Over the last two years, strengthening our curriculum has been a major thrust in our school improvement strategy, so I want to continue to keep you abreast on changes that impact our students.

 

The following improvements we have made to our curriculum to strengthen, motivate and excite, and enhance the rigor of our academic offerings.

 

  1. We have added an hour of instruction to math in grades 1-10th. This aims to bring us closer to the standard amount of math teaching worldwide, and in addition to our IB Oxford textbook adoption and assessment systems already implemented.

 

  1. Language classes will now contain a unit of theatre and/or movie-making.

 

  1. We’ve added a new digital communications creative arts unit where students will make their own website, create digital media, make digital resume and professional portfolio, a creative movie and an analytical presentation video. Using digital art to promote creativity, communication skills and self-promotion are key skills for the future. This digital art unit will includedigital art, photography, and film. This is to expand our notion of art into the 21st century, where digital applications and devices such as cell phones greatly expand and enhance artistic creation.

 

  1. A month-long Artificial Intelligence workshop embedded into our  9th and 10th-grade Social Studies curriculum. 

 

  1. PE & Outdoor Education classes will now have a unit on hiking/camping in addition to expanded units on snorkeling, paddle boarding, and kayaking, each with a field component. This is to support our goal that ALL our students will be competent in outdoor nature-based activities and take full advantage of our extraordinary nature.

 

  1. PE & Outdoor Education now has a dedicated classroom where they will teach when the rain doesn’t allow activity in our fields. We have purchased small weights, exercise balls and ropes, and other materials for indoor aerobic and anaerobic exercise training. 

 

  1. A College placement class to support our students’ transition to the university and including a college visit expedition to San Jose, will be offered to 11th and 12th graders.

 

  1. A Student government will be established with mock elections, a student-run activity budget, and real involvement in some aspects of school decision making….

 

  1. A Student Newspaper will be developed and published digitally by our humanities and creative arts program courses. The newspaper will publish student-written pieces and student art, photography, and film.

 

As the only International Baccalaureate, bilingual, green school in the southern Nicoya peninsula, continuous change pushes our school’s academic vision forward.