Welcome to the IB at Sturgis Public Charter School Mrs Gallo, Mr. O’Kane, EAST Ms. Carman, Mr. Newcombe, WEST Spring 2014

What is the IB?

The IB is an holistic educational program that engages students in their own learning as they grow to become lifelong learners. The IB is student centered and internationally minded. A real distinction between the IB and more traditional educational models (other than the rigor!) is that how you learn is as important as what you learn. The process and the skills are as important as the content. The IB is designed to help students build the confidence and persistence needed to achieve challenging goals in our changing world.

IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

Who are IB students?

57,634 Diploma Program students 2,399 DP schools worldwide (783 in North America).

141 countries in the world. 400 students at Sturgis.

IB for All At Sturgis ALL students in Grades 11 and 12 take ALL IB courses.

Everyone earns a Sturgis Charter School Diploma.

Students may choose to attempt to earn the IB Diploma.

IB Courses Offered English French, Spanish, Latin History, Business, ITGS, Psychology (SL) Biology, Physics, Chemistry(SL), and Environmental Systems and Societies (SL) Mathematics (3 levels) Music, Theater, Visual Arts, (Dance)

HL or SL?

• Standard Level courses are rigorous college-prep courses.

• Higher Level courses are extremely demanding, equivalent to college courses. – The breadth and depth of content is greater. – Assessments are more challenging and frequent.

A maximum of 3 HL courses may be taken.

“IB Course Program” Choose 6 courses, one from each Group English Language History Science Math Elective May take all SL, but no more than 3 HL.

Optional Courses include: Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge (TOK), CAS

“IB Diploma Program” Choose 6 courses, one from each Group with • 3 being HL and 3 being SL • Extended Essay • Theory of Knowledge • CAS

The Extended Essay A 4,000 word essay in which students independently investigate a topic of their interest.

Sample Topics from Previous Years: • An Evaluation of the Effect of Water Contamination on Breast Cancer Incidence on Cape Cod • To what extent was religion used to justify the Civil War and the slavery during the civil war?

EE Stars!

Theory of Knowledge TOK “How Do We Know What We Know?

Perception Language Reason Emotion Imagination Faith Intuition Memory

CAS - Creativity/ Action /Service CAS requires a Balanced, Project Based over two years in: – Community service activities approach – Creative endeavors such as theatre or musical productions – Sports and other physical activities for a ‘sound body’

IB Assessments are designed to support student learning.

Teacher feedback helps students understand how they are doing and how they can do better.

1. Internal Assessments Graded by teacher; samples sent to IB for moderation. Examples: History Investigation, Language orals.

2.

External Assessments Not graded by teacher, but by an examiner at another IB school in one of the 141 countries that offer IB. Examples: Art Interviews, TOK Essay.

3.

Examinations Also not graded by teacher; mailed to examiners at international schools world-wide for grading.

A journey, not a race

The World Awaits

Let Us Be Your Guides Some Places Sturgis Teachers Have Taught and Lived: Malaysia Brazil Indonesia Mexico Thailand Saudi Arabia Saipan Colombia Greece Japan South Korea China Spain

Not the end of the journey, but the beginning of the next adventure.