Bill Text: VA HJR1044 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commending Falls Church City Public Schools.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-02-24 - Bill text as passed House and Senate (HJ1044ER) [HJR1044 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2017-HJR1044-Introduced.html
WHEREAS, Falls Church City Public Schools became the first public school system in the Commonwealth to offer a comprehensive International Baccalaureate program for students in kindergarten through 12th grade; and
WHEREAS, International Baccalaureate (IB) programs provide students and teachers with a balanced framework to become inquisitive, respectful world citizens who are knowledgeable, principled, and open-minded leaders that are willing to step outside of their comfort zone to experience new ideas; and
WHEREAS, in 1981, George Mason High School in Falls Church became the first high school in Virginia to adopt the IB Diploma Programme, granting thousands of students the opportunity to receive a world-class education with internationally recognized syllabi and rigorous external assessments; and
WHEREAS, the IB program at George Mason High School requires study in six core competencies, the completion of an extended essay, completion of a Theory of Knowledge course, and participation in community service, and it helps students develop physically, intellectually, emotionally, and ethically; and
WHEREAS, in 2012, Falls Church City Public Schools implemented an IB Primary Years Programmes (PYP) at Mount Daniel Elementary School and Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, to give students between the ages of three and 12 a stronger foundation to become active, caring, lifelong learners; the programs include a collaborative PYP Exhibition, where students carry out in-depth studies of real-world issues; and
WHEREAS, Falls Church City Public Schools became the first school system in Virginia to offer an IB curriculum to all students with the addition of a Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School and George Mason High School in 2016; and
WHEREAS, the MYP fosters creative, reflective, and critical thinking skills and teaches students between the ages of 11 and 16 to develop the communication skills and intercultural understanding necessary to become global leaders; students complete an MYP Personal Project to assess their self-management, research abilities, and other skills; and
WHEREAS, the MYP completes the full IB program, building on the knowledge skills and attitudes developed in the PYP and preparing students to meet the academic challenges of the IB Diploma Programme; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Falls Church City Public Schools on becoming the first public school system in the Commonwealth to offer an International Baccalaureate program for students in all grade levels; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Robert Schiller, interim superintendent of Falls Church City Public Schools, as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for the school system's work to provide new opportunities for its students.
