Power & Responsibility

Contents Information for Westwood Students/Parents IB mission statement Learner profile Program Overview IB Assessment Why do IB? Unique for IB at westwood What to Expect in the Grade 11 year What to Expect in the Grade 12 year University information Common questions Student comments

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Available from each student’s page

Edmodo

Online networking site for students/teachers• Easily connects students with each other in the class and their

teachers• Monitored by the teacher• Posts are only seen by members of the group

Resources posted Calendar shows important dates/deadlines ‘Backpack’ feature allows students to transfer files easily

between school and home without a memory stick iphone / Android apps available

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IB Mission

IB Learner Profile

PYP MYP Diploma

. . . develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect

A long-term vision of education, a set of ideals that can inspire, motivate and focus the work of schools and teachers, uniting them in a common purpose

IB Programme Standards and Practicesset of criteria for measuring progress in implementation in the program

IB Continuum of Learning

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Philosophy: What is the IB philosophy?

“Through high quality education we create a better world.”

Idealistic, peace promoting Culturally aware Quality, standards University recognition & challenge

“International and Baccalaureate complementing opposites that make the IB.”

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Programmes : What is the Learner Profile?It’s the IB mission statement translated into a set of learning outcomes for the 21st century.

IB programmes promote the education of the whole person, emphasizing intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth.

IB learners strive to be:

Inquirers

Knowledgeable

Thinkers

Communicators

Principled

Open-minded

Caring

Risk-takers

Balanced

Reflective

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What is the Diploma Programme? The curriculum contains six subject groups and a core of three parts.

• Six subjects at higher level (240 hours each) and standard level(150 hours each).

• Extended Essay – Paper of Original Research, 4,000 words

• Theory of Knowledge – A course on critical thinking that encourages students to make connections across disciplines

• Creativity Action Service (CAS) – Includes 150 hours of community service

Students study concurrently:

Students gain an understanding of connections across the curriculum… They realize that a topic like immigration is relevant even for math class.

They see how each area connects to create the world in which we live. --IB Teacher

Group 1: Language A1 English

Group 2: French Language B / ab initio Spanish

Promotes an understanding of other cultures through the study of languages and to develop communicative competence.

French Language B (SL) is intended for students who have had some previous experience of learning the language.

Focusing on language acquisition and usage, from the comparatively elementary, practical usage at ab initio level, to the sophisticated usage of the near-native (or bilingual) speaker studying a language.

Major assignments Grade 11 and 12:

Oral and Written Exams

Group 3: Individuals and Societies (European History (peacemaking) HL)

To develop an appreciation of the way in which learning is relevant to both the culture in which a student lives and the culture of other societies

To enable students to recognize that human attitudes and actions share common features as well as being diverse, and to understand that a study of society requires an appreciation of both these similarities and differences.

Major Assignments in Grade 11: Historical Investigations

Grade 12: Mock Exams/Papers

Group 4: Experimental Sciences (Biology HL, Chemistry SL)

To provide opportunities for scientific study within global contexts that will stimulate and challenge students

To enable students to apply and use a body of knowledge including methods and techniques that characterize science and technology

To raise awareness of the moral, ethical, social, economic and environmental implications of using science and technology

To develop an appreciation of the possibilities and limitations associated with science and scientists.

Major AssignmentsGrade 11: Group 4 LabLab introductionsGrade 12: Two major lab reports

Group 5: Mathematics and Computer Science (Math Methods SL)

To appreciate the international dimensions of mathematics and the multiplicity of its cultural and historical perspectives.

To employ and refine the powers of abstraction and generalization.

To gain an enhanced awareness of, and utilize the potential of, technological developments in a variety of mathematical contexts.

Major Assignments: Portfolio Projects, 3 labs per year. * all Grade 12 tests will be on last Friday of each month

Group 6: The Arts (Visual Arts, Theatre Arts)

To develop an understanding of the technical, creative, expressive and communicative aspects of the arts.

To acquire artistic knowledge through experiential means as well as more traditional academic methods.

Contents: What does the Diploma Programme curriculum contain?

There are three core requirements

The extended essay: Maximum 4,000 words Offers the opportunity to

investigate a research question of individual interest

Familiarizes students with the independent research and writing skills expected at university

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Contents: What does the Diploma Programme curriculum contain?

Theory of knowledge

(TOK): Explores the nature of knowledge across curricula. Encourages an appreciation of other cultural

perspectives and attitudes

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Contents: What does the Diploma Programme curriculum contain?

Creativity, action and

service (CAS): Encourages students to

be involved in artistic and creative pursuits, sports and community service

Education outside the classroom

Development of the whole student (Grade 11-12)

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Musha, Rwanda Nursery School CAS project

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IB DP Assessment

• Varied assessment tasks over the length of the course

• Balance of tasks that are independent and supervised

• Each subject has 3 or 4 components, with no component worth less than 20% or more than 50%

• Assessment is a combination of Internal assessments that are given by the teachers and external assessments given by the IB

Example: English A1

2 unsupervised papers (1 analytical, 1 comparative)

2 oral examinations (1 prepared, 1 extemporaneous)

2 timed written exams (1 based upon works read, 1 based upon unseen passage)

Assessment Types

• Oral• Multiple choice • Short answer• Portfolio• Essay• Exhibition• Performance• Independent research

Designed to develop higher order cognitive skills, synthesis/analytical thinking and intellectual initiative

Focus on students’ analytical skills, ability to integrate their learning, creativity, ability to work collaboratively, and written and oral expression skills

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IB Assessment and Scoring

Exams are scored and moderated multiple times to insure accuracy and monitor work of examiners.

All 4,000 examiners are ‘quality checked’ through a process of moderation.

Exams are remarked if there are unexpected deviations.

Why IB? They are prepared to accept educational challenges.

   They have self-confidence with university level material.

   They have developed the capacity for independent research and study.

   They have cultivated sound thinking and communication skills.

   They have engaged in extracurricular activities alongside academic studies.

   They have thought in global terms and have a cultural sensitivity and international orientation.

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Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Director of Admissions: “Send us prepared students a la IB … it is the best high school prep curriculum an American school can offer.”

Princeton University, Director of Undergraduate Admissions: “The IB is a first rate program, one we are familiar with, and it prepares students well for a university like ours.”

Harvard University, Assistant Dean of Admissions: “IB is well known to us as excellent preparation. Success in an IB Program correlates well with success at Harvard. We are pleased to see the credentials of the IB Diploma Program on the transcript.”

University of Alberta: “…IB students exhibit evidence of determination, tenacity, motivation, and all these qualities are very valued by all of us as we do our selection for admission.”

McGill University:“…recognizes the strength of the IB Diploma in its admission process…most IB Diploma holders have been granted a full year of academic credit for their work on IB.”

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What is Unique to IB at Westwood?

Option of two languages to complete the diploma program

4 different higher level courses offered IB teachers meeting on a once-a-week basis Student Calendars Edmodo accounts Access to up-to-date information related to the

program on the website Unique opportunities related to their courses outside

of the school.

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The Grade 11 year (1st year of IB program) Students are continuing with the regular Manitoba program,

but enriched with pre-calculus math and French or Spanish (for the full diploma students).

Registering for IB courses in grade 11 is not a commitment to doing the full IB (diploma) program!

Students and their parents can decide on full or partial IB as the grade 11 year goes on.

November 15th is the deadline for IB registration (French) Course credit will be rewarded for a course completed but

the exam may or may not be written.

Course Selection Grade 11 – IB StreamCompulsory Credit 

English 30IB 1.0 

French 32IB 1.0

French 42IB/Spanish (gr.11 & 12) 1.0 

  Mathematics 40IB 1.0 

Healthy Lifestyles 30F 1.0 

History 40IB 1.0

Biology 32IB 1.0

Theory of Knowledge 0.5

CAS approx 75 hours

Add one ofChemistry 32IB 1.0 or

Visual Arts 32IB 1.0 or

Theatre Arts 32IB 1.0

Option 1 1.0

Graduate Year of the IB Program

Final registration will be November 15 Final assessments will be given to the students and

completed by the end of April May exam schedule is available to all students Students will chose the universities that will receive

their IB marks (April-May) EVENING OF CELEBRATION (TOK, Extended

essay, Group 4 projects)

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University Information:

Students receive “school grade” and an “IB grade” for the same course

Many colleges and universities are granting advanced standings for IB courses (both HL and SL)

A grade of a “4” is usually the minimum to grant university standing in various courses

Post secondary institutions are favouring the diploma program and offering additional scholarships and opportunities to students graduating with a diploma that includes the additional components.

Bottom Line for University

One university course on average costs ~$800 Books run ~$100-200 per course What a first year students’ time worth? (ie. History – readings, 2 essays, midterm, final exam)

Your son/daughter can take a transfer credit (with a score of 4 minimum)

Universities consider both the IB mark and the school grade for admission and course credit

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IB CLASS SUCCESS

Students earn on average over $50,000 in scholarships

Westwood’s IB students usually score at or above the world average in all subjects.

Last year the students earned over 550 credit hours at university*

* stats determined using UM’s policy.

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Common questions:

What are some advantages to IB?

Will this program result in a lot of homework for my

child?

Can my son/daughter still be involved in sports, the

arts or extra-curricular activities?

How do class marks compare in the regular

program vs IB?

What about CIA hours and CAS?

Where can I get more information about IB?

Advantages to the IB program More well rounded academic student Trained IB teachers that meet regularly to

discuss the program and the students Academic supports: a teacher, counsellor, a

coordinator and a administrator dedicated to the program

More enrichment activities outside of the classroom

Smaller class sizes, two year relationship with teachers

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Will this programme result in a lot of homework for my child?

Keep in mind that the IB program is a high school program.

Students aren’t graduating with PhDs! The workload on students reflect a pre-university

program. IB teachers meet about assignment deadlines and

tests in their classes so that the work doesn’t pile up.

One common misconception is regarding the jump in difficulty from grade 10 to grade 11 being due to IB courses.

Can my son/daughter still be involved in sports, the arts or extra-curricular activities?

There is still room in the timetabling to ensure that students can take different options of interest, such as band or the arts.

Flexibility in timetabling. Diploma students from this year for example

are involved in choral, band and various sports.

A student with an organized work ethic can be involved in the full diploma program and still enjoy many other activities. IB encourages this.

How do class marks compare in the regular programme vs IB?

Again, the IB courses are meant to be a high school program.

Class averages between non-IB and IB classes are very similar.

Students in the IB program that are completing any advanced work in comparison to the regular program will be considered for mark adjustments accordingly.

What about CIA hours and CAS?

The Community Involvement Activity (CIA) volunteer hours are not required by those students who complete the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) component of the IB program.

Students doing the partial IB program (certificate) are not required to do CAS, but the CIA volunteer hours would be needed to obtain the St. James School Division high school diploma in grade 12.

Past student comments

“I'd like to thank you for the IB program. Things are so much easier as a result of IB. About half of my subjects at university are things that I have already taken, I received a rather substantial sum of scholarship money, and I am sitting on an A average due to my English transfer credit. You always told us about the benefits of IB, and I'll be honest, until recently, I didn't believe it. But now that I am experiencing it, I must tell you that it truly paid off. Thank you.” – Sebastian Cichosz

“It is an excellent preparation for post-secondary education, building time management skills and work ethic. It also provides students with practical skills and experiences from the many volunteer projects that they undertake. Overall, it is an excellent program whose benefits are well worth the time and effort it requires.” – Jill McDonald.

“The IB program gave me a head start in university. Earning a 6 on my HL English exam gave me 6 free credit hours, so I was able to take more electives in my first year. Although I struggled with Calculus in high school, when I reached the 'real' university level Math courses, I found that they were easier than what I had already taken! First year Math classes were like review for me, and I was able to get an 'A' in every one. IB really did prepare me for my university experience, and I'm glad that I took advantage of what it offered when I was at Westwood”. - Sara Hamilton

“Many people think to be in I.B. you have to be a genius and study every night, sacrificing any fun that may have been possible. This is not the truth. Actually it’s quite the opposite. During my high school and I.B. experience I was on the junior varsity and varsity volleyball teams, I worked about 25 hours per week, went out with friends regularly, and still did really well. Some students did even more than that, including various activities such as taking part in the school musical, volunteering, organizing charity events, dance, etc. You just have to work hard, seek help when needed, and push through.” – Sam Sanders

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Where can I get more information on IB?

Please visit my website at:

www.sjsd.net/~gvalentim

under the “IB information” page where you will find various resources on the IB program.

Visit the IB world website at www.IBO.org.

Questions?

My contact info E-mail gvalentim@sjsd.net Phone 888-7650 (I have a voice mail as well)