Evening meeting on Tuesday, November 1 from 6-7 p.m. in school library to allow for public input regarding proposed name change to reflect new IB designation

LAFAYETTE – Lafayette’s Alicia Sanchez Elementary School announced its formal authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme on May 19, 2011 beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. It is the desire of the Sanchez school community to change the school’s name to reflect its new status as an IB school. In compliance with district policy and regulation regarding changing the name of a district facility, Alicia Sanchez Elementary School Principal Doris Candelarie has announced that a public meeting to discuss a proposed change in name and to consider any other name change a community member might want to propose will take place from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the school’s library on Tuesday evening, November 1.

The school community is proposing the following name change:

From: Alicia Sanchez Elementary School
To:     Alicia Sanchez International Elementary School 

A BVSD facility name change is ultimately up to the seven elected members of the Boulder Valley Board of Education to approve.

With introduction of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme, Sanchez is the fourth IB World School in Boulder Valley School District. Fairview High School in Boulder began its IB programme in 1995, Whittier International Elementary School in Boulder received its IB authorization in 2002, and Centaurus High School in Lafayette became an IB World School in 2006.

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Background Information about the International Baccalaureate Programme
Recognized as the leader in international education, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme fosters the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable students to excel in university. The IB works with universities in nearly 140 countries to promote broader recognition of the Diploma Programme for the 120,000 Diploma Programme graduates entering university each year. Through the IB Diploma Programme, students gain rigorous and balanced academic preparation, an ability to draw on knowledge and understanding of various cultures and histories, and the experience of learning how to think critically and apply what they have learned in different contexts and across disciplines.

The Primary Years Programme (PYP) for students aged 3 to 12 started in 1997 and is now offered by 797 IB World Schools. It is a challenging programme that demands the best from both motivated students and teachers. Schools can access an extensive package of IB professional development for teachers and administrators and commit to ongoing professional development. Teams from the organization visit IB World Schools from time to time in order to support an ongoing process of review and development, using standards and practices that apply to all IB World Schools.  www.ibo.org