IB Informed Newsletter
October 2023
WHAT IS AN IB EDUCATION?
At the centre of an International Baccalaureate (IB) education are students aged 3 to 19 with unique learning styles, strengths and challenges. The IB focuses on each student as a whole person. Thus, IB programmes address not only cognitive development but social, emotional and physical well-being. The aim is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people with adaptable skills to tackle society’s complex challenges and who will help to make it a better, more peaceful world.
Validating the efficacy of the IB’s four programmes are research and more than 45 years of practical experience. IB programmes emphasize learning how to learn and teaching students to value learning as an essential, integral part of their everyday lives. The IB promotes the development of schools that: • inspire students to ask questions, pursue personal aspirations, set challenging goals and develop the persistence to achieve those goals • develop knowledgeable students who make reasoned ethical judgments and acquire the flexibility, perseverance and confidence they need in order to bring about meaningful change • encourage healthy relationships, individual and shared responsibility and effective teamwork.
MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME
What is the IB Middle Years Programme?
What makes it unique and special at International?
Learn more: Introduction to the Middle Years Program at AIS (slides) (Spanish version here!)
DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
What does it mean to be a part of the IB Diploma Programme at AIS?
Students can enter the IB Diploma Pathway or the IB Certificate Pathway.
Learn more here: Introduction to Diploma Programme at AIS (slides)
The International Baccalaureate provides an overview of the Diploma Programme here:
IB-DP Guide for Parents (English)
IB-DP Guide for Parents (Spanish)
Find IB friendly colleges and universities by using these tools:
IB-DP Transfer Credit Policies
Please direct any questions about DP to Stacey Pagliaro (spagliaro@crec.org)
WHAT ARE THE IB LEARNER TRAITS?
IB LEARNER TRAIT OF THE MONTH
Each month at International, we focus on one of the IB Learner Traits, and celebrate students and teachers who exemplify them. As partners in education, we love sharing ways that you can support the development of these traits at home.
September: INQUIRER
Inquirers “nurture curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. They know how to learn independently and with others. They learn with enthusiasm and sustain their love of learning throughout life.”
Here are suggestions for how you can encourage your student to be an inquirer. Enjoy!
Ask your student about what they are doing in their classes that makes them think.
Ask your student what they are curious about (and why!), and share your wonders with them.
Talk through your “inquiry process” as you figure something out, so that your student can “see” inquiry skills in action in the real world.
Share what you love to learn about, and how you continue to learn, with your student.
Encourage your student to become more independent through things like emailing teachers themselves, completing their homework, and organizing their materials for school.
OCTOBER- KNOWLEDGEABLE
We will celebrate our staff and students who exhibit Knowledgeable Traits: Those who develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. Those who engage with issues and ideas that have a local and global significance.
SAT INFO FOR 12TH GRADE
Next week International will be administering the SATs for all 12th graders at no cost. The test will take place on Wednesday, October 11th. We recommend all students get a good night's sleep the night before and a healthy breakfast that morning.
If your student would like to brush up on some skills before taking the test, please have them navigate over to Khanacademy.org where students can get free test prep before taking the test.
PSAT INFO FOR 10TH & 11TH GRADE
All 10th and 11th graders will be taking the PSAT test on Thursday, October 26th. Please mark your calendars for this important day. Attendance is very important!
For 11th graders, this upcoming PSAT is the last practice test before they take the SAT test this Spring.
If your student would like to brush up on some skills before taking the test, please have them navigate over to Khanacademy.org where students can get free test prep before and after the test.
I know they are not quite seniors, but this is a GREAT time of year to think about how they can best prepare themselves for college and 12th grade.
The best thing students can do in 10th and 11th grade is work hard to excel in their courses. Students should also consider activities outside of school that can benefit their college application, like a sports, a job, a club, or volunteer work. Starting now will benefit their chances of getting into a more competitive college.
FOLLOW US!
IB INFORMED ARCHIVED EDITIONS
coming soon!
LEADERSHIP
Yesenia Hernandez, Principal
Thomas Craig, HS Assistant Principal
Eleisha Lemay, MS Assistant Principal
Benjamin Simon, HS Dean of Students
Raynette Holmes, MS Dean of Students
Emily Wright, IB Coordinator, MYP
Stacy Pagliaro, IB Coordinator, DP
CREC Academy of International Studies Family and Community Engagement Coordinator