Curriculum

Note: Information contained on this page is copyrighted by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Please visit http://www.ibo.org for more information.

Vista Heights is an authorized school for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program. The IB MYP is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. The MYP is inclusive by design; students of all interests and academic abilities can benefit from their participation. As part of the program, students take classes from eight different curricular areas.

Here is a link to our Exploratory Course Promotion Presentation

IB MYP Curriculum

Core Classes

All students will be placed in the following four core classes: Language and Literature (Language Arts), Individuals and Societies (Social Studies), Mathematics, and Sciences. We make sure that students are placed in classes that are appropriately leveled and right for them.

More Information on IB MYP Language and Literature

More Information on IB MYP Individuals and Societies

More Information on IB MYP Mathematics

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Physical and Health Education

Language Acquisition

All students will be placed in a class focused on learning a world language. Learning to communicate in a variety of ways allows students to develop global connections and international-mindedness.

Most sixth grade students will be given introductory courses in Spanish, French, and Mandarin Chinese. These classes will allow students to experience learning a new language and culture and will help them decide on future language pathways. Sixth grade students who are heritage Spanish speakers will be given the opportunity to improve fluency in Spanish, particularly in the areas of reading and writing.

We currently offer seventh and eighth grade students classes in Spanish for both heritage and non-heritage speakers, French, and Mandarin Chinese. Some of the classes we offer are equivalent to high school courses and will allow students to earn high school credit, with the provision that students earn at least a B and still take two years of world language courses at the high school level (either continuing on to advanced language classes, or taking two courses in a different language).

More information on IB MYP Language Acquisition

Design and Arts

All students will take Design and Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) classes. Students may choose a year-long Design or VAPA class (for example: advanced art, band, choir, modern band, STEAM, AVID, ASB, digital photography). Alternatively, students will be placed in available semester long classes (for example: computers, multicultural studies, intermediate art). Some classes may require an audition, and space is limited, so we cannot guarantee that students will get placed in any particular class. Design and VAPA courses integrate both the design process and VAPA so that all students experience both curricular areas even though a course may focus primarily on one or the other area.

More information on IB MYP Design

More information on IB MYP Arts

Vista Heights Middle School is an IB World School authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Vista Heights Middle School believes is important for our students. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org , or please contact Jill Dayton, jdayton@mvusd.net for information about the program at Vista Heights.

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