Academics Overview

Soundview School is a fully authorized International Baccalaureate World School.

The International Baccalaureate provides a framework for education that encourages students to be active learners who ask questions, explore ideas, and construct their own understanding. The IB does not tell us what to teach. Instead, it guides how we teach. Soundview's program is designed and revised based on evolving educational research, practice, and the needs of our future world. We educate well-rounded, lifelong learners by progressively developing key skills at each stage of growth. First, we focus on building strong social and emotional skills, fostering self-awareness, empathy, and collaboration. As students progress, they develop essential learning skills such as critical thinking, communication, organization, and self-management, which prepare them for more independent and inquiry-driven learning. By middle school, students deepen their understanding of academic disciplines, honing subject-specific skills in mathematics, sciences, humanities, and the arts while applying interdisciplinary thinking to real-world contexts. Throughout all stages, the school nurtures intellectual curiosity, resilience, and a global perspective, ensuring students are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and mindset to thrive in high school and beyond.

Our world needs knowledgeable, compassionate,
and ethical citizens and leaders.

At Soundview, we work with our students and families to build a solid foundation for success. Every child is a leader, empowered to make a positive difference. The Soundview community values diversity and safety. We honor how children really learn by encouraging curiosity, risk-taking, creation, and reflection. We do all of this by implementing the International Baccalaureate framework.

A Soundview IB learning experience is designed to:

be relevant to children's current and future lives.

reflect the developmental stages of childhood and support students'curiosity.

teach students how to take ownership of their own learning.

The IB Learner Profile Traits

The ten traits are our foundation for nurturing emotional character, intellectual habits of mind, and international-mindedness. We introduce, practice, and coach these traits in every classroom, every day. These are the traits that we seek to develop in our students and ourselves.

  • Caring

    We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive dierence in the lives of others and in the world around us.

  • Open-Minded

    We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.

  • Principled

    We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.

  • Risk-takers

    We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.

  • Balanced

    We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives—intellectual, physical, and emotional—to achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.

  • Thinkers

    We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyse and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.

  • Inquirers

    We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.

  • Communicators

    We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate eectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.

  • Reflective

    We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.

  • Knowledgeable

    We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance. 

We introduce, practice, and coach these Ten Traits in every classroom, every day, to nurture emotional character, intellectual habits of mind, and international-mindedness. These are the Ten Traits that we seek to develop in our students and ourselves.

The Approaches to Learning

The IB Approaches to Learning are five key skill areas that help children become confident, independent learners in all areas of their life.

  • Thinking

    Critical and creative thinking and applying knowledge in new situations

  • Social

    Collaboration, teamwork, and the ability to interact effectively with others

  • Communication

    Speaking, listening, and expressing ideas clearly through words, pictures, and actions

  • Self-management

    Organization, time management, goal setting, and reflecting on one's own learning process

  • Research

    Gathering, evaluating, and synthesizing information from various sources

These skills help children become confident learners who can think for themselves, work well with others, and approach new challenges with curiosity and resilience.