Jan. 12, 2021 – Huppertz Elementary School in San Antonio ISD has earned the designation as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for the Primary Years Programme. An IB education is acclaimed worldwide because its active and engaging framework prepares students for college and primes them to excel as lifelong learners for a global society.
“As an official IB World School, Huppertz Elementary students will continue to demonstrate ownership of their learning,” said Principal Linda Rios-Garcia.
“IB engaged us in our learning with new strategies,” said Katie, a fourth grader.
“I’ve learned how to share my ideas. After IB, I was able to talk more and say more and work more with groups,” said Jasmine, another fourth grader. “I’m getting into more groups and I’m really liking that.”
Just as the school is celebrating this academic milestone in its pursuit of providing a mentally challenging and rewarding learning experience for both students and teachers, the campus also is anticipating this week’s launch of an equally physically challenging play space – a Ninja-style playground – funded through a Texas Education Agency grant.
“The new Huppertz playground is a vibrant obstacle course for students in grades 3-5, with specific equipment selected by our former Ironman coach,” Rios-Garcia said of her school’s new colorful, custom playground, unlike any other in the district. “When students are involved in unstructured play, they actively engage in authentic conversations during which they build upon their oral language skills, listen with purpose, acquire new vocabulary, think creatively, and problem solve on their own terms. I can hardly wait to see the students’ reactions when they are able to use this playground!”
The TEA grant also was used to buy new flexible classroom seating, PE equipment, classroom supplies, cafeteria furniture, and an array of technology such as computers, iPads, webcams, Smartboards and a sound system.
“Huppertz has been transformed into an updated learning environment where students are the core of all learning experiences,” said Rios-Garcia.
Like each of SAISD’s schools following the IB framework, Huppertz is open to any student in Bexar County through an application process. Applications for Fall 2021 are open through Jan. 29, 2021.
Huppertz is the seventh campus in the district authorized to operate as an IB World School. Its students feed into IB World Schools Longfellow Middle School and Jefferson High School.
SAISD hosts the largest number of IB and IB-candidate schools throughout Bexar County – totaling nine IB campuses. In addition, SAISD is the only school district in the county to offer an IB education at the elementary, middle and high school levels. It offers the full IB continuum – Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes – in two SAISD high school feeder patterns.
Six campuses are in the Jefferson High School feeder, including IB World Schools Jefferson High School, Longfellow Middle School, Woodlawn Academy and now Huppertz Elementary, as well as IB-candidate schools Fenwick Academy and Woodlawn Hills Elementary. Three campuses are in the Burbank High School feeder, including IB World Schools Burbank High School, Harris Middle School and Briscoe Elementary School.
For more information on the International Baccalaureate program in SAISD and a link to the application process, visit https://www.saisd.net/ib.