We're an IB Primary Years Programme School!

It’s Official, Cypress Elementary is an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme School! 

The Conejo Valley Unified School District is proud to announce that Cypress Elementary has officially become an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme school.

The Primary Years Programme is an internationally recognized program, which focuses on developing the whole child by fostering a love of learning, encouraging critical thinking and promoting a sense of global citizenship.

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) grants authorization to schools that have successfully completed a rigorous evaluation process and have demonstrated a commitment to the IB mission and philosophy. Cypress Elementary began the IB Primary Years Programme candidacy process in 2019.

“I am so proud of our school, and I am especially proud of our team of dedicated teachers who have worked tirelessly to innovate and successfully incorporate the IB Primary Years Programme into the daily learning at Cypress,” Michele McDonald, Cypress Elementary School Principal said. “This Programme will make a big impact for our TK-5 scholars as they become global citizens with skill development as inquirers, thinkers, risk-takers and communicators.”

The IB PYP Programme at Cypress will also create an important, new IB pathway for scholars who complete their secondary education at Newbury Park High School, an IB World School. 

What is the IB Primary Years Programme?

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a specialized program that aims to promote inquiry and foster the development of the whole child through a unique "transdisciplinary framework," meaning that children learn in terms of concepts rather than categorically defined subjects. This helps to deepen student understanding of concepts.

Programme of Inquiry at Cypress

Cypress teachers have developed Units of Inquiry at each grade level that incorporates the IB PYP inquiry approach to teaching and learning. These Units of Inquiry are also transdisciplinary, which means the units incorporate multiple subject areas and tie them together to deepen student understanding of the content and make it more applicable to their daily lives. Each of these units of inquiry have a transdisciplinary theme that students investigate. The themes are repeated each year, but students investigate different aspects of the theme. The six themes are:

1. Who we are
   • Inquiry into relationships including families, friends, communities, and cultures
2. Where we are in place and time 
   • Inquiry into the relationship between individuals and civilizations, from both local and global perspectives
3. How we express ourselves
   • Inquiry into the ways in which we discover and express ideas, feelings, nature, culture, and beliefs and values
4. How the world works
   • Inquiry into how humans use their understanding of scientific principles, the impact of scientific and technological advances on society
5. How we organize ourselves
   • Inquiry into societal decision-making; economic activities, and their impact on humankind and the environment
6. Sharing the planet
   • Inquiry into the environment and communities

IB PYP Language Philosophy at Cypress

Cypress Elementary School recognizes that all students will progress academically and socially from having exposure to speaking, listening, reading and writing opportunities in English, Spanish, and their native mother tongue(s). The school’s world language is Spanish.  All students in grades TK - 5 receive one hour of Spanish language instruction weekly. The school’s focus on language acquisition and integration provides students a context to develop deeper cultural and interpersonal connections through language. 

Cypress Elementary joins a select group of schools from around the world that offer the IB PYP. Click here to learn more about the International Baccalaureate Organization.