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Shaping the Future: Why a Portrait of a Graduate Matters in Independent Schools
Shaping the Future: Why a Portrait of a Graduate Matters in Independent Schools

At Seven Peaks School, we’ve developed a clear and intentional Portrait of a Graduate—a vision of the values, skills, and mindsets our students carry with them long after graduation. Grounded in the IB framework and shaped by our community, this guiding document defines the outcomes that matter most: global awareness, reflective learning, courageous problem-solving, and confident communication. More than a mission statement, it’s a promise to families and a strategic framework for preparing students to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

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student sharing knowledge
Building Curious Thinkers: How to Spark Inquiry at Home This Summer

Summer is the perfect time to nurture your child’s natural curiosity. In this blog, Seven Peaks shares five simple ways families can spark inquiry-based learning at home—through open-ended questions, nature journaling, museum visits, family debates, and letting kids follow their interests. These everyday activities build key IB Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills and reinforce traits like thinker, communicator, and inquirer. With just a little intention, summer becomes a season of joyful discovery and lifelong learning.

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THE WONDER OF LETTING GO
THE WONDER OF LETTING GO

In this thoughtful reflection to the graduating class of 2025, the speaker draws inspiration from Hartmut Rosa’s book The Uncontrollability of the World, connecting its key ideas to the type of education students received at Seven Peaks. Rosa argues that modern society’s desire to control the world often leads to greater chaos and disconnection. The speaker reflects on how much of education and work centers around control, yet the most profound learning comes when we embrace the unpredictable, as experienced in the Costa Rica trip, technology-free friendships, and global cultural encounters. At Seven Peaks, students have been guided to develop their own voices and meet the world with curiosity and compassion rather than control—a perspective that aligns deeply with the school’s mission and the essence of the IB learner profile.

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IB Student Head of School at Seven Peaks School in Bend, Oregon showing leadership, global citizenship, and student agency
What Is the IB Learner Profile—And Why It Matters

Learner Profile Trait of the Month: Balanced

As we wrap up the school year and head into summer adventures, our June focus on the IB Learner Profile trait Balanced couldn’t be more timely. At Seven Peaks, being balanced means nurturing mind, body, and heart—and our students have been doing just that.

From the physical challenge and joy of PYP field trips and Wintermeister to the deep engagement of Middle Years students preparing for their WLS expeditions, our learners are growing in self-awareness and discovering how to manage time, energy, and emotions. This month also brings exciting events like the Children’s Museum of Colorado pop-up on campus, and heartfelt goodbyes to faculty who have modeled balance, care, and community.

Balanced learners are more than multitaskers—they are thoughtful humans, developing the ability to prioritize well-being, stay grounded, and move through the world with empathy and purpose. 

In this photo, 3rd grader Charlie Finter leads with confidence for his day as Head of School for the Day representing IB learner values (and getting a chance to sit in the HOS office!).

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Preschool with Purpose: How Pre-K at Seven Peaks Sparks Joy, Confidence, and Lifelong Learning
Preschool with Purpose: How Pre-K at Seven Peaks Sparks Joy, Confidence, and Lifelong Learning

As we wrap up a joyful school year, we are excited to share a glimpse into the vibrant experiences that await new preschool families at Seven Peaks. In our Pre-K program, children learn through play, explore big and small feelings, begin their Spanish language journey, and form lasting friendships.

One of our favorite traditions—the annual Pre-K bike race—brings the whole school together, and it’s quickly become a highlight for both students and parents. We love seeing our older MYP students cheer on the youngest riders. Their encouragement is just one example of how deeply our community supports one another.

At Seven Peaks, we see every day how children feel known, celebrated, and supported. It’s more than a school—it’s a place where a lifelong love of learning begins.

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4 Things New Families Can Look Forward to at Seven Peaks
4 Things New Families Can Look Forward to at Seven Peaks

As we close out another joyful, curiosity-filled year at Seven Peaks, we’re already looking ahead to the energy and excitement of what’s next. A new school year brings fresh faces, new ideas, and a continued commitment to the values that make our community so special.

At Seven Peaks, the start of each school year is much more than a return to routine—it’s a purposeful launch into curiosity, community, and growth...

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Thank you, Hope Royes: From Art Teacher to MYP Coordinator to Friend
Thank you, Hope Royes: From Art Teacher to MYP Coordinator to Friend

After nearly 19 years at Seven Peaks School, Hope Royes—beloved MYP Coordinator, Visual Arts teacher, and World Leadership School coordinator—is setting off on new adventures. Her lasting impact is felt in every Art Show, interdisciplinary project, and creative risk taken. Hope’s leadership helped shape the heart of the Middle Years Programme and infused our campus with joy, color, and curiosity. This tribute honors her legacy of empowering students, supporting colleagues, and embodying the very best of what it means to be an IB educator.

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Why PK–8 Schools Create Confident, Compassionate Learners
Why PK–8 Schools Create Confident, Compassionate Learners

At Seven Peaks School, our PK–8 structure creates a unique and nurturing environment where students grow up connected—not just to their classmates, but to a larger community of learners. This continuum supports strong relationships between students and teachers, fosters leadership opportunities at every grade, and builds a culture where older students mentor younger ones through our “buddy” program. Whether it’s 6th graders reading Spanish stories to Kindergartners or shared campus traditions, these cross-grade experiences strengthen empathy, confidence, and community. Grounded in the International Baccalaureate (IB) framework, students also build critical Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills like collaboration, communication, and self-management. By the time they graduate from 8th grade, our students are not only academically prepared—they’re compassionate, reflective, and globally minded leaders.

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