School leader highlights Belvedere Elementary’s IB PYP exhibition as student capstone

A school leader at Belvedere Elementary said the school's International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme culminates in the PYP exhibition, a student-led capstone that showcases research and community action. "The exhibition stands out as what I am most proud of as a school leader, as it reflects the full realization of our students' growth as enquirers and change makers," the school leader said.

The speaker described the exhibition as rooted in a concept-based IB approach. Teachers arrange six units of inquiry that integrate subject areas to ensure coherence and depth; through sustained support, students are taught to "question, to wonder, and to explore ideas." By 5th grade, students "independently investigate topics of interest within a shared theme and take meaningful action based on their learning," the speaker said, emphasizing both research skills and follow-through on community-focused projects.

The presentation linked the exhibition to Goal 3 of the Fairfax County Public Schools strategic plan, which the speaker said centers on students acquiring critical and creative thinking skills and meeting high academic standards. The school leader said each exhibition group is supported by an adult mentor—either a Belvedere staff member, another FCPS staff member, or a community member—underscoring the exhibition as a collective school–community pursuit.

Teachers and staff framed the PYP exhibition as the culmination of K–5 learning: preschool through 5th-grade lessons build toward the skills used in the capstone. The speaker closed by stressing the program's broader aims: students growing "into compassionate leaders and active contributors to their communities" and the exhibition's role in highlighting that work.

No formal actions or votes were recorded during this presentation.