IB Middle Years Program projects help students to develop the attributes of the IB learner profile; provide students with an essential opportunity to demonstrate approaches to learning (ATL) skills developed through the MYP; and foster the development of independent, lifelong learners.

At schools where the MYP ends in year 3 or 4, students must complete the community project. At Murchison Middle School, grade 8 is the equivalent of year 3 in the IB program. The community project focuses on community and service, encouraging students to explore their rights and responsibilities to implement service as action in the community. The community project may be completed individually or by groups of a maximum of three students. Students are expected to spend approximately 15 hours on their MYP community project. This time includes:

• meeting with supervisors (advisory teacher serving as supervisor, and/or IB Coordinator, serving as project coordinator)
• independent learning through research, planning, development and completion of the project
• reporting of the project

Most Tuesdays and Wednesdays of advisory are dedicated to making IB CSP progress. Murchison Middle School’s IB Coordinator, Megan Meyer, creates materials for advisory teachers to use in guiding students through the phases of the community service project. This includes checklists, how-to videos, slideshows with editable portions for students to complete, and a website with resources. A student guide is provided to all students upon project approval, which supports further information found on this website with resources for their project (please note that most areas are restricted by an AISD login).