RMIB News
RMHS IB /Magnet Coordinator Notes - April 2019
This month’s IB Learner Profile Trait of the month is “reflective.” As IB learners:
We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
Magnet Coordinator, Joseph_F_Jelen@mcpsmd.org
This month, I reflect upon students’ hard work entering the homestretch of the school year. All year long, students and teachers worked collaboratively to strengthen areas of weakness and further develop strengths. I am always amazed by the lofty pursuits of our students in the name of creating a better world. To our seniors and their families; we are proud of their accolades and accomplishments to end their time here at RM. We remind seniors to push through to the finish line by attending to their studies, focusing on their IB Diploma, and continuing to model what it means to be an IB learner for our underclassmen. As all students prepare for IB and AP exams, please note the attendance policy and ensure students arrive on time to their exams (generally morning exams start at 7:30am and afternoon exams start at noon). Posters around the school will help students navigate to the correct locations. We look forward to a great end of the year!
Diploma Programme Coordinator, Nancy_S_Shay@mcpsmd.org
As instruction begins to focus on preparation for IB and AP exams, students in grades 9 - 12 should be dedicating time each evening to prepare for their exams. The freshmen magnet students will take their first AP exam in May: AP Government. Magnet sophomores will be taking at least the AP US History exam. And juniors and seniors are either starting or finishing their IB exams in pursuit of their IB diplomas. Let us know if your child needs direction in how to prepare for these rigorous and stressful exams.
Juniors will be turning in a first draft of their extended essays on April 30; it should be at least 2300 words and must include proper documentation of sources. A failure to meet the requirements of the assignment, including turning it in by the due date and meeting with the EE supervisor, will result in a meeting with parents, students, Mr. Jelen and me to determine the student’s dedication to the Diploma Programme. Students who do not complete other required assessments from junior year such as the Works in Translation paper and Oral Presentation in English and the Theory of Knowledge Presentation will also be invited to the IB office with their parents to discuss their plans for senior year.
If your senior has received inconclusive or dissatisfying results from colleges, please let me know. I am happy to write supplementary letters of recommendation if the colleges are willing to accept them. Let us know if there are ways we can help your child finish this year strong.
Upcoming Tea and Talk Tuesdays (during lunch in room 210):
April 23 Juniors
April 24 Freshmen
April 30 Sophomores
Middle Years Programme Coordinator, Molly_A_Clarkson@mcpsmd.org
Classroom Spotlight
Ninth graders are currently working on a whole-school reading of Elizabeth Acevedo’s novel in verse, The Poet X. Acevedo is an award-winning slam poet who lives in the DC area and taught in the Prince George’s County Public Schools. After earning an MFA from George Washington University, she published her debut novel in 2017 to great critical acclaim. The novel was named the 2018 National Book Award Winner for young people’s literature. Classes are currently rotating books through the 9th grade and whole-grade discussions will be taking place in late April and early May.
Personal Project Information
At this stage in the process, students should have completed their final products of have met their final goal. Students will shortly be completing their final reflections. In the next several weeks, students will have two structured lessons on how to compile their final reports. Projects will be collected in the week prior to Spring Break and the in-school exhibition of projects will be on the last day prior to Spring Break. In order to prepare for this, students should complete the required reflections that are posted on Canvas. Further information on how to expand these reflections into a final report will be discussed with students at the start of second semester. All Personal Project materials are posted on the school website. A copy of the student handbook is posted there as well.