Established in 2000, Southpointe Academy has become well-known for cultivating engaged, wellrounded citizens poised to thrive in their pursuit of post-secondary education and primed to achieve their full potential.
Southpointe is now the only accredited International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) School in Delta and Richmond.
Southpointe is dedicated to providing a high-quality education to its students and that is what led the Tsawwassen school to apply for certification as a Primary Years Programme (PYP) International Baccalaureate World School.
PYP is aimed towards students in kindergarten to Grade 5, in which its emphasis is on the total growth of a developing child.
"Through the PYP we guide our students to become active learners
who are committed to pursuing personal aspirations, setting challenging goals and then achieving them," said junior school principal Michael Staham. "In concert with the school's academic rigour is the emphasis we place on the values of kindness, respect, responsibility, integrity and perseverance. We expect students to demonstrate empathy, compassion and respect for individual differences and to pursue the ideals of personal integrity, initiative and diligence." The three-year evaluation and authorization process takes a rigorous look at the leadership, curriculum, instructional approaches, personnel and governance of the school.
To receive this authorization, the International Baccalaureate Organization requires administrators and teachers commit to several hours of professional development and continuous learning coursework
annually. The organization also assesses the school's ability to effectively guide young students in the five essential elements of knowledge, concepts, skills, attitudes and actions that they need to be equipped for successful lives, both now and in the future.
International Baccalaureate World School students develop strong academic, social and emotional characteristics.
They are also more likely to perform well academically - often better than students in other programs.
It prepares students for the intellectual challenges of further education and focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and in the world outside.
Southpointe Academy is an independent, coeducational day school with a community of 530 students.
