very excited to be back and at Peirce and am looking forward to a great year!

How we started our September...

MYP Spanish students began the year with a brief celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month by studying various Hispanic key figures. MYP Year 2 Individual and Societies students began the year studying the ancient peoples of the Americas and the colonization of our nation!

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

This summer I attended the Bill Evans Teacher Institute in New Mexico. I feel more knowledgeable about dance technique, dance science, and LMA. The Institute also involved me as an inquirer into my teaching practice and one dance technique. I also caring as I helped take care of my baby nephew and lent an ear to various friends and family going through challenging times.

How we started our September...

MYP Years 1-3 Students will be working on a living collaborative installation. All of MYP will be thinking about what it means to be respectful, safe and responsible in relation to our I.B profiles. We then will create links that will strengthen our ideas and continue the grow with the help of our Peirce Family.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

This summer, I was reflective! I recently finished my Master’s in Education program and took the time to reflect on how to put the theories I learned into practice during my first year at Peirce. I mixed and matched various philosophies and advice from veteran teachers to plan for an engaging and safe learning environment for all students!

How we started our September...

MYP Year 2 students began the wear with working together to figure out, “What is going on inside my body?” Students have been practicing their microscope skills and have discovered that we are living organisms made of cells, just as bacteria in yogurt and singular-celled organisms from Lake Michigan are also living things! We will soon be moving towards a larger system in the body and learning that the body is a system made up of many smaller interacting subsystems.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

I was very IB this summer by being a risk-taker. My family and I traveled several times in state, out of state, and out of country. We also took on a very large home construction project that will not be complete for awhile. It has been fun filled summer with some risk-taking experiences, but we wouldn’t have changed it for anything!

How we started our September...

MYP Year 1 Science students started the year riding on the Eclipse coattails and learning all about the solar system and how it affects people on earth. While diving into our solar system, and all other earth science, we have a heavy focus on team building, communication, and collaboration.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

Also, look out for #keinerscience on Twitter.

This summer, I was BALANCED! I was able to spend lots of time with my two kids, catch up with friends and family, read a few great books, do a bit of de-cluttering, explore museums, enjoy the theater, kill a few houseplants, and REFLECT on how to make this a great school year. I can’t wait!

I was “balanced” this summer! I spent a lot of time relaxing and spending time with friends, but I also knew the whole summer couldn’t be like that! I made sure to spend time working on units for the upcoming school year in order to make it a great year!

How we started our September...

MYP Year 1 math students started the year with a unit on representing and reasoning about ratios. We have been talking about ratios, proportions, equivalent ratios, unit rates and percents. These are ideas we’ll revisit all school year and it’s a critically important unit.

Learn more by visiting my Google Classroom. Email me aekerkstra@cps.edu for access.

I was a risk taker this summer. I journeyed across the country and down the California coast by train. Not only exploring places I’ve never been, but taking the chance to talk and visit with other travelers as we shared and found commonality during the brief moment in time that our lives crossed paths.

How we started our September...

Students in the MYP Year 2 Individuals & Societies course began the year exploring the outcomes of the intersection of people originally from Asia and Europe as their worlds meet in North America.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

My summer was very challenging. I had to be very reflective in order to endure.

How we started our September...

In Language and Literature, Year 2 MYP students began the year studying the structure of literary and informational texts. We are now analyzing organizational patterns, literary elements, and text features of fiction and nonfiction. Students are keeping current with national and global issues through articles from The New York Times Upfront Magazine. Classes are working on different note taking strategies and vocabulary development.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

Inquirer: Hiking in Austria! Driving all night to make it for the TOTAL ECLIPSE!

How we started our September...

To start the year, MYP Year 3 Students evaluated aluminum, glass, and plastic as materials for producing drink containers. They will debate the advantages and disadvantages of each material as they analyze and graph information on its production, energy costs, physical properties and recycle-ability. They use this evidence to select one material and then discuss the implications of their decisions.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

This summer I was an avid inquirer. In hopes of starting a workshop in relation to my art practice I e-mailed various institutions in hopes of finding a space to host the event. Although I am still on the hunt I am learning more about creating work that involves the public as well as communicating my ideas to others.

How we started our September...

MYP Years 1-3 students began the year by working on a living collaborative installation. All of MYP has been thinking about what it means to be respectful, safe and responsible in relation to our I.B profiles. We then created links that will strengthen our ideas and continue the grow with the help of our Peirce Family.

I was a risk-taker this summer when I traveled to Arizona and Colorado. While there, I did a lot of hiking through the mountains. I love the outdoors and being active, and some of the trails were a great challenge for me!

How we started our September...

MYP Year 1 Individuals and Societies students started the year with a unit on the rise of humankind. We have been discussing and inquiring about the very first humans, which will then lead us to the very first civilizations. Students will also be working to determine how to find reliable sources. The students will be doing some independent research during this unit, so this is an important skill for them to acquire.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

I was very balanced this summer because I ran and did yoga regularly. This is something that I love to do every day. I had the opportunity to meet with friends and relax as well. I also played a role in this year’s lesson study for better math instruction. It was a great experience to further my craft.

How we started our September...

MYP Year 2 students started the year with a unit on number sense. They are developing ways to realize that various forms of numbers live on the same number line and occupy the same space. Students will then perform all operations with both negative and positive rational numbers.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

This summer I was a risk taker. Our family packed up and quit our jobs in Denver to move here to Chicago. We feel so lucky to be in CPS and working with the awesome people at Peirce. I also tried to keep it balanced, I spent a lot of time just hanging out with my daughter (Beatrix), reading, doing crossword puzzles, and working on another master’s degree.

How we started our September...

MYP Year 3 Math and Algebra got off to a great start! Both classes are began the year working on using mathematical models to make predictions. We have covered some linear functions and this week Algebra covered inverse relationships. Next we will work with making models and using them to make predictions.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

This summer I was very IB in that I was able to demonstrate being balanced from the Learner Profile. I was able to graduate with my Masters in Secondary Education and become certified all while working full-time. In addition to that, I was able to spend quality time with my family who is from St. Louis. My brother and sister are so young, so I make sure I can see them as much as possible!!

How we started our September...

MYP Year 3 students began the year with a unit on the Civil War era! Students are analyzing current events of protests and Confederate statues being taken down to launch us into this unit. Students are also considering how our personal identities affect the way we make decisions. To help us consider identity, students will read the novel Behind Rebel Lines, which tells the story of a woman who disguises herself to become a Union spy! Students will create claims and use textual evidence to support their arguments.

Learn more by visiting my class website. CLICK HERE.

This summer I was “IB” by making myself more knowledgeable. For the first time, I took part in the the CPS Legal conference. There, along with about 500 other principals and assistant principals, I gained a wealth of knowledge about the rules, policies, and procedures the CPS has put in place to keep students and teachers safe. I also learned quite a bit about what can happen when students don’t follow the rules...YIKES! The whole event was very eye opening and extremely informative.

How we started our September...

The MYP student and teachers started off our year by preparing for our upcoming Evaluation Visit this November. During our visit, representatives from the International Baccalaureate will be visiting Peirce to see how well we are applying the IB Standards and Practices. In preparation, students and teachers will be reflecting on what it means to be IB as well as figuring out ways that we can show that we are living the IB program here at Peirce. If you are interested in being a part of this visit, contact our IB MYP Coordinator, Dr. Riemer, at teriemer@cps.edu.

Learn more by visiting the MYP page on the Peirce Website. CLICK HERE.

PEIRCE SWAG for sale. T-shirts available for $10! All proceeds benefit our 2nd Annual trip to Washington DC. for students in Year 2 & 3.

Kimberly Lebovitz - PYP Coordinator

773-534-2841

kclebovitz@cps.edu

Dr. Talyia Eve Riemer - MYP Coordinator

773-534-2440

teriemer@cps.edu

Website: peirce.cps.k12.il.us
Location: 1423 West Bryn Mawr Avenue, Chicago, IL, United States
Phone: 773-534-2440

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