Vestal High School International Baccalaureate Parent Information Night January 5, 2017 Tonight’s Agenda
Enrichment/Acceleration
IB Program Details
AP and IB Comparison
Dr. Albert Penna, Interim Principal
Teacher and Student Perspectives
Time for questions! Our goals…
• Prepare our students for success in college and career
• Develop young adults who are thinkers
• Prepare students for a future career that we haven’t even thought of! Why accelerate??
Increase in Probability of College Graduation Compared with Student Not Participating in Advanced Placement
Student Group Passed AP Took AP Took AP Course, Exam (3, 4, 5) Exam, Did not Did Not Take Pass (1 or 2) Exam African-American 28% 22% 16% Hispanic 28% 12% 10% White 33% 22% 20% Low-Income 26% 17% 12% Non-Low-Income 34% 23% 19%
Source: Chrys Dougherty, Lynn Mellor, and Shuling Jian, The Relationship Between Advanced Placement and College Graduation, National Center for Educational Accountability, Feb, 2006 Vestal’s Options for College Credit-Bearing Courses MORE ABOUT THE IB… Program History
The IB Diploma Programme started in 1968 Currently includes 2500 schools in 136 countries, 894 high schools in the US Vestal planning committee formed in 1997 IB Diploma Program began in Vestal in 1999-2000 school year (141 grads so far!) Vestal IB Statistics
Full IB Diploma Percent of Seniors Candidates Taking At Least One 2017: 10 IB Class: 2016: 13 2017: 58% 2015: 15 2016: 61% 2014: 8 2015: 55% 2013: 19 2014: 65% 2013: 65% IB Program Goals
IB Mission Statement
IB Learner Profile
Additionally:
Prepare students for academic demands of colleges and universities, 21st century success
Provide students with the opportunity to perform at the highest levels of high school work Counselor Curriculum Screen: Binghamton University web site:
“The International Baccalaureate curriculum is the most challenging and comprehensive curriculum available and IB participation is recommended, taken into account and considered during the application process.” Program Basics
IB Course Requirements
6 IB Courses are Required
3 or 4 higher-level (HL) courses
Remainder are standard-level (SL) courses
Distributed across five or six groups
Exams must be taken in Junior year (at most 2 SL) or Senior year (HL and SL)
Students are welcome to take individual IB classes even if they are not doing the full diploma!! Higher-Level IB Courses offered at VHS
• English • Chemistry • Spanish, • Physics French, • Visual Arts German • Music • History of the All HL Courses Americas are two years • Math in length Standard-Level IB Courses offered at VHS
Economics (1 year - Math (2 years)
includes PIG) Math Studies (senior year
Psychology (1 year) plus ½ of junior year)
Environmental Computer Science (1 year Systems and Societies w/ prerequisite) (1 year w/lab) Music (1 year w/ prerequisite) Chemistry (1 year w/lab) Visual Arts (1 year)
Physics (1 year w/lab) French, German, Spanish 2 years Theory of Knowledge
(TOK) ToK begins a process of making us more aware of how the real world is presented to us.
Goals of ToK
• ToK builds awareness of what goes into our thinking.
• ToK illuminates how we construct knowledge. Multiple Perspectives
Belief Certainty Truth
Evidence Values Explanation
Interpretation Technology Experience What We Bring to our Knowledge Connections to Real-Life How important is the story to make meaning? Connections Between Courses
Krebs Cycle or Citric Acid Cycle or TCA Cycle How do different names influence what we know? IB Extended Essay
• 4000-word research paper in one of 24 subject areas • Assessed by IB Evaluators • Faculty member acts as mentor • Due in December of Senior Year • Sample VHS titles are in packet Creativity, Activity, Service
• Designed to encourage balance, sense of community in diploma students • Emphasis is on experiential learning in each of the three strands • Specific Requirements are detailed in your handout IB Exam Fees
Full diploma cost over two years: $864
Registration fee of $168 paid in the first year exams are taken (if not a full diploma candidate, registration is due each year you take exams…)
Cost of individual exams: $116 per subject
No additional fee for the Extended Essay, TOK for full diploma candidates
Financial Aid may be available through NYS or our local Dollars for Scholars WHY do IB???
• Challenge! • Quality of IB courses, emphasis on conceptual learning, critical thinking, written expression, discussion • Trans-disciplinary approach to learning • Belonging to a world-wide group • Help in college admissions IB Myths
• IB is elitist… • You have to be a “genius” to get an IB Diploma • You have to have taken SP classes at VMS to get the IB Diploma • You can’t have a life and get an IB Diploma • You won’t get college credit for your IB courses “The Diploma is not about shortening your education, it’s about deepening it” …
David Noriega, VHS Class of 2005 How Students Make It Work…
Students develop individualized program with the help of their Counselor and IB Coordinator
Administrators work the Master Schedule around IB as much as possible
Zero Period is an option or no lunch (NOT recommended…)
Sample Schedules are in your packet The Advanced Placement Program at Vestal High School Biology Calculus AB and BC (co-seated with IB) Chemistry (co-seated with IB) Computer Science (co-seated with IB) European History Physics (co-seated with IB) US History Comparing IB and AP…
Enrichment vs. Acceleration
International vs. National Focus
Holistic Approach vs. Subject-specific Curriculum
College Credit Choosing what’s best for you!!
Students can take any number of IB or AP courses without doing the full diploma
Pick the subjects you like best!
Students can start the full program and back out if they are overwhelmed – you’re not stuck! Vestal Scholar Certificate
• Distinguishes students who have completed at least six IB or AP courses, or Anatomy and Physiology • Recognized at Graduation and Academic Awards Night with special certificate • Students do not need to take IB or AP exams to be awarded Scholar Certificate credit What’s the next step??
Eighth and Ninth Graders: • Discuss with your parents and your School Counselor, make a plan • Consider taking an honors-level, IB, or AP course freshman or sophomore year to “test the waters” What’s the next step??
Tenth Graders:
IB Information will be presented in grade- level meetings this month
Students will meet in small groups with Counselors and IB Coordinator to formulate student-specific diploma course plan Other Perspectives… Dr. Albert Penna, Interim Principal Teacher Perspectives Mr. Jeffrey Dunham, IB English Mrs. Tracy Suggs, IB Chemistry Student Perspectives Also in the packet:
Parent FAQ sheets from IB BearFacts Article (2012)