White Rock Christian Academy is the FIRST North American Christian Continuum International Baccalaureate® (IB) World School. WRCA received authorization for PYP (Primary Years Programme) and MYP (Middle Years Programme) in 2018, and DP (Diploma Programme) in 2016.
An IB education is viewed as a university preparatory program. Involvement with IB provides students with the tools needed to succeed at university: preparedness, self-confidence, research skills and ability to manage time. More importantly, students develop a sense of the world around them and their responsibility in it and, as such, can contribute to class discussions and the community.
More than 1,000 universities in North America have recognition policies on how they weigh a Diploma Program (DP) graduate in admissions. Universities not only grant first year credit for Diploma courses, but also offer important benefits such as early registration, placement in dormitories and entrance scholarships. At WRCA, we believe well-educated students going through an IB education will be able to demonstrate Godly character while transforming their world for Christ.
CLICK HERE for some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about IB at WRCA.
The Learner Profile
The IB Learner Profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success.
They imply a commitment to help all members of the school community learn to respect themselves, others and the world around them.
Each of the IB’s programmes is committed to the development of students according to the IB learner profile.
The profile aims to develop learners who are:
We believe students need to be challenged, encouraged and supported in their learning. At WRCA, we offer all three IB programmes to all students as a comprehensive, inclusive educational model. As a Christian school, we also provide a biblical worldview as the foundation of learning with students participating in Biblical Studies classes, daily devotions, chapel and spiritual retreats.
The IB full continuum programme includes the Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students from Kindergarten to Grade 5 and the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for students from Grades 6 to 10. The Diploma programme (DP) is for students in Grade 11 and 12 and has been designed as a two-year venture to allow for adequate preparation and depth to be reached in all courses. Grades 11 and 12 blend into each other and allow students to work towards the diploma over two years.
CLICK HERE for some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about IB at WRCA.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the IB Programme.
We believe students need to be challenged, encouraged and supported in their learning. At WRCA, we will offer all three IB programmes to all students as a comprehensive, inclusive educational model.
David Michel
(SEE ALSO: JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN)
Our Junior Kindergarten program is offered for children turning 4 before December 31 of the year of enrollment.
This unique program has been developed within the IB framework. Our program will be the foundation for the Primary Years Program (PYP) as children begin their journey through IB, which emphasizes our core values by nurturing international mindedness in a trans-disciplinary curriculum. In addition to the IB curriculum, our teaching is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education, which is focused on inquiry-based project learning with an emphasis on exploration, as well as creativity and play. Students will develop strong social skills and emotional regulation through deep connections made with the family and school community.
(SEE ALSO: JUNIOR SCHOOL)
The (PYP) and (MYP) is a framework that resides above the BC Ministry of Education’s Curriculum. The teachers link the central ideas of the Programme of Inquiry to specific learning outcomes of the Ministry’s requirements. The inquiry-based approach to learning is driven by the questions that both teachers and students generate. Students are encouraged to ask deeper, more intellectual questions to further develop their thinking. With this approach, they become active, caring, lifelong learners who demonstrate respect for themselves and others and have the capacity to participate in the world around them.
Click here to view our Primary Years Programme of Inquiry Chart for 2022-2023 (PDF)
Note: WRCA was granted official Authorization for the IB Primary Years Programme in the Winter of 2018.
(SEE ALSO: SENIOR SCHOOL)
The MYP years help students make the transition through adolescence to become critical and reflective thinkers. This 5 year programme is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. The MYP includes core programs of (math, science, social studies and language arts), students in MYP are also required to take a course on design, a foreign language, physical education, and an elective (art, dance, music, drama, or media). Students who complete the MYP are well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Programme (DP)
Note: WRCA was granted official Authorization for the IB Primary Years Programme in the Summer of 2018.
(SEE ALSO: SENIOR SCHOOL)
(SEE ALSO: PATHWAYS TO GRADUATION)
Students in Grade 11-12 can pursue the IB Diploma Program (DP), or follow a BC Graduation Diploma path (Mainstream+ or Application+). By offering these pathways to graduation, students will be able to fulfil post-secondary aspirations and career goals while receiving a quality, Christian IB Education at WRCA.
The Diploma Programme (DP) is balanced with a combination of six academic subjects and the experiential learning of Creativity, Action and Service component (CAS), the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course and the Extended Essay (EE). Among the academic subjects, students must take a selection of three Higher Level (HL) and three Standard Level (SL) courses. – The (HL) courses for depth and the (SL) course for breadth. Students and teachers work together to build connections between their academic subjects and look at them with an interdisciplinary mindset. The result is a holistic approach to education.
CLICK HERE for more information on Pathways to Graduation.
Note: WRCA was granted authorization for the IB Diploma Programme in the Spring of 2016.
The International Baccalaureate® (IB) learner profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. Each of the IB’s programmes is committed to the development of students according to the IB learner profile.
The IB learner profile represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools. As IB learners at WRCA our students will strive to be: Inquirers, Knowledgeable, Thinkers, Communicators, Courageous, Principled, Open Minded, Caring, Balanced, Reflective.
CLICK HERE for some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about IB at WRCA.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the IB Programme.
