Our Primary Years Program (PYP), Where Learning Is An Adventure

Junior Kindergarten (Pre-K) to Grade 5

Children are complex bundles of curiosity, energy, and enthusiasm; they hunger to be good at things and to be independent (“I can do it myself!”). They want and need friends to play and work with, and they learn by doing, inquiring, and trying new things. And they are growing into a big world. Our PYP School, outside of Vancouver, was designed for children like these.

Our teachers encourage inquiry, independence, collaboration, and playing to learn. The PYP develops the natural abilities of children to care, learn, reflect, and grow with and for others.

Benefits of our PYP School in Maple Ridge

  • Addresses students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being.
  • Encourages students to develop independence and to take responsibility for their own learning.
  • Supports students’ efforts to gain understanding of the world and to function comfortable within it.
  • Helps students establish personal values as a foundation to develop international-mindedness.

Bringing in the Experts

Specialty Classes in the PYP
From Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5 our students learn French, Art (grade 2 to 5), Music, Library, and Physical Education from specialty teachers, who are most often different than their classroom teachers.

Why do we do this?
Education is best when it comes from someone that specializes in a subject area and has the focus to deliver the highest quality of education. As well, having our younger learners interact with more than just their classroom teacher grows their confidence, increases the number of teachers that are concerned with their education, and models the education they will be receiving as they enter Grade 6.

This is why a child in Grade 3 gets to visit our PYP French Teacher for their language class, our PYP Art Teacher for their visual arts class, our PYP Music Teacher for music, and dedicated Physical and Health Education Teachers for their PHE (Physical and Health Education) class.

Beyond the Classroom

Mapping Our Gardens & Trails
Our Grade 2 class took their mapping lesson out to the gardens. Instead of working in the garden beds they worked on creating a map of the area based on their observations.

Raising Salmon Fry for Release
Our Grade 4 Classroom does their part to increase the salmon population. Using a specialized tank, they raise fry, observing their growth, to eventually release into the local Kanaka Creek.

From Caterpillars to Butterflies
Each Grade 1 student learns about life cycles, not through a text book, but by receiving their very own Caterpillar eggs and observing the growth from egg to Caterpillar to Chrysalis to Butterfly. As the Chrysalis opens, the butterflies are released outside by each student.

IB World School Primary Years Programme logo

Transdisciplinary Learning

The PYP generates a stimulating, challenging learning environment to foster a lifelong love of learning in every child. The PYP is transdisciplinary, meaning students learn across subject areas while investigating big ideas.