Sanford Middle School

Sanford Middle’s MYP Journey

Sanford Middle School is proud to be a candidate school* for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) as we pursue authorization to become an official IB World School. IB World Schools are committed to delivering a high-quality, challenging, and international education that we believe is crucial for our students’ success.

Becoming an IB school is a natural fit for Sanford Middle, given our emphasis on global citizenship and STEM education. Our diverse student body and focus on personalized learning align perfectly with the IB's mission of nurturing students to be knowledgeable, reflective, and engaged members of the global community.

Our MYP journey reflects our commitment to preparing students for a rapidly changing world by providing an education that emphasizes academic rigor and real-world skills. The MYP program at SMS will:

• Prepare students for post-secondary pathways, whether college, career/workforce, or military, through a curriculum designed for grades 6-8.
• Integrate global awareness and perspectives, helping students relate their learning to real-world experiences.
• Infuse the IB Learner Profile, cultivating holistic attributes like being balanced, principled, communicators, inquirers, risk-takers, and open-minded individuals.
• Employ student-centered, inquiry-based instruction alongside collaborative and innovative teaching methods across eight subject groups.
• Offer challenging academic and extracurricular opportunities to develop essential skills such as communication, self-management, social interaction, research, and critical thinking.

*Note: Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer its academic programs. Candidate status does not guarantee authorization. For more information about the IB and its programs, visit [www.ibo.org](http://www.ibo.org).

MYP Integration 

Our curriculum at Sanford Middle School aligns with IB standards while emphasizing STEM education. We offer a comprehensive program that covers language and literature, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, arts, physical and health education, and design. Our goal is to spark curiosity, foster critical thinking, and encourage inquiry-based learning, helping students connect STEM with other disciplines for a well-rounded understanding of concepts.

We prioritize skills such as communication, collaboration and self-reflection, all while embedding STEM principles throughout the curriculum. By integrating IB and STEM practices, we prepare our students to become active, responsible global citizens and lifelong learners, ready to navigate a complex world.

Sanford Middle School is undergoing an authorization process, aligning our curriculum, teaching strategies, and assessment methods with IB standards. This ensures our ongoing commitment to high-quality, internationally-based education, setting our students up for future academic and personal success.

MYP at Sanford Middle and SCPS

The Middle Years Programme at Sanford Middle is a school-wide initiative accessible to all students. Through our course selection process, students can choose from advanced coursework and specialized electives that suit their interests and goals.

Eighth graders who complete their studies at Sanford Middle and apply during the designated period for the IB Diploma Program at Seminole High School or Winter Springs High School will have priority placement, based on their zoned high school.

Students zoned for Sanford Middle School are automatically eligible to attend and can take advantage of opportunities to select advanced coursework and explore electives, ensuring a rich, comprehensive education.

IB Learner Profile 

Sanford Middle is committed to embedding the IB Learner Profile in every part of our school community. We emphasize developing key traits such as being inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective. By nurturing these traits, we strive to create internationally minded students who are empowered to make a meaningful impact and contribute to making the world a better place.