Student Learning

Upper School Program

Upper School Program at MBIS

For students in grade 6 to 12

A supportive learning environment

The Upper School offers a rigorous yet supportive learning environment designed to prepare students for success in university and beyond. Through a balanced mix of curricular and co-curricular activities, we encourage the development of well-rounded individuals.

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Browse Our Upper School Curriculum

Grade 6

Grade 6 - Curriculum Overview

Language Arts

In the Writing about Reading unit, students will develop their ability to write about what they are reading. They will learn how to state clear opinions and to support these ideas with text evidence. Students will learn how to properly format their responses as they learn to think more deeply about characters and themes.

In the combined Reading and Writing Poetry unit, students will develop a deep understanding of the poetry genre as they study figurative language, elements of poetry, and learn how to write poems inspired by the mentor poems read throughout the unit.

In the Realistic Narrative Writing unit, students will learn about narrative writing and actively participate in the writing process. They will write realistic narratives that include key elements of narrative writing:

ideas, organization,
voice,
word choice,
sentence fluency and conventions.

In the Literary Analysis Essay unit, students will learn how to write a five-paragraph essay in which they craft a claim about a character from a short story. Students will learn how to introduce their claim, provide evidence to support their ideas, and provide analysis of why their points are important. Finally, students will learn how to write conclusions to support their opinion and analysis.

Mathematics

By the end of grade six, students have mastered the four arithmetic operations with whole numbers, positive fractions, positive decimals, and positive and negative integers; they accurately compute and solve problems. They apply their knowledge to statistics and probability. Students understand the concepts of mean, median, and mode of data sets and how to calculate the range. They analyze data and sampling processes for possible bias and misleading conclusions; they use addition and multiplication of fractions routinely to calculate the probabilities for compound events. Students conceptually understand and work with ratios and proportions; they compute percentages (e.g., tax, tips, interest). Students know about pi and the formulas for the circumference and area of a circle. They use letters for numbers in formulas involving geometric shapes and in ratios to represent an unknown part of an expression. They solve one-step linear equations.

Science

The science curriculum in grade six emphasizes the study of earth sciences. Students at this age are increasing their awareness of the environment and are ready to learn more. The standards in grade six present many of the foundations of geology and geophysics, including plate tectonics and earth structure, topography, and energy. The material is linked to resource management and ecology, building on what students have learned in previous grades. Unless students take a high school earth science class, what they learn in grade six will be their foundation for earth science literacy.

Social Studies

Students in grade six expand their understanding of history by studying the people and events that ushered in the dawn of the major Western and non-Western ancient civilizations. Geography is of special significance in the development of the human story. Continued emphasis is placed on the everyday lives, problems, and accomplishments of people, their role in developing social, economic, and political structures, as well as in establishing and spreading ideas that helped transform the world forever. Students develop higher levels of critical thinking by considering why civilizations developed where and when they did, why they became dominant, and why they declined. Students analyze the interactions among the various cultures, emphasizing their enduring contributions and the link, despite time, between the contemporary and ancient worlds.

Advanced/Intermediate Japanese

Advanced Japanese focuses on learning the Japanese language within the context of the content areas of science, Japanese social studies, and Japanese literature. During the first semester of the Grade 6 course, students will learn the ancient ways of living in Japan from BC (Jomon period) to 2AC (Yayoi period), beginning the goal of students understanding how life styles change through time and comparing lifestyles of the past with those present in modern Japan. Students will also gain general knowledge and understanding of scientific experiments in Japanese. During the second semester, the focus will change to creating five paragraph essays using appropriate vocabulary, form, and style. Students will read non-fictional stories about The Great Hanshin Earthquake while sharing their opinions during class discussions. They also work on typing their essay using computers and learn how to proof-read and revise their drafts. By the end of the course, students will have developed greater ability organizing and expressing their thoughts, in writing and verbally, using the appropriate Japanese, in the content areas mentioned. Students will also work extensively in improving their Kanji ability, learning about 100-150 more Kanji during the year, depending on their current level.

Physical Education And Health

The physical education program in grade six provides the opportunity to expand a student’s performance and understanding of fundamental movement and motor skills to more specialized movement and motor skills used in a variety of content areas. In sixth grade, students are involved in cooperative games that use rules, skills, and offensive strategies. The skills students learn in grade 6 will be able to be transferred to competitive game situations. Students will also engage in lessons about grade level health and safety.

Students continue to explore the 3 content areas of health: Injury Prevention and Safety, Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs, Mental Emotional and Social Health. Students focus on what they can do to promote good health and their personal well-being. They will learn to make informed decisions, modify behaviors and change social conditions in ways that are health enhancing and increase health literacy. Students will learn to explain methods to reduce conflict, harassment, and violence, explain short- and long-term effects of alcohol, tobacco, inhalant, and other drug use, including social, legal, and economic and describe the importance of setting personal boundaries for privacy, safety, and expressions of emotions and opinions.

Visual Arts

The Upper School Visual Art program engages students in making art, viewing and discussing art, learning about contexts in which art has been created, and pondering fundamental questions about art. Emphasis is placed on familiarizing students with a wide variety of studio materials, processes and a high level of fine motor dexterity. Through a variety of art activities students learn the fundamentals elements and principles of design such as line, texture, color, value, and balance. Students explore the art of many cultures and artistic styles throughout history.

Intermediate Japanese

This course is designed for students with some previous learning of Japanese. Speaking, listening, reading and writing skills will be developed around the main themes of everyday activities and personal and social life. Students will learn to write informative passages about a familiar theme and read and write in Kanji. Students will participate in simple group discussions related to social and teenage life and share their thoughts in writing. The four language skills will be assessed through a variety of tasks using specific rubrics. Students will work extensively in improving their Kanji ability. Students will learn approximately 150-200 Kanji depending on their level.

Beginner Japanese

This course is designed to develop Japanese communication skills in all four language skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing. It also provides to integrate the acquired language and cultural knowledge to effectively communicate personal perspectives on familiar topics. In addition to acquiring Japanese language skills, students also learn about many traditional ceremonies and events that happen in the nation. By the end of this course, students will be able to read and write all the Hiragana, Katakana, and 110 (N5 level) Kanji.

Music

The 6th graders music class consists of beginning band. The basic elements are still a main focus including note and rhythm reading, simple musical forms, musical term definition, proper instrument maintenance, and breath control and support. Students select an instrument based on their class at the end of Grade 5 or the beginning of Grade 6. The classes are split into Woodwind (flute or clarinet) or Brass (trumpet or trombone) based on what students select. Instruments are expanded to include saxophone, percussion, or other brass instruments throughout the course of the year based upon the discretion of the teacher. There are instruments available through the school, but students are encouraged to purchase an instrument if possible. Rental agreements and fees apply to students who do not purchase their own instrument.

Religious Studies

Students will have the opportunity to think about choices in their personal deeds and daily life, as well as the standards and values of society that influence their choices. This course will help guide students to think critically and to evaluate their acceptance in building a good character. Topics such as Love, Care, Truthfulness and Charity/Compassion are the emphasis throughout the course. All of the topics will be discussed in relation to God, others and the environment. In this course the students also study people who have made great contributions to society, such as – Martin Luther King, Gandhi, Dalai Lama and Mother Theresa.

Library

In sixth grade, students continue to apply more complex search strategies for print and online resources. Sixth-grade students become more sophisticated and safer users of the Internet. Students demonstrate proper and responsible use of technology. Students analyze the evidence they have found to support a research question. Students in sixth grade can explain the authority, timeliness, and accuracy of specific information resources. They restate facts and details and organize those ideas for note taking. Students learn to accurately record citation information for each type of resource used. Sixth-grade students pursue information related to personal well-being. Students continue to read a wide variety of text, making progress toward the goal of reading one million words per year by grade eight.

Grade 7

Grade 7 - Curriculum Overview

English

The Grade Seven English course focuses on the core elements of reading comprehension, composition, grammar and mechanics, vocabulary development, and speaking. Students will read classic and contemporary selections with the goal of strengthening fluency, while providing an introduction to literary analysis and criticism. Students will write reflective, research, analysis, and comparison/contrast essays, understand literary elements such as theme and characterization, and gain an understanding of the writing process.

Mathematics

The first semester consists of order of operations, basic problem solving, decimals and scientific notation, units and conversions, basic statistics, prime numbers and fractional operations, the coordinate plane and solving equations and functions. The second semester extends into the topics of ratios and rates, slope and proportions, fractions, decimals, percentages, percentage increase and decrease, compound interest, angles, triangles, congruence and transformations, square roots and the Pythagorean Theorem, area, solid shapes and their surface areas and volumes and concludes with probability and tree diagrams.

Integrated Science 7

Integrated Science 7 is a course based on California’s Next Generation Science Standards. The course will be a combination of life and physical science concepts. In the first semester students will learn about the history of life on earth, evolution, and composition of matter. In second semester students will learn about chemical reactions, cells, the human body, genetics. They will become familiar with basic scientific equipment such as microscopes to assist in their explorations of life. Theory will also be covered in terms of geologic, anatomical, and physiological evidence, with biological principles being applied to structures and their functions. We will also explore environmental influences and how those have shaped organisms over time.

Health

In Grade 7 Health a range of different topics will be studied to help the student identify, develop and maintain positive personal health. By the end of Grade 7 Health students will demonstrate ways in which they can enhance and maintain their health and well-being, practice behaviors that reduce the risk of becoming involved in potentially dangerous situations and react to potentially dangerous situations in ways that help to protect their health. They will also be able to understand and demonstrate behaviors that prevent disease and speed recovery from illness as well as demonstrate how to play a positive, active role in promoting the health of their families. They will understand the variety of physical, mental, emotional, and social changes that occur throughout life.

Religion

This course, looking at Major Religious practices, is aimed at finding out what people believe, how they behave and what they think is important. It explores how different people search for and find meaning in their lives and how it is affected by their religious belief. Religious symbols, images and action; religious beliefs and worldviews about God; and different viewpoints on life after death are topics that will be covered by this course. In this course, students will not only learn about other people and their beliefs, they will also be asked to think about their own beliefs and opinions.

Geography

Throughout this course students will cover the essential elements of geography. The first quarter of the course begins with an introduction to mapping and other geography related skills. For the remainder of the course, students will conduct a geographic review of major world regions such as North America, Latin America, Europe, East and South-East Asia. Special emphasis will be given to environmental, political and economic conditions, as well as social and cultural characteristics of selected countries. This class will provide students with an understanding of how geography influences culture and history, preparing them for their next Social Studies class of American History.

Physical Education

It is the goal of the Physical Education program for students to learn the skills and rules necessary for the enjoyment of sports and to develop a positive attitude towards physical fitness and to encourage a personal awareness of the choices that will lead to a healthy lifestyle. The grade 7 Physical Education course includes the following activity modules: Team Building, Volleyball, Fitness, Fitness Testing, Touch Rugby, Game Skills, Soccer, Gymnastics, Track and Field and Striking and Fielding.

Advanced Japanese

This course is designed to provide students with a brief overview of various styles from different fields in Japanese writings. Students will learn the systematic view of Japanese society, its culture, history, and important knowledge and technical terms through newspaper articles, textbooks, stories, and research style reports. By the end of this course, students will be able to understand various Japanese writing styles, and also improve their ability to explain/express their thoughts using technical terms and more challenging words. Students will work extensively in improving their Kanji ability. Students will learn approximately 150-200 Kanji depending on their level.

Intermediate Japanese

Beginner Japanese

Studio Art

Students are provided with a supportive group environment in which students can grow in self-confidence, creative daring, and technical ability. The program develops an in-depth understanding of the foundations of the elements and principles of design. Students have experiences in drawing, painting, sculpture, textiles, collage, printmaking, and 3D design. Students will express their ideas by using art as a form of communication. As students work toward an appreciation and understanding of art they will relate visual arts to various historical and cultural traditions. Students learn to respect their own ideas and artistic expressions and those of others as they analyze and evaluate works of art.

Music

Concert Band: This is a performance-based course intended to further students’ music literacy skills through playing wind band or percussion instruments. Previous music experience is recommended but not required. During the course, students will continue to develop their instrumental skills, perform a wide variety of band repertoire, and learn historical and theoretical musical concepts. This class performs four major concerts during the year: at Food Fair, the Christmas Concert, the Spring Concert, and on Founder’s Day. Students also have the opportunity to learn and perform a solo at a festival.

Grade 8

Grade 8 - Curriculum Overview

English

This course uses the theme of “Challenges” to introduce students to more sophisticated levels of literature and analysis, while continuing to build on the basic skill sets developed in the previous course. Students will undertake weekly lessons in comprehension, essay writing, and vocabulary acquisition. Classic and contemporary works of literature are utilized and students are expected to engage in sustained critical discussion, responding to a wide variety of texts, including novels, short stories, poems, plays, and films. Students will begin to engage in extended projects and assignments.

Algebra 1

The first semester consists of order of expressions, problem solving, functions, real number operations including square roots, solving equations, ratios and proportions, percent problems, the coordinate plane and slope, graphing linear functions, writing linear functions, and finally scatter plots with lines of best fit. The second semester delves into the topics of inequalities, solving linear systems, exponents and exponential functions, polynomials and the quadratic function, solving quadratic equations, radical expressions and radical functions, the Pythagorean Theorem, distance and midpoint formulas and finally, probability and statistics.

Integrated Science 8

Integrated Science 8 is an NGSS-based science course exploring physical science and earth science. In the first semester, students will learn about the Earth-Moon system, the solar system, galaxies, light waves, and mechanical waves. They will experience a fair amount of cross-curriculum with mathematical concepts and skills as well. During semester two, students will learn about wave transfer, thermal energy, kinetic energy, and forces. There will be a greater proportion of lab work during this semester as students will work on their research skills, write investigative reports, work collaboratively, and design projects that emphasize critical-thinking and analytical skills. Mastery of the eighth grade science content will greatly enhance the ability of students to succeed in the high school science curriculum.

Government, Economics, Society, and Culture

The course starts with an overview of the organizing principles of simple to complex governments coming to focus on modern democracies and the role of a citizen within those systems. Following civics, students begin to examine foundational economics through the 3 basic economic questions and the role of markets and money. In the second semester, students explore the sociological and psychosocial circumstances underpinning social systems and structures and how they influence individuals and groups perceptions and reactions to the world in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, etc. From there, students investigate culture: how cultural attitudes, values, and beliefs influence the development of personal identity and behavior; the influence of different cultures or ethnic groups on each other within a society; and globalization and its impact on culture and society as a whole.

Physical Education

It is the goal of the Physical Education program for students to learn the skills and rules necessary for the enjoyment of sports and develop a positive attitude towards physical fitness, and to encourage a personal awareness of the choices that will lead to a healthy lifestyle. Students will achieve this goal through demonstrating the motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities. They will show knowledge of movement concepts, principles, and strategies that apply to the learning and performance of physical activities and also assess and maintain a level of physical fitness to improve health and performance. Some of the activities that students will experience include, Team building, Volleyball, Soccer, Fitness, Fitness Testing, Basketball, Badminton, Tchoukball, Ultimate Frisbee, and Track and Field.

Health

In Grade 8 Health Education a range of different topics will be studied in order to help the students identify, develop and maintain positive personal health. By the end of Grade 8 Health students will be able to understand and demonstrate how to promote positive health practices within the school and community, including how to cultivate positive relationships with their peers. Students will understand and accept individual differences in growth and development.

Religion

In this course students will learn about the beliefs of major religions. They will have the opportunity to ponder certain issues that are timely and relevant. Students will explore the meaning of prejudice, poverty, war and peace, evil and suffering and care for the environment in relation to their belief and faith. In addition to textbook-based learning there will also be discussion of and projects concerning the justice and morality of war, and social justice problems such as poverty, capital punishment, racial discrimination and others issues.

Film

In this class we will explore the world of the moving image and what it can tell us about the time we live in. Films are reflective of the time and people who make them. They can teach us a lot about not only the current time we live in but also societies and cultures of the past. As the class moves through the year we will learn about the techniques of filmmaking and how to make our own films. There are two reasons for this. The first is to help us become better film consumers and hopefully appreciate our time watching films/TV/Youtube even more. Secondly, in order to learn a new medium (way) in which to express ourselves and the ideas or beliefs we hold dear. This course will push you to develop many skills; these include creativity, logically thinking, time management and even team building. As we progress these skills will become easier to obtain and together we will learn how to balance them evenly. There will be true real world experiences in this class.

Studio Art

Music

Advanced Japanese

Intermediate Japanese

Beginner Japanese

Grade 9

Grade 9 - Curriculum Overview

World Literature & Composition 1

This course uses the theme of “Coming of Age” to explore literature and language learning. Focus areas include reading comprehension, literary analysis and appreciation, composition, grammar and mechanics, vocabulary, and speaking. Students read classic and contemporary selections from world literature, encompassing a wide range of time periods and diverse cultures. Literary terms, concepts, and active reading strategies are reinforced via various activities and assessments. Students will develop their compositional skills, in a variety of formats, including narrative, expository, and argument essays.

World Literature & Composition 1 (H)

The Honors course integrates literature and language at a sophisticated level, utilizing high-quality classics and contemporary selections. Students will read and respond to historically/culturally significant texts. Aesthetic and historical approaches to literature are utilized. Students are expected to craft well-developed essays in a range of formats, including narrative, expository, descriptive, and argumentation, and will deliver oral presentations that utilize classical forms, as well as incorporate modern, multi-modal technologies. This course is designed to provide a smooth transition to advanced courses in later grades.

Geometry

Topics covered in the first semester are measuring and classifying angles and plane shapes, statements and reasoning, parallel and perpendicular lines, triangles and congruence, triangles and bisectors, and properties of triangles and quadrilaterals. The second semester continues into plane transformations and vectors, ratios and triangle similarity, right triangles and the Pythagorean Theorem, Right Triangle Trigonometry, circle geometry, and finishes with surface area and volume of polyhedra.

Integrated Science 9

Integrated Science 9 is a course based on California’s Next Generation Science Standards. The course will be a combination of life, physical and earth scientific concepts. The course starts with students learning scientific inquiry skills. In the first semester students will learn about materials, types of chemical reactions, heat, sound and light, electromagnetic radiation, and electricity. The second semester will continue to focus on scientific inquiry skills, body coordination, disease, ecosystems, and plate tectonics. Emphasis is placed on the utilization of mathematical, analytical, data acquisition, scientific writing, and communication skills as well as interdisciplinary approaches to discovery. Concepts and skills are reinforced by a strong emphasis on hands-on laboratory experiences.

World History I

World History I is the first year of the two year-long World History class during which students study the history and culture of various societies during the Middle Ages. Areas of focus include Medieval Europe, ancient China and India, the Muslim World, societies of Mesoamerica and Andes, as well as Medieval African Empires. Following the completion of the first year of World History, students should have a basic understanding of the events, ideas and societies that helped shaped the pre-modern world. The sequence of the class is both historical, advancing through the years and geographic, advancing across the continents of the earth. A major goal of the course is to continue basic historical investigation skills, encourage critical thinking, draw conclusions from historical evidence and make inferences.

Physical Education

It is the goal of the Physical Education program for students to learn the skills and rules necessary for the enjoyment of sports and develop a positive attitude towards physical fitness, and to encourage a personal awareness of the choices that will lead to a healthy lifestyle. Students will demonstrate knowledge of and competency in motor skills, movement patterns, and strategies needed to perform a variety of physical activities. They will achieve a level of physical fitness for health and performance while demonstrating knowledge of fitness concepts, principles, and strategies. Some of the activities taught in Grade 9 Physical Education include Team Building, Volleyball, Fitness, Fitness Testing, Soccer, Badminton, Softball, and International Games.

Religion

The Grade 9 Religion course looks at major Religions’ teachings such as morality, norms and values This course is designed to enrich students’ interest and ultimately make a stand on modern day issues facing society on the whole relating to life, science and ethics in relation to their religion. Topic areas include understanding truth as presented in varied ways, scientific development like, but not limited to, In Vitro Fertilization, cloning, genetic engineering, abortion, euthanasia and capital punishment. A look at the different religious response to these issues will also be covered. This course’s intention is not to resolve those issues but to make available to students enough information to allow them to form an educated personal opinion about the issues.

Studio Art

Students will build upon prior art knowledge and experience developed through study at the elementary and middle school levels. Students will continue the study of materials, skills, and techniques of drawing and painting, printmaking and 3D design. Emphasis is on the exploration and development of individual expression, form, and content. Students will grow in their ability to describe, interpret, evaluate, analyze, and produce. They will continue to use a wide range of subject matter, symbols, art history content, and creative license in order to create unique works of art.

Design

In the MYP Design course, students will engage with the design process, blending both product and digital design to address real-world problems creatively and critically. Throughout the course, students will explore areas such as graphic and web design, textiles, architecture, and 3D design. By working on various projects, they will develop essential skills in research, analysis, problem-solving, and technical execution. The curriculum encourages students to think like designers, using the MYP design cycle to create innovative solutions while considering the needs of end users and the impact on their communities. This hands-on, inquiry-based approach aims to foster creativity, collaboration, and a deeper understanding of how design influences and shapes the world around us.

Music

Symphonic Band: This is a performance-based course intended to further students’ music literacy skills through playing wind band instruments. Previous music experience is recommended but not required. During the course, students will continue to develop their instrumental skills, play band repertoire, and learn historical and theoretical musical concepts. This class performs four major concerts during the year: at Food Fair, the Christmas Concert, the Spring Concert, and on Founder’s Day. Students also have the opportunity to learn and perform a solo at a festival.

Yearbook and Journalism

This course helps produce The Maroon and Gold, the MBIS yearbook, as well as a student newsletter, the Marist Gazette. In this course, students will gain skills in the following areas: page design, publishing techniques, copywriting, editing, photography, record keeping, time management, teamwork, and leadership skills. Students are tasked with producing a timeless, creative, and innovative publications which will record our school’s community, memories, and events.

Advanced Japanese

Intermediate Japanese

Beginner Japanese

Grade 10

Grade 10 - Curriculum Overview

World Literature & Composition 2

This course uses the theme of “Culture” to explore language and literature. Course texts encompass a wide range of time periods and diverse cultures. Students will appreciate individual cultures, while gaining holistic insights into humanity. Students will read and respond to complex and historically/culturally significant texts, developing their comprehension and critical understanding skills. While the course focuses on literature, each week class time is dedicated to increasing language skills. The course works towards developing students’ mastery in the core reading, writing, and speaking skills required for senior levels of work.

World Literature & Composition 2 (H)

The first half of this course focuses on culture and identity readings in order to analyze the complex relationship that exists between two abstract ideas. Course texts encompass a wide range of time periods, multiple genres, and diverse cultures. Students will appreciate individual cultures, while gaining holistic insights into humanity. We will read and respond to complex and historically/culturally significant works of literature, developing their comprehension and critical understanding skills. Additionally, students are expected to move beyond simplistic and formulaic styles of writing, and incorporate increasingly rich techniques, abstract thinking and diction. The Honors course serves as a foundation for the rigorous (college-level) Language and Literature HL course. Students will be introduced to increasingly sophisticated texts, concepts, and terms, including an introduction to classical and contemporary rhetoric.

ALgebra II

Algebra II expands on the mathematical content of Algebra 1 and Geometry and serves as preparation for the IBDP Math SL and Math HL courses. The first semester includes topics covering equations, inequalities, absolute values and absolute value functions, linear equations and linear functions, scatter plots and lines of best fit, linear systems, vectors, quadratic functions and factoring, discriminant, polynomials and polynomial functions. In the second semester, the course extends into radical functions, exponential functions, logarithmic functions, rational functions, quadratic relations, conic sections, permutations and combinations, the Binomial Theorem, probability, statistics, sequences and series, trigonometry of right and non-right triangles, and concludes with trigonometric functions.

Integrated Science 10

Integrated Science 10 is a course based on California’s Next Generation Science Standards. The course will be a combination of life, physical and earth scientific concepts. The course starts with students learning scientific inquiry skills. In the first semester students will learn about DNA and genetics, geologic time, natural selection and evolution, and the periodic table The second semester will continue to focus on scientific inquiry skills, chemical reactions, global systems, the universe, and motion and energy. Emphasis is placed on the utilization of mathematical, analytical, data acquisition, scientific writing, and communication skills as well as interdisciplinary approaches to discovery. Concepts and skills are reinforced by a strong emphasis on hands-on laboratory experiences and projects.

World History II

World History II is the second and final year of World History. During this class students examine major turning points in the shaping of the world since since the start of the modern era. A major focus of the class is the growing interdependence of cultures and societies. Specific areas of study include, but are not limited the nationalism, imperialism and the Industrial Revolution; causes and effects of the two World Wars as well as several units of study during the interwar years. The course continues to encourage student’s critical thinking via the use of historical documents with an increased focus on analytical thought that is “recognizably adult.” Additionally, students work explicitly to advance skills needed for success in IB History.

Physical Education

It is the goal of the Physical Education program for students to learn the skills and rules necessary for the enjoyment of sports and develop a positive attitude towards physical fitness, and to encourage a personal awareness of the choices that will lead to a healthy lifestyle. Students will demonstrate knowledge of and competency in motor skills, movement patterns, and strategies needed to perform a variety of physical activities. They will achieve a level of physical fitness for health and performance while demonstrating knowledge of fitness concepts, principles, and strategies. Some of the activities taught in Grade 10 Physical Education include Team Building, Volleyball, Fitness, Fitness Testing, Dodgeball, Badminton, Soccer, Table Tennis and Softball.

Religion

Religious Education students study the main world religions ( Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, Judaism ) from different perspectives from grades 3 to 9. The grade 10 course explores Religions that the students would not have had much exposure to and which should be more engaging to them. These Religions include Jainism, Confucianism, Taoism, Zen Buddhism and Sinto. The students will also study the life of Marcellin Champagnat in this course as he is the founder of our school, so students should be familiar with him and his life.

Studio Art

Design

Music

Yearbook and Journalism

Advanced Japanese

Intermediate Japanese

Beginner Japanese

Technology Integration

Bring-your-own-device (BYOD)

Technology at MBIS is thoughtfully integrated to enhance learning rather than replace instruction. In the Upper School, a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) program is in place for students in Grade 10 and above, with Apple MacBooks being the most common choice, though other platforms are supported. Students in lower grades use school-based laptops, and the library provides access to desktop computers and digital resources.

Utilizing Technology

Teachers utilize Rubicon Atlas and ManageBac for curriculum planning, mapping, and student management, while PowerSchool provides students and parents with an accessible tool to monitor academic progress. For productivity and day-to-day collaboration, Google Suite software such as Gmail, Docs, Sites, and so on, is used extensively across classrooms.

Beyond the Classroom

The academic curriculum is enriched by a year-long athletics program split into three seasons, offering students the chance to compete against other international schools. These experiences develop not only physical fitness but also leadership, teamwork, and character.

Leadership opportunities extend beyond sports. Many students take on roles in one of our three student organizations, participate in the annual inter-school Model United Nations as delegates, and represent MBIS at Asia-Pacific general assemblies.