Hilton's Quest named International Baccalaureate Primary Years program school

Hilton's Quest named International
Baccalaureate Primary Years program school
Only second public elementary school in NYS to receive designation

Quest Elementary School in Hilton has achieved another milestone in its curriculum of inquiry-based learning. In July, the 400 pupil school was authorized to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program (PYP). Quest is only the second school in New York state to receive the designation and joins hundreds of other schools across the world to offer the interdisciplinary elementary-age program.

Quest Principal Lydia McCabe said Quest teachers and students worked for two years to develop planners which are the units of inquiry in the PYP curriculum.

"The curriculum brings in all parts of the world for the study of essential questions. There are a lot of student presentations and portfolios of student work," McCabe said in a press release. "Students make connections between different areas of the curriculum to make learning more meaningful. They understand the relevancy of language arts, math, science and social studies to their own lives by answering questions such as: who we are; how we express ourselves; how the world works; how we organize ourselves and sharing the planet. Students are encouraged to solve problems, become active learners and start learning to ask their own questions."

Karen Spillman, Quest's PYP coordinator, said the designation is about adding depth to the curriculum. "We are committed to student inquiry when it comes to the curriculum," she said. "The students are given instruction, do their homework and bring ideas back to the classroom. The aim is to have children that are thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, reflective and well-balanced."

The characteristics that are embedded into character education programs in other districts are a daily part of the curriculum at Quest, Spillman said. "Part of the focus of 'international' in the International Baccalaureate program is to help the students move toward being well-rounded adults," she said.

With the designation, this will be the school's first full year of implementation. They had previously been offering portions of an IB program but in September will offer six units. "One of the other important parts of the program is the community service portion. Students are encouraged to take action in the world around them," Spillman said. "Rather than steering students in the direction of community service projects, they are encouraged to ask 'what can I do to help' and structure their project around that thought."

The implementation of the program will be a smooth transition for students. "It will simply be more of what they're accustomed to," she said.

Multi-age school of choice
Quest Elementary has an enrollment of about 400 pupils in grades K-6. Founded in 1994, Quest Elementary students are grouped in four age-ranges: Kindergarten; Grades 1-2; Grades 3-4; and Grades 5-6 creating a multi-age environment where children work together and grow at a pace that is developmentally-appropriate within a structured learning community. The child stays with the same teacher at least two years; each teaching team is composed of two to four teachers establishing a consistency which means students are well-known and return to a familiar environment and routine each year, according to school officials.