Childs Elementary School is a fully authorized International Baccalaureate World School offering the Primary Years Program (PYP). The PYP is an inquiry-based educational framework that seeks to develop the whole child. The IB Learner Profile seeks to develop students into individuals who are inquirers, thinkers, communicators, risk-takers, knowledgeable, principled, caring, open-minded, balanced and reflective. The goal of PYP and all IB programmes, according to the International Baccalaureate Organization, is to “develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet help to create a better and more peaceful world.”Students may participate in many programs outside of school at Childs, such as Chess Club, Garden Club, Running Club, Coding Club, and the MCCSC Strings and Band program for fifth and sixth grade. In addition, all students from kindergarten through sixth grade receive weekly Spanish instruction.

Indiana University Biology Outreach supports our structures of life science units in kindergarten and 3rd grade. They have been involved with our garden area and outdoor education opportunities for our students. Our 5th-grade classrooms work on their social studies and civics standards with law students from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Their culminating experience is a mock trial at the IU Maurer School of Law. Our 6th-grade classrooms work with instructors in the Instructional Systems Technology Department at IU School of Education. Students are using Scratch to design and develop their own apps to combat cyberbullying/bullying in school. Childs received a grant from Crane Naval Base for STEM materials. These materials continue to have a positive impact on our students’ hands-on learning experiences in the classroom.