GCCS Curriculum & School Model
We are an authorized International Baccalaureate World School, offering the prestigious Primary Years Program (PYP) tuition-free. By learning through inquiry and reflecting on their own learning, students develop knowledge, understanding, and attributes of the IB Learner profile to make a difference in their own lives, their communities, and beyond!
Major Features of the Primary Years Program:
PYP Model
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed to foster the development of the whole child and is globally recognized for its effectiveness and innovation.
The most significant and distinctive feature of the PYP are the six transdisciplinary themes that guide all units of study:
Who we are
Where we are in place and time
How we express ourselves
How the world works
How we organize ourselves
Sharing the planet
The IB Learner Profile
The Learner Profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. Global Community Charter School is committed to our students' development according to the IB Learner Profile.
PYP Learner Attributes
Project-Based Learning:
Our PYP curriculum is theme-based and provides a focus on learning experiences where students with diverse backgrounds and languages become inquiring, knowledgeable, and supportive of each other.
Highly-Trained Educators
GCCS invests in its teachers in order to provide a rigorous, high-quality education through professional development and coaching that improves pedagogy and leadership. We use multiple methods of assessment, including projects, portfolios, multimedia presentations, and state-mandated tests, to inform on-going instruction and measure progress toward learning goals.
2nd Grade Class during a lesson
Multi-lingual Environment:
GCCS provides Dual-Language (Spanish) instruction by a full-time Spanish teacher in Grades PreK-6th. We also provide guidance for English Language Learners. Home language is supported and sustained along with learning and improving in English language skills.
Spanish Lesson - Kindergarten
Educational Enhancement through the Arts:
The arts provide critical opportunities to learn for young children. GCCS students complement their classroom studies by learning various disciplines of visual arts, music and drama. Students learn about the arts (the skills and processes involved) and through the arts (artists, perspectives, themes and ideas using the arts).
Student Performance of The Whiz
Supporting the Whole Child through Social/Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs
Ruler Logo
What is RULER? It is an approach to Social & Emotional Learning that teaches the skills of emotional intelligence and includes everyone in the school community. Research shows that RULER reduces problematic behavior, promotes positive relationships, and improves academic achievement.
Want to learn more? Check out this link from Yale University’s Center for Emotional Intelligence, or come visit the school and see it in action!
FAMILY ENGAGEMENT
Families are crucial partners in this work and provide support and feedback to school leaders and teachers. Families are welcome to visit our classrooms and engage with us as much as possible. We host monthly Parent Advisory Team (PAT) meetings with agendas that range from school safety to healthy food policies. We build relationships that allow for the best for our children and prepare them for their next steps in life.
Get a glimpse of how we celebrate our Globally-minded community and engage with our families! An amazing video put together by Marsha Taylor, proud GCCS Parent.
Summer and AfterSchool Programming at GCCS
In addition to our school-day programming, GCCS offers afterschool and summer programs. Afterschool programming is intended to complement the school-day, with daily homework help and enrichment activities that build character, confidence and skills in programs that range from cooking, coding, art and dance. Our summer program launched in Summer 2017 to ensure our students had a fun and safe place to spend their summer, and to avoid the "summer slide" that many students experience.
