This is a question we reflect upon in the IB — PYP classroom as we strive to incorporate IB Learner Profiles into our PreK 4 learning environment. These profiles teach us to be principled (making good choices) and to be caring (love one another) and fit so beautifully into our Catholic faith.

Wouldn’t Jesus want us to be inquirers and learn with enthusiasm? Doesn’t He want us to be open-minded and treat others with forgiveness? How about being a risk taker, learning with resourcefulness and resilience? Throughout Scripture He continually communicates and encourages us to listen well and spread the Good News. He wants us to be good thinkers and take responsibility for our own actions. Therefore, we enter our classroom each day as reflective friends who love to learn.

These profiles are naturally displayed in one of the children’s favorite places to discover, the block center. The children are given many choices or can think independently about their creations. They reflect, think, and use their background knowledge to communicate. Before going to the building center, students often draw a blueprint of what they want to build. Then they use their blueprint to guide their creation with the blocks. With the cooperation and communication between friends, the blueprint comes alive. They are given the opportunity to revise their plan if they discover new thoughts or problems with the original. Their creation is displayed and shared with one another to emphasize and appreciate one another’s uniqueness.

Each time a child is caught displaying an IB learner profile, they put a warm fuzzy in our Friendship Box. When the Friendship box is full, we decide on a way to “Pay It Forward” and decide on a project to give to one another.

“What Would Jesus Do?” We pray that He is smiling down upon us as we character build and put these IB/PYP Learner Profiles and our Catholic Christian values into practice each day.

---

St. Cecelia Interparochial Catholic School (SCS) is a Blue Ribbon School which is located in Clearwater, Florida. We offer an academically challenging and globally minded interdisciplinary education to children in PreK-3 through 8th grade. Through our International Baccalaureate programmes, we provide the tools, develop character and teach skills that prepare our students to thrive in high school, college and beyond. We remain steadfast in our commitment to our student’s personal success but also to the betterment of our local and global communities.