The promises are intense –- rigorous study, holistic learning, a globally competitive curriculum and an international perspective – and so are the expectations.
Some 250 students will strive to meet those expectations as the International Baccalaureate program opens its doors on Aug. 25 at its new location -- South Iredell High School.
IB teachers have spent countless hours preparing for the start of the program at South High, and are focusing this week on crafting two-year course outlines, said IB Coordinator Michael Their.
“It’s a curriculum that’s about depth and a student should be able to ask and answer ‘Why am I doing this?’ and ‘What’s the purpose of this?’ ” said IB teacher Oona Abrams.
Abrams, who taught in New Jersey schools for 15 years, is delighted to be part of a way of teaching that is different from anything she’s previously experienced as an educator.
“It’s the type of education I want for my children,” she said. “It’s balanced and it’s rigorous.”
The IB curriculum was also a draw for Social Studies instructor Shayne Cokerdem, who comes to the program from the Cannon School in Concord.
“It’s a philosophy that makes sense,” he said. “It’s structured but lots of flexibility for students and teachers.”
Middle Year and Diploma Programme
While there is excitement surrounding the move to South Iredell, the IB Diploma Programme, which is for students in 11th and 12th grades, won’t actually be fully implemented until fall of 2012.
That’s because I-SS’ program has not yet received the necessary authorization to teach DP courses, Their said. Within the next year, the program expects a site visit from the International Baccalaureate Organization, which will hopefully lead to that authorization.
The first graduating seniors – the class of 2013 – will receive certificates for completing the program. The first class to receive IB diplomas will be in 2014.
A Middle Years Program, for students in sixth through 10th grades, is also available to students at Mt. Mourne IB and Northview IB. In 11th grade, students from both of those campuses will attend the IB program at South.
DP students will be required to take six diploma classes: Language A- English; Language B- Spanish or French; History; Experimental Sciences; Math SL and Math Studies SL; and Arts or Electives.
The seventh required course is Theory of Knowledge an inter-discipline studies course in
advanced critical thinking.
Career pathways students can choose include Art, Scientist, Linguist, Mathematician, and Renaissance.
Students must also complete a student essay that requires 40 hours of work outside class. Students will begin this work the start of 11th grade year and complete it as seniors.
They must complete a Creativity Action and Service, an 18-month series of projects that must meet eight learning outcomes.
This process will start their junior year and last throughout the duration of their presence in the DP.
There will be 18 teachers in the MYP and 11 in the DP, nine of whom are teaching both programs, according to Thier.
IB teachers include Jim Blackwell, Oona Abrams, Amber Benfield, Courtney Coady, Shayne Cokerdem, Kim DiDomenico, Cam Downing, Bonnie Estes, Sarah Hawkins, Merrilynne Henderson, Samantha Lawing, Richard Luttrell, Lia Martel, Will Odom, Jill Parker, Jonathan Tate, Michael Their, and Esther Thornhill.
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