IB Night: a Bridge Between School and Families

This year again, our school hosted IB Night, a special event that opened the doors of our classrooms to parents and invited them to experience firsthand what their children live every day. It was not just a presentation, but a true immersion into the philosophy and practices of the International Baccalaureate (IB), the educational framework our school has chosen to adopt.

As our Head of School Alessandra Chiovati, underlined:

“Moments like the IB Night are valuable opportunities for families to experience firsthand the philosophy and practices of the International Baccalaureate. By taking part in workshops and activities, parents can better understand not only what their children are learning, but also how they are learning (through inquiry, collaboration, and critical thinking). These encounters create a solid bridge between school and home.”

Why the IB?

The International Baccalaureate is a globally recognized educational framework that not only provides students with strong academic knowledge, but also develops critical thinking, independence, and intercultural awareness. The IB prepares students to become global citizens, ready to face a complex future with curiosity, responsibility, and confidence. This is precisely why our school has embraced it: an education that looks to the future and forms young people who are independent, lifelong learners, and responsible contributors to society.

A Rich Program of Activities

During IB Night, parents were not just observers: they took part in actual Mock Lessons, directly experiencing the methods and strategies used by our teachers. The goal was to show not only what students learn, but above all how they learn.

Here are some of the activities that animated the evening:

For the PYP (Primary Years Programme):

• Phonics: interactive activities that demonstrated how children learn to read and write in English.
• Robotics: building and programming a mini-robot, to introduce younger learners to computational thinking.
• Inquiry-based Italian Grammar: Italian grammar approached through inquiry.
• Number Talks: an innovative way of doing math, based on dialogue and strategy sharing.
• Action in the PYP: practical experiences that turned learning into meaningful action.

For the MYP/DP (Middle Years Programme / Diploma Programme):

• What are maths assessment criteria?: an exploration of how mathematical achievement is assessed.
• Music: musical activities highlighting the connection between creativity and learning.
• Sciences: scientific workshops based on inquiry and experimentation.
• AI for Inclusion: a discussion on how artificial intelligence can promote inclusion and accessibility.
• Service as Action (pending confirmation): experiences of active citizenship, at the core of the IB journey.
• University Guidance Counselling: IB and University: a dedicated session on university pathways and the value of the IB diploma in higher education.

A Shared Experience

The essence of IB Night lay in the active involvement of parents, invited to sit in the students’ place and live their school experience. Through workshops, simulated lessons, and hands-on activities, families were able to understand the key principles of the IB approach: inquiry, collaboration, and critical thinking.

This exchange created a genuine dialogue between school and families, reinforcing that educational bridge which allows our students to grow in a coherent and stimulating environment.

As Francesco Pettinato, MYP Coordinator, highlighted in his reflection:

“The third IB Night was once again a meaningful experience in which parents participated with great enthusiasm, living our educational approach firsthand. It was an opportunity to receive concrete answers and to better understand their children’s learning journey. I truly felt an atmosphere of trust that strengthens the bond between school and families, in a positive and collaborative spirit.”