Sacred Heart Academy received word of successful completion of its authorization to offer the Middle Years Programme (MYP) in October 2019 and Sacred Heart Model School and Sacred Heart Preschool became authorized in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in January 2020. These considerable accomplishments mean that every student from age 3 to 19 who attends a Sacred Heart School will receive an IB education.
Why IB?
The IB is recognized across the world for its innovative approach to education. It is with a strong commitment to Sacred Heart Schools’ mission to inspire diverse learners to become globally minded, compassionate leaders, that Sacred Heart Schools strategically adopted this world-leading best practice and framework. The IB paradigm is a dynamic cycle of inquiry, action and reflection that empowers students to identify their passions, explore relationships between different academic disciplines and connect their learning to the world outside the classroom. This transdisciplinary cycle takes learning far beyond memorizing or even understanding concepts, to connecting the dots, and promoting engagement and action to bring about meaningful change.
SHS strongly believes it is important to place an equal focus on academics and other transferable skills in order to best prepare students for success beyond the classroom. While being challenged by a demanding academic curriculum, IB students are also gaining important life skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, communication and creativity and character qualities such as persistence, curiosity, initiative and cultural and social awareness. Sacred Heart Schools is teaching children how to learn while empowering each to develop a lifelong love of learning. IB students graduate with the knowledge AND the tools they need to be successful in high school and college and are prepared to become responsible citizens who are ready to change the world.
The History of IB at Sacred Heart Schools
The International Baccalaureate has been operating in U.S. schools since 1971, with a total of 1,852 world schools at last count. Sacred Heart Schools’ IB journey began with Sacred Heart Academy’s distinct classification as an accredited IB Diploma Programme (DP) in 1998. Sacred Heart Model School was then the first Catholic and private school in Kentucky to achieve certification as an IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Levels (grades) 6-8 in 2013. The final two authorizations this academic year complete the immersion of the IB educational paradigm at Sacred Heart Schools. The commitment of our administrators and faculty to embark on this pedagogical transformation and their dedication to the necessary professional development are hallmarks of our IB success.
The IB Programmes
IB Primary Years Programme: The PYP prepares students to become active, caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others and have the capacity to participate in the world around them. It focuses on the development of the whole child. For ages 3-12.
IB Middle Years Programme: 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. For ages 11-16.
IB Diploma Programme: The DP Programme aims to develop students who have excellent breadth and depth of knowledge – students who flourish physically, intellectually, emotionally and ethically. For ages 16-19.