Dear families, queridas familias, queridas famílias:
The IB learning community views the world as the broadest context for learning, where everyone involved in the life of the school is recognized:
- Students and their families
- All faculty and staff
- Other important adults in the students’ lives
- The community at large
As a learning community, CVWS builds shared understandings for the highest quality of learning and teaching to foster the well-being of all our members. These understandings encourage critical and creative thinking through inquiry, action, and reflection, placing students at the center.
At CVWS, we support students to develop knowledge, conceptual understandings, and approaches to learning skills to become internationally-minded persons and develop IB learner profile attributes.
“International-mindedness recognizes similarities and differences between communities, peoples and nations. Knowledge and understanding of similarity allows for the construction of common foundations; recognition and affirmation of difference encourages a celebration and valuing of diversity.” What is an IB education? Support material (p.1)
Fostering international-mindedness relies on teaching and learning. CVWS teachers plan learning experiences that encourage students of all grades to explore local and global contexts, thereby developing internationally-minded people who show common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet.
International-mindedness involves open-minded inquiry into diverse perspectives, critical appreciation of multiple points of view, and a desire for positive action. It “implies the capacity to learn, the motivation to act, and the courage to disagree” (Walker 2011).
In the past, international-mindedness was something that happened only in international schools. Today, we live in a more connected world. Alec Peterson, the first IB Director, said education needs to define our place in the global society. That seems more appropriate today than ever.
I invite you to take some time to read about different ways to promote international-mindedness as we grow our learning community together in God.
Best wishes, saludos, saudações
Sagrario
