The Diploma Programme Seminole High School for rising seniors

1. The Diploma ProgrammeSeminole High Schoolfor rising seniors

2. “Senior year is not easier in a sense that you have less work but rather that you have the experience of the IB work-load and (hopefully) beneficial work habits that you developed during Junior year.  If you take an AP class as an elective, make you sure you are genuinely interested in the content; college applications, the EE, TOK, and other assignments will consume more time than you would think.”

3. “Stock up on anti-senioritis medicine early in the year. You'll need it second semester! (especially when you're slammed with orals and IAs)”

4. “Start looking into scholarships early. There's nothing worse than a lost opportunity for money. Advice from my mother: don't ignore a scholarship because it requires an essay or long resume; if you spend 2 hours on a $500 scholarship, you just made $250 an hour.”

5. “With all these courses, simply be prepared to learn time management. The most beneficial aspect that a person will learn in IB is how to work on a little bit of everything each day.”

6. Agenda • The IB Diploma Program • Core program components • The IB Diploma • The State of Florida High School Diploma • High school transcripts • SHS IB program standards • 2010-2011 requested courses • Schedule change process • Stress and the IB student • Communication

7. The International Baccalaureate • Internationally recognized, rigorous, pre-university course of study • Extensive liberal arts curriculum • Prepares student to earn an internationally recognized diploma • Honored by colleges and universities through the world • Curriculum based on international standards and examinations that are evaluated by international educators

8. Diploma candidates:Complete one course from each subject areaComplete the Theory of Knowledge courseComplete the Creative, Action, Service programComplete an Extended Essay IB Diploma Programme

9. IB Diploma Programme Options

10. Extended Essay • Compulsory for Diploma candidates • Begin junior year, due October of senior year • 40 hours • Independent research • Up to 4,000 words • Externally assessed • It provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research in a topic of their own choice, under the guidance of a supervisor (a teacher in the school). • Students are expected to: • Plan a research project • Formulate a precise research question • Gather and interpret appropriate material • Structure a reasoned argument • Use an appropriate format & terminology • Apply analytical and evaluative skills

11. “Choose a topic you are extremely interested in because this will be your life's work for the next 5 months, believe me you do not want to hate what you are doing and do a bad job.  Oh, and don't procrastinate, it never works out well and the end of your summer is super stressful when it should be pretty chill.  Good luck guys!”

12. “Utilize your EE advisor, they are there to help you organize the bigger picture and maximize your time efficiency.  A HUGE help is to look at the UCF library book listings online before you ever go to the library.  Write down the location of the books in the library and use it as a jumping off point as other books related to your topic will be located nearby. (the library is much bigger than you think)”

13. “Choose something they are legitimately interested in for your EE.  You have to spend a lot of time researching and writing; the experience is much, much more enjoyable if you are doing a topic that you actually want to know about and are excited about.”

14. “I personally had left the writing portion till later in the summer. I had my reasons, but they and the EE bit my backside the last week before school.Guys, although procrastination is in the IB blood, seep it out before this summer. It's not a difficult task, it's only time consuming. We know you're all exhausted after junior year, but get through all the exhaustion at once so you haven't anything to worry about at the end of the summer! Get your EE done as soon as you can."

15. Theory of Knowledge • Compulsory for Diploma candidates • Critical thinking and integration of knowledge • What we know in various fields of knowledge and how we know it • Make connections among classroom and non-classroom knowledge and experience • Examine the ethics, value judgments, and belief systems of the various disciplines • Taken senior year

16. Creative, Action, Service • 150 hours in three categories • Creative (50 hours) • Product created, designed, developed • Artistic endeavors • Problem solving • Action (50 hours) • Physical exertion • Service (50 hours) • Traditional concept of community service • Organization must be on county approved list • CAS fulfills Bright Futures community service requirement • Begin junior year and extend through senior year • One activity extends throughout the 18 month period • Satisfy eight learning outcomes • Meet with CAS advisor prior to activity to ensure approval • First 75 hours are due April 23

17. “Waiting until the last minute to complete CAS is really not a good idea.”

18. “Get most of your CAS hours done during the summer so you don't have to worry about them during college application season.”

19. Diploma candidates:Complete one course from each disciplineComplete the Theory of Knowledge courseComplete the Creative, Action, Service programComplete an Extended Essay IB Diploma Programme

20. Point Requirements • Minimum points needed for IB Diploma - 24 • IB score scale 1 - 7 • Passing score 4, 5, 6, 7 • Add subject scores together • Highest diploma score possible = 45 • 6 subjects x 7 possible points = 42 points • 3 bonus points for TOK & EE • SHS Average – 30 to 32 over the last 5 years • World Average – 29.5 • European schools looking for 32 • Oxford looking for 39

21. Bonus Points Matrix • F* - 28 points overall will be required to be eligible for the diploma if a student attains an ‘E’ grade in either the extended essay or theory of knowledge. • Attaining a grade ‘E’ in both the extended essay and theory of knowledge continues to represent an automatic failure.

22. Don’t underestimate the value of EE & TOK IB Diploma Results – Class of 2009 • Out of 93 candidates, five did not earn the diploma: • Two of those five earned 23 points and earned no bonus points for EE/TOK. • Of those 88 who did earn the diploma: • Four students earned 23 points and received a bonus point for EE/TOK, raising score to 24.

23. Sample IB Transcript International Baccalaureate Organization Results Summary This is a summary of candidates results in the session May 2007 Personal Details Candidate: May 2007 001147 299 Name: Sammy Nole Category: DIPLOMA Birth Date: 03 APR 1989 Subject Details Grade Subject 4 May 2007 - English A1 HL in English 6 May 2007 – Spanish B SL in Spanish C May 2007 – History EE in English 4 May 2007 – Hist.Americas HL in English 4 May 2006 – Psychology SL in English 5 May 2007 - Chemistry HL in English 6 May 2007 – Mathematics SL in English B May 2007 – Theory Know. TK in English EE/TOK points: 1 Total Points: 30 Result: Diploma awarded

24. State of Florida Diploma

25. Transcripts • Cumulative record of achievement • Grades recommended to continue IB • Colleges use as basis for admission • Rigor • Grades • Test scores • Extra-curriculars • Recommendations

26. Transcripts • By semester • Course code • H/A • Course title • Grade • Attendance • Credit • Audit • Credit Denial • Semester GPA • Dist Wt GPA • FL St. Unwt GPA • Percentile Rank

27. SHS IB Program Standards • IB students will maintain the following standards: • Minimum cumulative weighted gpa of 3.0 and higher • Passing grade in all required PreIB, AP, and IB courses • Recommended that students have no grade lower than “C” • Adhere to the honor code policy* • Adhere to the SHS Code of Conduct • Good attendance • One semester probationary period if standards are not maintained.

28. Standards specific to seniors • Pass the first year of any HL course • English • Individuals & Societies (HOA, Econ, Psych) • Experimental Sciences (Biology, Chemistry) • Arts & Electives (Music) • Pass Spanish or French III PreIB • Pass grade 11 mathematics course • Hold a minimum 3.0 cumulative weighted GPA • Complete 75 hours of CAS/18 mos project • Complete all assigned Internal Assessments • Sit for your IB exams • Meet any deadlines set by EE Advisor • Annotated Bibliography • Meeting with advisor • Draft

29. Making up credits • Student Incentive Program (SIP) • First semester “F” • No more than three unexcused absences second semester • Pass semester two • Pass semester two exam with a “C” or higher • Grades of D and F • Florida Virtual School • Courses for acceleration – Florida Virtual School • Summer School at SHS • Courses for forgiveness ( D or F grades), credit denial, drivers education • Registration forms due April 23 • Semester 1 June 14 -July 1 • Semester 2 July 6-22

30. Summer Opportunities • For advancement: • Florida Virtual School • www.flvs.net • Create student and parent accounts • Add requested course • Notify Mrs. Craft • Seminole State College • 3.0 unweighted cumulative gpa • Register by April 23 • Pass CPT or have minimum SAT/ACT scores • University of Central Florida • Contact Jeff Knizatko at jknizatk@ucf.mail.edu • Collegiate summer programs • Low cost, high selectivity • High cost, low selectivity

31. 2010-2011 course requests • Please review requested courses • Schedule change: • For any reason up to the last day of school this year (June 9, 2010) • Email, call, or submit note in writing • After that, school policy applies: • IB School Counselor doesn’t work during the summer • Courses may be dropped and/or added during the first five days of school ONLY if one of these conditions is met: • 1) you have already earned credit in the course • 2) you failed the prerequisite for the course • 3) you are scheduled for too many or not enough courses • You may not change your schedule because you have changed your mind about a course, you took too many hard classes and now your gpa is lower, or you do not like your lunch period. • Choices • Students may exit IB within first ten days of school, at the end or beginning of a semester. • Choices transfer options • Senior year completion allowance

32. 2010-2011 course requests • Making wise decisions • Goal is not to take hardest courses • Listen to recommendations of teachers • Parent override needed to change teacher recommendation • Taking seven academic classes is strongly discouraged • Depression/anxiety • Professional long-term mental health counseling • Parent waiver form • No schedule change

33. To IB or not to IB • Leaving IB? • Submit a signed ‘intent to exit’ letter. • This decision should be made prior to June 9 • Can be made as late as August 20 or 27* • When a signed “Intent to Exit” form is submitted: • If staying at SHS: students will receive a traditional registration form to be completed and returned to Mrs. Craft. • If returning to zoned school: • Complete SHS w/d June 9 • Take w/d paperwork to zoned school for enrollment

34. What to expect senior year • Internal Assessments • TOK Paper • English/Language B orals • Extended Essay • CAS • College research/final list • College applications • Scholarship applications/financial aid • May examination schedule

35. Stress and the IB Student • Causes of Stress • Procrastination • Lack of sleep • Having it all • Perfectionism • Taking too rigorous a schedule • Remedy • Document due dates in planner, make mini-deadlines to stay on track, stick to the planner. • No one can have and do everything. Learn to say “no”. • No one is perfect, turn in something. • Temper your enthusiasm – look within yourself.

36. Communication • Progress Reports and Report Cards every 4 ½ wks • P.I.N. – Parent Information Network • Email or phone communication with teachers • IB Email distribution list • Do we have YOUR email address? • Parent, student, teacher conferences

37. Contact us: • Mindi Craft IB Counselor Grades 10-12 (407) 320-5224 mindi_craft@scps.k12.fl.us • Judy Gresham IB Secretary (407) 320-5295 Judy_gresham@scps.k12.fl.us • Mary Cragar IB Coordinator and Assistant Principal (407) 320-5223 Mary_cragar@scps.k12.fl.us