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The SP Journal

Go beyond the everyday with the SP Journal, Seven Peaks School’s collection of stories, insights, and ideas from our community. Explore articles about learning, IB education, student experiences, school life, and what makes Seven Peaks unique.

Discover the people, ideas, and moments that inspire a lifelong love of learning.

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Discover Seven Peaks School’s intentional approach to middle school technology, balancing digital literacy and AI education with hands-on learning, collaboration, and human connection.
Technology with Intention: Finding the Right Balance in Middle School

Technology Use in Middle School at Seven Peaks School

Learn how Seven Peaks School in Bend, Oregon takes an intentional approach to technology use in middle school. Our IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) balances digital learning and digital literacy with hands-on learning, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, and meaningful human connection. Students use laptops and educational technology when they add value to learning, while teachers guide students in responsible technology use, online research, AI literacy, and digital citizenship. This thoughtful approach helps students develop the skills they need to navigate a technology-rich world without becoming dependent on screens.

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Sammy Lyke shares her global perspective with our students
Why Leadership Matters in an IB World School

What impact does a Primary Years Programme (PYP) Coordinator have in an IB World School?

At Seven Peaks School in Bend, Oregon, PYP Coordinator Samantha Lyke has helped strengthen inquiry-based learning, teacher collaboration, and global mindedness over the past four years. Drawing on her experience in international education, she has supported faculty in deepening their understanding of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme while fostering a culture where curiosity, critical thinking, and international mindedness prepare students to thrive in an interconnected world.

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Children learning through play outside
Prepared for What Comes Next

At Seven Peaks School, an independent IB World School in Bend, Oregon, we believe education is about more than preparing students for the next grade level. Through inquiry-based learning, meaningful relationships, and opportunities to build confidence and self-advocacy, students develop the skills they need to thrive in high school and beyond. Discover how our International Baccalaureate approach helps students become lifelong learners, compassionate leaders, and engaged community members prepared for what comes next.

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Our very own PYP Performing Arts Instructor shares his improv work with his students
Improv Takes the Stage!

Improvisation and International Mindedness in Spain

Over Spring Break, Seven Peaks School Performing Arts Teacher Clayton Pearce traveled to Valencia, Spain to attend Narrativa, an international improv festival focused on narrative longform improvisation. The experience brought together performers from around the world to collaborate, create, and perform original full-length stories in real time.

Throughout the festival, Mr. Pearce participated in workshops and performances led by internationally recognized improv artists while also soaking in the local culture of Valencia. From musical improv to collaborative storytelling, the experience strengthened both his creative practice and his sense of international mindedness.

“I had an absolute blast and am excited to share some of what I learned with my students in the near future,” Mr. Pearce shared.

Experiences like these reflect the spirit of lifelong learning and global connection that help shape the arts program at Seven Peaks School.

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Thinking Like Scientists: How the IB Pathway Prepares Students for High School Physics
Thinking Like Scientists: How the IB Pathway Prepares Students for High School Physics

Seven Peaks’ IB Middle Years Programme prepares students for 9th grade physics by building a strong foundation in conceptual understanding, mathematical reasoning, and scientific inquiry. Through a progression of hands-on learning and problem solving from grades 6–8, students develop the confidence and skills to think critically, apply equations with purpose, and succeed in advanced science courses.

Thank you to our MYP science teachers, Kori Donley and Rodney Kopish for their support in content creation.

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Learning Never Stops: A Year of Faculty Growth at Seven Peaks
Learning Never Stops: A Year of Faculty Growth at Seven Peaks

In the 2025–2026 school year, Seven Peaks School faculty participated in a wide range of professional development opportunities that strengthen teaching, leadership, and student support across the school. Educators attended national conferences, International Baccalaureate workshops, literacy training, and experiential learning programs both in the United States and internationally. From science and mathematics instruction to art education, crisis response, and inquiry-based learning, these experiences allow teachers to bring new ideas, strategies, and renewed energy back to their classrooms. This ongoing commitment to professional learning reflects the core values of an IB school, where reflection, collaboration, and growth are essential to providing students with a dynamic and thoughtful education.

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