DBHS IB Prep Brahma Wrangler

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Merilyn McLaughlin
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1 DBHS IB Prep Brahma Wrangler The Newsletter For Those Who Wish To Be IB November 2014 Scroll Down and Read Everything! Important news for freshmen at the end! Important Dates For Sophomores & Their Parents Next year the IB Diploma Program will become a reality for the Class of A student who wishes to continue into the IB program as a junior must formally declare his or her intent. To ensure a smooth transition into this program, the IB Coordinator and the GLCs are planning two meetings, one with students and one with students and parents, to explain the process. Attendance at these meetings is mandatory and extremely important. Please mark the following dates on your calendar: Thursday February 12 at Lunch in the Theatre: Meeting for students only. We will discuss the registration process for IB students. Students should come to the theatre immediately after 4th period and will only have 10 minutes after this meeting to eat. Students should bring a lunch on this day, as they will not have time to purchase lunch. Students may not eat food in the theatre. Thursday February 12 at 7 pm in the Theatre: Meeting for parents and students. We will discuss the IB Diploma Program, the declaration of intent, and the registration process. Also: Wednesday May 20 at 3:15 pm in room 660: Meeting for students only. Students should plan ahead to be available for this meeting after school. We will introduce the CAS program. The meeting should last about an hour. What is Information Technology in a Global Society? Information Technology in a Global Society is one of many IB courses about which prep students have questions. Even the names of courses like ITGS, Environmental Systems and Societies, Theory of Knowledge, Mandarin ab initio make them seem different from all other high school courses. To resolve some of the mystery, IB has published subject briefs describing each IB course, the expectations

2 for students, the required assessments, and some sample questions. These subject briefs, along with the Diamond Bar High School course catalog, can be extremely helpful in answering your questions about the IB courses that we offer. You can check the briefs out at Click on the link on the right, titled IB Courses. Don t forget; you can view descriptions of all DBHS courses at Click on Academics. DBHS IB Website is an important source of updated information about the IB program and the prep program. Check there often to find out more information about what you may need to do to successfully transition into the IB program as a junior. You can also use the website to find out what our juniors, seniors, and IB alumni are up to. got questions? Currently, Tuesday through Friday at lunch, Miss Lordi is available in her classroom (660) to answer all of your IB questions. This may not be the case as we get closer to IB exams in May. So don t wait too long to visit, get some candy, and find out the information that you need. Course Pathways and Prerequisites! Prep students have three major responsibilities in order to ensure they will be ready to move into the IB program: Students must remain in courses that move them along the IB course pathways. Freshmen and sophomore prep students who are not enrolled in the correct courses will automatically be dropped from the prep program and will not be able to continue into the IB program. Students must meet the prerequisites for next year s courses. Check with your teachers to find out what is expected from you! Students who do not meet course prerequisites will not continue into the IB program. Be ready and prepared for your summer registration appointment. It is your responsibility to know what classes you need as a potential IB student. Tell your GLC that you want to be an IB student and look over your schedule to make sure everything is right before you leave your appointment.

3 Information on IB course pathways and course prerequisites is available at Just click on the link at the right labeled Course Pathways. See the end of this newsletter for a list of classes our current freshmen should plan on taking next year. Our current sophomores need to consult their fouryear plans to see what their IB schedules may look like in the school year. The Big Group 6 Decision! During their junior and senior year, IB students must take IB courses in English, foreign language, history, science, mathematics, and an IB elective. The IB elective is called the Group 6 subject. This elective may be music, visual art, theatre arts, or a second science, social science, or language course. While most students may choose to study a second science, social science, or language, students with passion and aptitude for music (vocal or instrumental), theatre, or visual art should consider taking Music IB, Visual Art IB, or Theatre Arts IB for their Group 6 subject. Prep students who wish to do this are strongly encouraged to consult with the music, art, and drama teachers (Ms. Breitag, Mr. Acciani, Ms. Gee, Ms. Casagran) prior to the second semester of their sophomore year. Below is a list of all of your possible choices for the Group 6 subject. Note that, in most cases, SL courses are one year long and may be taken the junior year OR the senior year. HL courses come in a two year sequence and must be taken both junior year AND senior year. True Group 6 Music HL or SL Visual Art HL or SL Theater Arts HL Substitute Subjects from Group 2 Mandarin ab initio SL (for students not already studying Chinese) Substitute Subjects from Group 3 ITGS SL Environmental Systems and Societies SL Substitute Subjects from Group 4 Biology HL Chemistry SL Environmental Systems and Societies SL Physics HL or SL

4 Important News for Freshmen: The Four Year Plan Creating a good four year plan is one of the most important things a student can do to ensure success in the IB program. If you do not plan ahead, we may encounter problems later when we try to fit all of the IB requirements and all of the DBHS graduation requirements into your schedule. On November 5, Miss Lordi presented a four year plan strategy to all the prep freshmen. It was a great day, and she is really excited about the future IB Class of All prep freshmen should consider their plan to be a work in progress a great work of art that is constantly being refined! If you need help deciding what classes to take or whether or not your plan is complete and correct, please see Miss Lordi in her classroom (660). All prep students should show their plan to their parents. The only way your parents can support you is if they know what you re trying to do! Finally, any time prep students visit Miss Lordi with questions, they should bring their four year plan. The plan usually has all the answers! What Classes Do I Take Next Year? Sophomore Prep Courses To remain a DBHS IB prep student, current freshmen need to register for these courses for the next school year: Course placement is not automatic for these students. Make sure you are meeting the prerequisites for these courses. IB Subject Group Group 1 English Group 2 Foreign Language Group 3 History Group 4 Science English II Honors Sophomore Course Foreign Language Level II Honors or Level III Honors Students who only qualify for Level II regular, must get an A then take Level III Honors as their next course. World History or European History AP The history department recommends that prep students, especially those who wish to study IB History at the Higher Level, take European History AP. Students who have already completed World History should consider taking a VPA or a graduation requirement. Chemistry Honors Students who take regular Chemistry will not continue in the prep program.

5 Group 5 Mathematics Group 6 Arts or Electives Trigonometry/Math Analysis, or Algebra 2/Trigonometry Honors, or Mathematical Analysis/Calculus Honors For most students, this will be PE, Athletics, or Marching Band/Concert Band. The End! Continue to check for updated information!

HIGH SCHOOL COURSE DESCRIPTION HANDBOOK

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