Curriculum

The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (IB PYP) is not organized around traditional subjects in the same way as many national education systems. Instead, it adopts a transdisciplinary approach to learning, where students explore and investigate real-world issues and topics through six transdisciplinary themes. These themes serve as a framework for integrating multiple subjects and fostering a holistic understanding of concepts. The six transdisciplinary themes are:

1. Who We Are:

   This theme explores the nature of the self, personal beliefs, and values, as well as the relationships between individuals and communities.

2. Where We Are in Place and Time:

   Students investigate their personal histories, as well as the history and geography of their local and global communities.

3. How the World Works:

   Students explore the natural world, scientific concepts, and the impact of human innovation and invention.

4. Who We Are:

   This theme explores the nature of the self, personal beliefs, and values, as well as the relationships between individuals and communities.

5. Sharing the Planet:

   Students explore issues related to the environment, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of all living things.

While the PYP does not have distinct subjects in the traditional sense, the transdisciplinary themes incorporate elements from various subjects like language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, and arts. Teachers design units of inquiry that integrate knowledge and skills from multiple disciplines, allowing students to see the connections between different subjects and understand how they relate to the real world. In terms of scheduling and organization of PYP classes, the day is divided into two parts where half of the day is dedicated to the interdisciplinary core block and the other half is dedicated to special classes like art, music, physical education (PE), and languages are conducted. PYP students can select either Spanish, German, or French, with a minimum of four sessions per week for their chosen language acquisition class. Additionally, all students have the opportunity to take the Slovene language course, which also meets at least four times per week. In addition to the transdisciplinary themes, the PYP also emphasizes the development of Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, which are essential skills for successful learning across all subjects. These skills include thinking skills, communication skills, social skills, self-management skills, and research skills. By adopting this transdisciplinary approach and promoting the development of ATL skills, the PYP aims to provide a holistic and meaningful education that prepares students for further academic pursuits and encourages them to become engaged, responsible global citizens.

LIS is a Candidate School* for the MYP and DP programs. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy—a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that LIS believes is important for our students. LIS takes immense pride in its official candidacy for the MYP, a testament to our dedication to meet the rigorous standards set forth by IB. The MYP is for students aged 11–16, in grades 6–10 (or MYP 1–5) and is made up of eight core subject groups: Mathematics, Arts, Sciences, Language & Literature, Individuals & Societies, Physical & Health Education, Language Acquisition, and Design. The content and transferable skills provided through each of the subjects overlap with each other. This presents learners with a balanced approach to their education that emphasizes the acquisition of key skills, thus setting the foundations for students becoming life-long learners. Like the IB, LIS aims to develop students who possess the abilities, knowledge, and mind.

*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme, or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit www.ibo.org.

Ljubljana International School is fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools (MSA) and licensed by the Slovenian Ministry of Education, Science and Sports as a private school with an international program. After students complete the MYP program, they focus on completing their remaining secondary years and fulling theadditional graduation requirements in conjunction with Middle States Association (MSA). In total, students are required to earn 24 credits to be awarded their graduation diploma. LIS offers two types of diplomas that are distinguished by different levels of rigor from the core programs of study. The Academic Diploma – This diploma is awarded to students that complete a minimum of 24 credits in the following area of concentration: English (5 credits), Science (3 credits), Math (3 credits), Social Studies (4 credits), Creative and Applied Arts (2 credits), Physical and Health Ed ( 2 credits), and Language Acquisition ( 2 credits) The Academic with Honors Diploma – This diploma is awarded to students who meet the same requirements as the Academic Diploma but with the addition of completing at least two full-year AP courses.