The International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) aims to develop young people who are constantly seeking knowledge, who are knowledgeable, intelligent and environmentally conscious, and who understand and respect cultural differences and contribute to a better and more peaceful world. To this end, the ILO, together with schools, governments and international organisations, has developed and continuously updates curricula that are distinguished by high academic standards and credible assessment. The International Baccalaureate schools around the world working on these programmes encourage their learners to be active, caring, lifelong learners who recognise that those who think differently can be right.
Klaipėda Lyceum is the only gymnasium in Western Lithuania offering the International Baccalaureate programme. TB diplomas are recognised by universities all over the world, therefore, studying these programmes is a great way to prepare for studies at some of the world’s top universities.
Klaipėda Lyceum has brought together the best teachers who seek to continuously improve their pedagogical qualifications, focusing on the challenges facing the current school.
School teachers
From Grade 9 onwards, or subject to availability from Grade 10 onwards, learners can choose to follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) Preparatory Classes programme. Studies are conducted in English and Lithuanian. Teaching (learning) various subjects in English helps to improve English language skills. Learners study the philosophy of the International Baccalaureate programme, the learning methods and the reporting procedure. In the IB Preparatory Class, learners develop research activities and group work skills. Learners also learn to take responsibility and plan their time by being given long-term independent assignments. This prepares them for a multicultural environment and helps learn other foreign languages: French, German, Spanish, etc. Personality development and social skills are developed through the application of the core provisions and principles of IB’s extra-curricular activities (CAS).
The International Baccalaureate Programme (IB MYP) will be launched at the Klaipėda Lyceum from the academic year 2021-2022.
Teaching according to the programme is taught in Lithuanian-English, using a bilingual education methodology. Priority for this programme is given to learners who have completed bilingual education in primary school and Grade 5.
From Grade 5 onwards, learners can choose to follow a bilingual (Lithuanian-English) curriculum.
The bilingual curriculum expresses the ambition to teach both languages as a quality linguistic activity: to understand speakers and be adequately understood, and to read and write in both languages.
Learners attending bilingual education classes also learn a second foreign language (Russian, German, French, Spanish, etc.). Bilingual education will help learners prepare for the International Baccalaureate (IB MYP) programme from Grade 6 onwards.
How is the teaching organised?
Bilingual classrooms have more English lessons while other subjects are taught in the mother tongue, with English gradually being used increasingly more in the classroom. The teacher builds on the learner’s vocabulary, but gradually expands it: making up more complex phrases, reading texts with obscure but contextually understandable words, etc. The children use ‘parallel talk’, ‘feedback’ methods, extension, clarification, paraphrasing, etc.
How do we organise education?
The school opens at 7:30 and classes start at 8:00.
Before the first lesson, learners can attend tutorials in core subjects, advanced training classes, sports and arts activities, make homework, socialise with their peers, and engage in a variety of activities of interest.
Lessons are organised every day until 14:00-15:00 according to the timetable.
After school until 17:00 learners can do their homework, attend tutorial consultations, participate in advanced training sessions in various subjects, carry out scientific research, attend various academic, engineering, artistic, sports clubs, study, carry out educational projects, take part in school and extracurricular events, go on excursions, and engage in activities of interest to them.
The head of the class organises weekly class periods, and psychologists run SEU sessions in all classes.
Career development sessions are systematically organised in accordance with a career development plan, led by a career specialist.
Learners receive counselling from a psychologist, a social pedagogue and a career specialist.
Learners in each class attend cultural events together, take part in excursions to Lithuania and abroad.
Text creation lab;
From reader to reader;
LEGO robotics;
Advanced robotics;
Web page development. Travel geography;
Benvenuti Italian language group;
Youth theatre studio;
Contemporary dance group;
Singing studio;
Chess group;
Nature buddies;
Frisbee;
Badminton;
Football, etc.
Every year, the school elects a learner president and a senate made up of learner representatives from different grades. It is a creative, proactive team, actively involved in the organisation of education, representing the interests of the learners, and striving to make life more interesting and enjoyable for the learners.
Klaipėda Lyceum learners and teachers have been participating in international projects and exchange programmes for many years. Many countries have been visited – Austria, Italy, Germany, Finland, France, Spain, Turkey, Portugal, etc. The benefits of such projects are immense: Learners improve their foreign language skills, get to know the cultures of different countries, develop their creativity and social-emotional competences through a wide range of integrated art, engineering, social and sports activities, and educators actively adopt and bring the experience of the best European schools to Klaipėda Lyceum.
International learner exchange programmes help learn languages live, by getting to know the culture of the language environment. On the initiative of Klaipėda Lyceum managers and foreign language teachers, there are exchanges and cooperation between learners and teachers with the best science lyceum in southern Italy – Termini Imerese Nicolo Palmeri in Sicily, the renowned Lycee de Paris in France, the Lapenranta Lyceum in Finland, the English St. Edmunds Private College, Hallfield and King Edvards Private Schools.
Participating in international EU projects is a great opportunity to develop not only for learners, but also for teachers. An EU project such as Modernisation of the Teaching Process – a Vital Factor for a Modern European School gave the opportunity to improve the professional competences of as many as 18 teachers of various subjects working in grades 1-12 of Klaipėda Lyceum. Klaipėda Lyceum managers and teachers also carried out monitoring visits to the best schools in Europe. Whereas the training in European countries is conducted in English, the teachers of the Lyceum are also improving their English language skills along with methodological knowledge. This is particularly important for Klaipėda Lyceum teachers who, in addition to the state general education programme, also run the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, which is taught in English. All the teachers of Klaipėda Lyceum, who are ready to work in the IB programme, have participated in 31 professional development courses in different European countries, attended intensive English language training courses in Lithuania and abroad, and received certificates confirming their qualification to deliver the International Baccalaureate programme. In addition, almost all teachers participated in monitoring visits to foreign schools where the programme is successfully implemented, and learnt about the educational practices of schools running IB programmes. Teachers have gained experience in Finland, England, Denmark, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Poland, France, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, etc.
Cooperation with schools running the International Baccalaureate programme in Finland, France and England has been ongoing to date.
The school serves only fresh and varied food. We pay particular attention to product combination.
Children with allergies, intolerance to certain foods, or families with a different eating philosophy are offered a separate food plan.