BUENA PARK – Buena Park School District’s Gordon H. Beatty School has been named a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme, which lays a foundation to nurture and develop young students into caring, active participants for a lifelong journey of learning.

The IB Primary Years Programme is a college- and career-preparatory curriculum that promotes advanced learning opportunities for students ages 3 to 12.

Beatty School will begin its three-year candidacy period on Sept. 1 as it pursues authorization as an IB World School to offer a challenging academic curriculum.

Beatty School Principal Seri Hwang said her school nurtures critical thinking and problem-solving skills through inquiry-based learning instruction and emphasizes science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) subjects, making it a perfect candidate for the IB Primary Years Programme.

“We are very excited to have been named an IB candidate school because it will enhance learning for all students at Beatty School; not just a specific program or a small population,” Hwang said.

Hwang said her first objective during the candidacy phase is to provide IB curriculum training to her lead teachers.

“This is an auspicious time for Beatty School because IB candidate school teachers receive additional materials to guarantee academic success for our students,” Buena Park School District Board of Education President Irene Castaneda said. “We are very proud of Beatty School’s administration, teachers and students for achieving this opportunity.”

Beatty School, a PreK-6 school, has received multiple accolades for academic excellence over the years, including being named a California Distinguished School in 2006, receiving a Title 1 Academic Achievement Award in 2009 and becoming a California Gold Ribbon School in 2016.

“It is a major honor to have Beatty School named a candidate for the IB Primary Years Programme,” Superintendent Dr. Ramon Miramontes said. “This distinction will assist us as we continue to provide an excellent learning environment and international education to our students that will give them the skills they need to succeed in high school, college and their careers.”

PHOTOS

050119_BUENAPARK_IBCANDIDACY1: Beatty School sixth-grader Melissa Priego works with teacher Brittany Jones during an English Language Arts lesson. Beatty School will begin its International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme candidacy period in September to provide advanced learning opportunities to the school’s entire student body.