How do I get involved?

Check out the Volunteer page and find an area that interests you. If you have an idea of something new that you want to lead, reach out to info@swigertpta.org.

What is the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and why is it at Swigert?

International Baccalaureate (IB)
IB is a non-profit educational foundation founded in 1968. The IB program is now in more than 4,000 schools and aims to help students develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn, and work in a rapidly globalizing world. The Primary Years IB Program, or PYP, focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer.

The IB mission statement:
“The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through Intercultural understanding and respect. To this end, the IBO works with schools, governments, and International organizations to develop challenging programs of International education and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.”

How does  IB program play out at Swigert?

IB is an approach to the existing curriculum that is inquiry based and student-centric. This allows lessons to be devised around a child’s curiosities. Children learn how to ask questions and answer them well, and take ownership over their own learning.

The IB Primary Years Program (PYP)

• Focuses on content made relevant to students

• Builds on student interest around universal big ideas

• Is conceptually based

• Emphasizes learning through inquiry

• Helps students construct knowledge

• Addresses the whole child

• Involves students in planning for and assessing their own learning

• Is globally relevant

The IB PYP believes that the most effective way for students to learn content-specific knowledge is by making connections to big ideas and concepts that are relevant throughout the disciplines. This is called conceptually based, transdisciplinary learning.

The IB PYP takes a thematic approach to learning, integrating multiple subjects. Units are framed around one of the six themes:

1. Who we are

2. How we express ourselves

3. Where we are in place and time

4. How the world works

5. Sharing the planet

6. How we organize ourselves.

The IB PYP incorporates a learner profile–ten traits that define the IB learner. Students are encouraged to embrace these characteristics and will periodically evaluate themselves on their learner profile.

• Inquirers

• Knowledgeable

• Thinkers

• Communicators

• Reflective

• Principled

• Open-minded

• Caring

• Academic risk-takers

• Balanced

Swigert has an IB facilitator on staff that helps organize the lessons in accordance with the IB philosophy and themes,  ensures the program is being implemented properly, and ensures cohesiveness and consistency across classes and grades.

Why does the PTA have to raise so much money?

The IB program at Swigert is an amazing resource which helps foster our students growth as knowledgeable, inquisitive and compassionate world citizens. In order to run IB at a school, we have to fund an IB coordinator, a foreign language program, and supplement funds to keep our teachers IB trained. This comes at a cost of more than $100,000 each year. In addition to this cost, which is not covered by the Denver Public Schools, the PTA supports hiring additional paraprofessionals to ensure that all students receive the attention they need every day.

What is your Tax ID?

90-0590510