RPHS's IB Newsletter
Issue No. 5
Where We Are:
This year's IB Newsletter will continue focusing on different aspects of IB and providing parents and students with important enrollment information and dates.
To Review. . .
What is International Baccalaureate?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a series of rigorous classes that students can take during their 11th and 12th grade years. By taking IB classes, students can better prepare themselves for the challenges of college and develop habits to become life-long learners. Students can also earn college credit for the IB classes they take depending on how well they score in their IB classes and the college they go to.
IB Certificates vs. Full Diploma Program
Full Diploma Program: To earn the IB Diploma, students will have to
- Take six IB courses during their junior and senior years
- Take IB's Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course during second semester junior year and first semester senior year
- Successfully complete the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) program. Students will have to participate in community service, physical activities, and creative projects.
- Write an Extended Essay (4,000 words) based on independent study that connects to work done in one of the six IB classes taken
IB Certificates:
- Students who do not want to do the full Diploma Program can still take IB classes for certificates. This means they can pick and choose the IB classes they want and sit for the IB examinations with the hope of scoring high enough to earn college credit (similar to they way our AP classes work). Students and parents should understand that score requirements sometimes differ between colleges and that some colleges do not yet offer credit for IB coursework.
- Students who just do certificates do not have to take part in Theory of Knowledge, CAS, or write the Extended Essay.
What IB Classes Will Be Offered?
- IB English I (HL)
- IB Spanish I (SL)
- IB History I (HL)
- IB Chemistry I (SL)
- IB Biology I (HL)
- IB Math Studies (SL)
- IB Math I (SL)
- IB Psychology (SL)
- IB Visual Ats (SL)
- IB Theater (SL).
HL=Higher Level. These classes must be covered in two years. More topics will be covered in the subject area as compared to a standard level class.
SL=Standard Level. These classes can be covered in one year, but schools have the option to cover them in two years because of the amount of material that must be covered. (IB Psychology is currently the only class that RPHS plans to offer in just one year.) These courses still maintain the same high academic expectations but do not cover as many topics.
Diploma candidates must take 3 HL classes and 3 SL classes.
Where Can I Get More Information?
If you have further questions about IB, you can find more information at:
IB's official website: www.ibo.og
RPHS's IB website: www.raypecib.org
You can also contact:
Steven Miller
RPHS Principal
816-892-1401
Steven Meek
RPHS IB Coordinator
816-892-1408
Raymore-Peculiar High School is a candidate school* for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. IB World Schools share a common philosophy—a commitment to high-quality, challenging, international education—that we believe is important for our students.
* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its three academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP) or the Diploma Programme (and in addition the IB Career-related Certificate). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.
For further information about the IB and its programmes visit http://www.ibo.org.