International Baccalaureate

St. Luke School’s teaching and learning is guided by the International Baccalaureate.

St. Luke has been an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School since February 2021. It was the first Catholic school in the Pacific Northwest authorized to offer the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) and IB Middle Years Programme (MYP).

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a non-profit educational organization that was founded in 1968. The IB provides a framework for education. It does not tell us what to teach. Instead, it guides how we teach.

St. Luke's program is always under construction. It is designed and revised based on evolving educational research, practice, current students, and the needs of our future world.

We intentionally design and deliver curriculum through concepts, approaches to learning (ATL), transdisciplinary themes and Central Ideas (in the PYP), and Statement of Inquiry (in the MYP). This allows us to bring forward essential learnings and experiences for all of our students. We believe our students’ learning experiences must reflect the world in which they live.

The Inquiry Cycle

Each unit begins by assessing students’ prior knowledge of a central idea or statement of inquiry. Then the students formulate questions based on what they want to know about the topic. As shown in this diagram, those student questions start the inquiry that guides lessons. Teachers support the student-led inquiry with age-appropriate resources and activities to guide and structure the learning. It’s an approach that works at every grade level to provide challenges for every student.

IB is a Program, Not a Curriculum

People sometimes assume that IB dictates the school’s curriculum, but that is not the case. We determine the learning standards that our students work toward. For example, in religion classes, students work toward the standards set by the Archdiocese of Seattle. In science, we use the Next Generation Science Standards.

IB does have some program requirements that impact curriculum. For example, acquiring a second language is a value for IB, so students all have the opportunity to learn Spanish, from preschool through grade 8. The IB also requires that MYP students experience both visual and performing arts. This happens in our MYP exploratory program. Each trimester students choose from among varied electives, including choir, visual arts, textile arts, coding, robotics and drama. In the second trimester, all of the MYP students help to put on a musical. Students fill all the roles, including acting, stage design, stage crew, technical crew and marketing. This year our performances will be off-site, which is an exciting opportunity for our community!

Additional Insight Into Each of the Programs

Expand the sections below to see how the IB program guides learning in the Primary Years Program (Preschool - 5th) and the Middle Years Program (6 - 8th).

Primary Years Program
Middle Years Programme

Primary Years Program

Pre-K – Grade 5

The IB Primary Years Program (PYP) offered at over 900 authorized schools worldwide, is a guided inquiry-based teaching method that centers on student questions. Rather than working through a standard lesson and learning facts, students study a central idea by creating and exploring their own questions.

Through this concept-driven process, students gain deep content understanding while learning the skills to acquire, organize, and communicate knowledge. It is those skills that enable children to become independent learners, capable of pursuing knowledge beyond the classroom and throughout life.

As an IB school, each grade level will write, teach, and reflect on all six PYP units! Check out the developmentally appropriate and globally significant concepts we will teach this winter.

Pre-K: Behavior and communication are expressed in different forms.
Kindergarten: People tell stories to share history.
Grades 1: How families live around the world is shaped by their environment.
Grade 2: Being good stewards of the Earth is our right and responsibility.
Grades 3 and 4: Regions are formed based on shared characteristics.
Grade 5: Different perspectives can cause conflict.

Learn more about PYP

Middle Years Programme

Grades 6 through 8

As stated in IB MYP From Principles into Practice, "The MYP has been designed as a coherent and comprehensive curriculum framework that provides academic challenge and develops the life skills of students from the ages of 11 to 16. These years are a critical period in the development of young people. Success in school is closely related to personal, social and emotional well-being. At a time when students are establishing their identity and building their self-esteem, the MYP can motivate students and help them to achieve success in school and in life beyond the classroom. The programme allows students to build on their personal strengths and to embrace challenges in subjects in which they might not excel. The MYP offers students opportunities to develop their potential, to explore their own learning preferences, to take appropriate risks, and to reflect on, and develop, a strong sense of personal identity."

Social Emotional Mentorships in MYP

Our MYP advisory program matches students with a teacher mentor who can help them navigate the social and emotional demands of middle school. Advisory groups meet weekly to check in as well as to participate in team building and other activities that strengthen their connections. Class retreats are also a part of the advisory, as is community service. Noticing and responding to the needs in our communities is an important way that we live our faith together.

Learn More about MYP

IB Learner Profile

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) learner profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. At the heart of the IB framework are the ten IB learner profile attributes.

The IB believes that if we graduate students that embody these attributes, we are graduating internationally minded individuals.