We are excited to be an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School! We embarked upon this IB journey about 14 years ago, and it has been life-changing for our Hawthorne community!

As a PYP (Primary Years Programme) school we offer the written, taught, and assessed curriculum.  The written curriculum (unit of inquiry) is transdisciplinary and developed collaboratively, using district adopted materials, support literature, teacher research material, current events as well as other various materials. Teachers and students are encouraged to be constructivists of their own teaching and learning which increases higher level thinking, engagement and action.  Units are constructed around central ideas and concepts, rather than just facts. 

The taught curriculum fosters a love for learning by nurturing students’ natural curiosity. Students become inquirers who ask questions and seek answers keeping a global perspective.  This, in turn, actively engages students while requiring them to think deeply, and solve problems.

Various assessments, both “formative and summative,” are used throughout the PYP.  Each unit’s summative assessment requires students to use critical thinking skills in order to apply what they have learned to new situations and solve real-life problem(s).

The ultimate goal of the PYP is to foster internationally-minded life-long learners, who will take action in order to help create a better and more peaceful world. This includes all stakeholders: our students, staff, and even our community!