Transcript Second Semester Update - Chesapeake Public Schools

Second Semester Update
Oscar Smith High School IB Program
IB Freshman Class
Mid-February: Mid-year transcripts available
displaying cumulative weighted GPA and class
rank
GPA notices will not be sent to freshmen until
June 2009. This gives students adequate
time to adjust to the program.
Transcripts will be available for students in
the guidance office, if you would like a copy
(students get one free unofficial transcript).
IB Freshman Class, cont.
Student scheduling will begin in February.
Sophomores have TWO electives built into their
schedules in addition to PE 10.
Students may choose to take the following
recommended prerequisite courses during the
sophomore year:
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IB Psychology = sociology
IB Biology = Anatomy
IB Visual Arts = Art 1
IB Computer Science = Pre-AP Computer Science
IB Math HL = Pre-IB Math Analysis
Engineering/Pre-Med Programs = Physics
AP European History Exam
Students will complete the second half
of Pre-IB World History and prepare for
the AP exam which will be given in May.
An extensive review will take place in
Mr. Wasinger’s class throughout the
month of April.
Summer 2009
Students will meet in late May at OSHS
to match up sophomore mentors with
new Pre-IB freshman students
This has been an extremely successful
semester for our IB freshmen!
Congratulations!
IB Sophomore Class
GPA notices will be sent in February to
communicate current GPA and status within
IB program.
Must maintain a weighted 3.0 GPA to remain
in “good standing”
A GPA between 2.6-2.9 places a student on
“Academic Warning.” Students must raise
GPA to 3.0 or above by the next semester or
be placed on Academic Probation.
A GPA lower that 2.6 places a student
immediately on Academic Probation.
Students must raise GPA to a 3.0 by the
next semester or withdrawal from
program is recommended (unless there
are extenuating circumstances).
IB Sophomores
IB Sophomores will have the option to take
the AP Government Exam if they maintain an
average of C or above in the course.
The AP Government exam will be given in
May.
Parents may attend the “We the People”
competition on January 7th immediately after
school if they wish.
AP Government Exam Review
Ms. Scott will review for the AP exam in the
spring (see syllabus for details).
Students are encouraged to participate in any
review sessions offered to help them prepare
for the format of the AP Government exam,
which differs from the AP European Exam
that the students took during their freshman
year.
CAS Requirement
Mrs. Meador will meet with all current
sophomores during the month of April to
explain the CAS requirement for the IB
Diploma.
Students can begin earning hours as soon as
the junior year begins.
For CAS, students must devote at least 150
hours in the areas of creativity, action and
service. (40 hours are required in each area;
the remaining 30 hours can be split as the
student desires.)
Sophomore Scheduling
Scheduling is tough during sophomore
year since students are making
decisions about which courses they will
be taking in grades 11 and 12.
All rising juniors have been scheduled
for:
IB English 11 HL
IB History of the Americas HL
IB Choices
IB Courses are 2 years in length
Students must select the following courses:
Math: IB Math Studies SL, IB Math SL, IB Math HL
Second Language: IB Spanish 4 SL/HL, IB French 4
SL/HL
Science: IB Biology SL/HL, IB Chemistry SL/HL
IB Elective: IB Visual Arts SL/HL, IB Computer
Science SL/HL, IB Psychology SL/HL, Second IB
Science
Sophomore year can be challenging as
students prepare for “Big IB.”
They need our support!!
IB Juniors
GPA notices will be sent in February to communicate
current GPA and standing within IB program.
Students are currently almost finished with their first
year in “Big IB.”
Students have started the Extended Essay process
Major due dates occur on the first school day of
each month. (On March 1, students must submit
bibliography cards and a revised thesis statement to
their Extended Essay supervisor.)
Final drafts will be due on the first school day in
December 2010.
Group 4 Project
IB juniors will travel to the oceanfront
to collect data for the required Group 4
Project in the spring.
The Group 4 Project is an interdisciplinary
science project designed by IB Biology and IB
Chemistry students.
Students will create a trifold and present their
findings to their IB science instructor for a
grade.
The 10 hours for the Group 4 Project also
count towards the 45 required SL lab
hours/60 required HL hours in the IB
Biology/IB Chemistry Courses.
IB juniors will have the option to take
the AP US History Exam on May 7th
Students should have accumulated
about half of their CAS hours by the
end of the year (about 20-25 hours in
each area).
IB English IOP
IB English 11 students will complete their
English Individual Oral Presentation (IOP) at
the end of the junior year.
The IOP is a 10-15 minute presentation on
the students’ topic of choice based upon a
literary work they have studied during the
year.
Students have two practice opportunities to
acquaint themselves with the process before
the actual IOP is scored (scores submitted to
IBO).
Internal Assessment Requirements
Students will begin completing work
towards their IA requirements during
the junior year.
Assignments differ according to the IB
course and teachers will provide IA
details to students as they plan these
assignments.
College Visits
This summer would be a great time to plan
college visits, if you have not already done
so.
College applications peak in October and
November.
If you are able to give Mrs. Lancaster, Ms.
Kern or your counselor college paperwork and
request recommendation letters in early
September, it would be very helpful.
Always submit applications before the due
date!! The earlier, the better!
IB SENIORS!!!
Seniors are completing their IB requirements
presently.
Extended Essays, World Literature Papers and
Theory of Knowledge essays will be sent to
examiners early in the second semester.
Destinations last year included Argentina, Brazil,
Maritius, Australia, Sweden, China and Canada.
All Internal Assessment scores must be
reported by the instructor to IBO by April 10.
All samples for moderation must arrive to the
designated examiner by April 20.
IB Examinations
IB Examinations begin on Tuesday, May
4 and conclude on Monday, May 24.
Student exam dates differ based on the
IB courses that a student is taking, but
ALL IB students will take the IB English
HL Exams.
Exam Preparation
IB teachers will begin reviewing for the IB
exams in the spring. Please encourage your
child to attend any review sessions that are
offered!
Encourage your child throughout the month
of May that there is a light at the end of the
tunnel. Each paper is important and they
should do their very best on every part of the
exam!
Make sure your child is well-rested and eats a
nutritious breakfast on exam days.
IB Exam Results
Seniors will be given PIN numbers
before graduation so that they are able
to access their IB exam results on July
6, 2010.
A score report will also be sent by IBO
to each student’s school of choice (Mrs.
Lancaster will share this information
with IBO by June 1st).
Graduation Ceremonies
A special IB recognition ceremony will take
place in December for the Class of 2009 to
award certificates and diplomas and to
celebrate the the students’ achievements .
This ceremony is scheduled for the last school
day prior to winter break (12/22) so that
current IB students and teachers are able to
attend.
IBO Update
700,000 IB students worldwide
Nearly 2,000 Diploma Program Schools
in 131 countries
In North America, nearly 80% of IB
Programs are in Public Schools.
IBO Will Manage Growth
IB is growing exponentially and the
organization must be prepared to deal
with this growth.
Focus is on Quality, Infrastructure and
Access.
Director General, Jeff Beard, is a USNA
graduate with extensive business
experience.
University Recognition
See www.ibo.org for policies.
The IB North America Vancouver office
specializes in contacting universities
about IB recognition policies and posts
findings on the IBO Web site.
Learner Profile
“Look for” qualities in an IB student.
Qualities that prepare students for
success in life.
These characteristics are important
across the IB continuum (PYP, MYP and
DP)
CONGRATULATIONS ON A
SUCCESSFUL FALL
SEMESTER!