Vestal High School International Baccalaureate Parent Information Night January 5, 2017
Tonight s Agenda Enrichment/Acceleration IB Program Details AP and IB Comparison Dr. Albert Penna, Interim Principal Teacher and Student Perspectives Time for questions!
Our goals Prepare our students for success in college and career Develop young adults who are thinkers Prepare students for a future career that we haven t even thought of!
Why accelerate?? Increase in Probability of College Graduation Compared with Student Not Participating in Advanced Placement Student Group Passed AP Exam (3, 4, 5) Took AP Exam, Did not Pass (1 or 2) Took AP Course, Did Not Take Exam African-American 28% 22% 16% Hispanic 28% 12% 10% White 33% 22% 20% Low-Income 26% 17% 12% Non-Low-Income 34% 23% 19% Source: Chrys Dougherty, Lynn Mellor, and Shuling Jian, The Relationship Between Advanced Placement and College Graduation, National Center for Educational Accountability, Feb, 2006
Vestal s Options for College Credit-Bearing Courses
MORE ABOUT THE IB
Program History The IB Diploma Programme started in 1968 Currently includes 2500 schools in 136 countries, 894 high schools in the US Vestal planning committee formed in 1997 IB Diploma Program began in Vestal in 1999-2000 school year (141 grads so far!)
Vestal IB Statistics Full IB Diploma Candidates 2017: 10 2016: 13 2015: 15 2014: 8 2013: 19 Percent of Seniors Taking At Least One IB Class: 2017: 58% 2016: 61% 2015: 55% 2014: 65% 2013: 65%
IB Program Goals IB Mission Statement IB Learner Profile Additionally: Prepare students for academic demands of colleges and universities, 21 st century success Provide students with the opportunity to perform at the highest levels of high school work
Counselor Curriculum Screen:
Binghamton University web site: The International Baccalaureate curriculum is the most challenging and comprehensive curriculum available and IB participation is recommended, taken into account and considered during the application process.
Program Basics
IB Course Requirements 6 IB Courses are Required 3 or 4 higher-level (HL) courses Remainder are standard-level (SL) courses Distributed across five or six groups Exams must be taken in Junior year (at most 2 SL) or Senior year (HL and SL) Students are welcome to take individual IB classes even if they are not doing the full diploma!!
Higher-Level IB Courses offered at VHS English Spanish, French, German History of the Americas Math Chemistry Physics Visual Arts Music All HL Courses are two years in length
Standard-Level IB Courses offered at VHS Economics (1 year - includes PIG) Psychology (1 year) Environmental Systems and Societies (1 year w/lab) Chemistry (1 year w/lab) Physics (1 year w/lab) Math (2 years) Math Studies (senior year plus ½ of junior year) Computer Science (1 year w/ prerequisite) Music (1 year w/ prerequisite) Visual Arts (1 year) French, German, Spanish 2 years
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
ToK begins a process of making us more aware of how the real world is presented to us. Goals of ToK ToK builds awareness of what goes into our thinking. ToK illuminates how we construct knowledge.
Multiple Perspectives Belief Certainty Truth Evidence Values Explanation Interpretation Technology Experience
What We Bring to our Knowledge
Connections to Real-Life
How important is the story to make meaning?
Connections Between Courses Krebs Cycle or Citric Acid Cycle or TCA Cycle
How do different names influence what we know?
IB Extended Essay 4000-word research paper in one of 24 subject areas Assessed by IB Evaluators Faculty member acts as mentor Due in December of Senior Year Sample VHS titles are in packet
Creativity, Activity, Service Designed to encourage balance, sense of community in diploma students Emphasis is on experiential learning in each of the three strands Specific Requirements are detailed in your handout
IB Exam Fees Full diploma cost over two years: $864 Registration fee of $168 paid in the first year exams are taken (if not a full diploma candidate, registration is due each year you take exams ) Cost of individual exams: $116 per subject No additional fee for the Extended Essay, TOK for full diploma candidates Financial Aid may be available through NYS or our local Dollars for Scholars
WHY do IB??? Challenge! Quality of IB courses, emphasis on conceptual learning, critical thinking, written expression, discussion Trans-disciplinary approach to learning Belonging to a world-wide group Help in college admissions
IB Myths IB is elitist You have to be a genius to get an IB Diploma You have to have taken SP classes at VMS to get the IB Diploma You can t have a life and get an IB Diploma You won t get college credit for your IB courses
The Diploma is not about shortening your education, it s about deepening it David Noriega, VHS Class of 2005
How Students Make It Work Students develop individualized program with the help of their Counselor and IB Coordinator Administrators work the Master Schedule around IB as much as possible Zero Period is an option or no lunch (NOT recommended ) Sample Schedules are in your packet
The Advanced Placement Program at Vestal High School Biology Calculus AB and BC (co-seated with IB) Chemistry (co-seated with IB) Computer Science (co-seated with IB) European History Physics (co-seated with IB) US History
Comparing IB and AP Enrichment vs. Acceleration International vs. National Focus Holistic Approach vs. Subject-specific Curriculum College Credit
Choosing what s best for you!! Students can take any number of IB or AP courses without doing the full diploma Pick the subjects you like best! Students can start the full program and back out if they are overwhelmed you re not stuck!
Vestal Scholar Certificate Distinguishes students who have completed at least six IB or AP courses, or Anatomy and Physiology Recognized at Graduation and Academic Awards Night with special certificate Students do not need to take IB or AP exams to be awarded Scholar Certificate credit
What s the next step?? Eighth and Ninth Graders: Discuss with your parents and your School Counselor, make a plan Consider taking an honors-level, IB, or AP course freshman or sophomore year to test the waters
What s the next step?? Tenth Graders: IB Information will be presented in gradelevel meetings this month Students will meet in small groups with Counselors and IB Coordinator to formulate student-specific diploma course plan
Other Perspectives Dr. Albert Penna, Interim Principal
Teacher Perspectives Mr. Jeffrey Dunham, IB English Mrs. Tracy Suggs, IB Chemistry
Student Perspectives
Also in the packet: Parent FAQ sheets from IB BearFacts Article (2012)