Parent/Student Information Meeting

1. Parent/Student Information Meeting Mt. Mourne School Authorized 2011

2. What is the International Baccalaureate Organization? • IBO is a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is aimed at creating a better world through education. • The organization works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging education programs with rigorous assessment components. • Its programs encourage students across the world to become life long learners.

3. IB Statistics • Size: The IBO works with 3,490 schools in 144 countries and serves over 1,064,000 students. • North Carolina: There are 57 IB schools. The closest to ISS are JM Alexander, North Mecklenburg High IB, and Hickory High IB Schools. • Programs: The IB curriculum offers three programs for students aged 3 to 19: • Primary Years Program • Middle Years Program • Diploma Program

4. Northview 6-8 MYP South Iredell High MYP & DP 9-12 Mt. Mourne 6-8 MYP The IB program in Iredell County

5. Why is ISS providing the International Baccalaureate course of study for our students? • The Iredell-Statesville School District encourages all students to take the most rigorous course of study possible. -- Research shows that students who succeed in IB programs tend to do better on university level work than other groups of students. -- IB students earn higher average SAT scores in high school and maintain higher grade point averages at universities than non-IB students.

6. Why is ISS providing the International Baccalaureate course of study for our students? • University admissions officials are looking for three main things: • Students who took the most challenging high school courses possible • Students who are well-rounded • Students who demonstrate the likelihood that they will be successful post-secondary students

7. What makes IB Curriculum Different?

8. Middle Years Program Curriculum IB Fundamental Concepts Holistic Communication International Mindedness

9. Middle Years Program Curriculum Areas of Interaction -The lens through which we view the content- The five areas of interaction in the Middle Years Program are: • Community and Service, a component that requires students to take an active part in the communities where they live; • Human Ingenuity, another common entity of the program that promotes student exploration of the processes and products of human creativity, ultimately enabling them to lead fuller and more productive lives; • Environments, a component aimed at promoting students’ awareness of their interdependence with the environment and the acceptance of their responsibilities for it; • Health and Social, dealing with physical, social and emotional health and intelligence, leading to complete and healthy lives; • Approaches to Learning, with emphasis on students being responsible for their own learning, thereby developing an awareness of how they learn best.

10. Middle Years Program Curriculum Student Learner Profile - the attributes we want to instill in every IB student - Inquirers Knowledgeable Thinkers Communicators Principled Open-minded Caring Risk-takers Balanced Reflective

11. Community and Service IB Learners turn their learning into Action. Required Hours: 6th Grade/Level 1- 20 hours 7th Grade/Level 2- 25 hours 8th Grade/Level 3- 30 hours 9th Grade/Level 4- 35 hours 10th Grade/Level 5- 40 hours Community Service Is…. Is Not… Mowing an elderly neighbor’s yard Selling raffle tickets to neighbors Serving homeless children Babysitting a sibling Turning learning into action Something you would have done even if you weren’t an IB student

12. Middle Years Program Curriculum International Mindedness • Integrated into units through MYP Unit Planner • Focus of Global Conversations • Imbedded into everything we do

13. Middle Years Program Curriculum Interdisciplinary Approach • There is a focus on Interdisciplinary Units between multiple (2 or more) disciplines • Synergize the learning • One assessment for multiple subjects • Helps students see interconnectedness of the subjects

14. Middle Years Program Curriculum Academic Rigor • A/B schedule – only 90 days per subject vs. 180 • 8 Subjects are considered core • Projects & Presentations • Critical Thinking & Problem Solving • Students must take Integrated Math 1 in 8th grade • Students will take all 4 sciences in 9th & 10th grade • Summer Reading requirements • Summer Math requirements

15. Middle Years Program Curriculum Foreign Language • 6th Grade – French 1A or Spanish 1A • 7th Grade – French 1B or Spanish 1B • 8th Grade – French 2 or Spanish 2 • 9th Grade – French 3 or Spanish 3 • 10th Grade – French 4 or Spanish 4 Student will be fluent in Language B by the end of 12th grade

16. How are students evaluated? • 8 subjects • 3-6 criteria per subject • Objectives/rubric for each criterion • Work scored on scale of 0-8

17. Why it works • treats learning as a process, not a product • based on the notion that Middle Years are not a three-year proposition • demands teachers design student-centered approaches to individuals through various lenses and methods  students become “makers of meaning” and problem-solvers • focuses on 21st-century skill acquisition, real-life experiences and deep understanding over rote • esteems critical thinking (Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation) • pushes beyond perceived comfort zones

18. Benefits of MYP(grades 6-10) International-Mindedness and The Paradigm Shift from learning content to using content to grow:

19. IB and Athletics

20. Scholar Athletes & IB • Scholar athletes are encouraged to be in the IB program • Students will play for their home school based on attendance zone • Bussing is available to BMS and LMS • IB students will not be ‘penalized’ for not being at the home school

21. What will our students need in order to succeed? • The number one indicator of your child’s success at Mt. Mourne is MOTIVATION. (Learning for the sake of learning) • Students should have a strong foundation in reading and writing skills as well as strong study habits early in their schooling. • Students should have a strong foundation in mathematics. At Mt. Mourne, the math program moves at a quick pace. • Students should be able to demonstrate a high level of classroom success. • Being a student at Mt. Mourne requires a family commitment to academic success.

22. Lottery • In the event that more students request admittance and meet the criteria than space allows, a lottery may be implemented. If a lottery is required, the following criteria must be met to be included: • Application must be complete and submitted by due date. • All entrance criteria must be met. • Any lottery required would be held at the district office at a published time and date. • After allotment is met, students will be put on a wait list in the order that they were drawn and would be offered admittance if space becomes available during the school year.

23. Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions • What grade levels will be included in the IB Candidate Schools? Grades 6 – 10 (grades 6-8 at Mt. Mourne and grades 9-10 at South Iredell High School) • Is there a cost to parents? No. Application to the IB program is open to any student living in the Iredell-Statesville School District. • What are the entrance criteria?Entrance criteria will include, but are not limited to, a previous year’s EOG scores and academic data and a statement from both student and parent regarding motivation, expectations and commitment to achievement in a rigorous curriculum. • How will students be assessed?Teachers organize continuous assessment over the course of the program taking account of specified criteria that correspond to the objectives for each subject. The NC state adopted standards will continue to be used as the basis for instruction.

24. Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions(continued) 5. Do IB teachers receive specialized training?Yes. Very specific training based upon IB principles and processes is provided for the IB staff. Plans are in place for teachers selected to teach in the ISS Program to receive training during this school year and the summer of 2013. 6. Will bus transportation be provided? Yes. Students will be transported to their “traditional” school and then shuttled to the IB school. 7. Will students be allowed to participate in athletics and other extra curricular activities? Yes. Students may participate in sports and extra curricular activities at the school located in the district in which they reside (their traditional school). 8. How do I apply? . The application process and necessary forms can be found on the Mt. Mourne website. The deadline for submitting applications is February 14.

25. Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions 9. When will parents be notified whether or not their child has been accepted into the IB school? Written notification will be provided by March 31. 10. If my student attends the IB school and is not happy, will he/she be allowed to return to the traditional school? Yes. We want all students to be successful. If a student can be more successful in the traditional setting, they will be allowed to transfer at the end of the term. ___________________________________________________________ Links to additional International Baccalaureate information: • Middle Years Program at a Glance www.ibo.org/myp/index • IB Information for Parent www.ibo.org/parents • Iredell-Statesville Schools Choice www.iss.k12.nc.us/choice • Mt. Mourne School http://iss.schoolwires.com/mm • Northview School http://iss.schoolwires.com/nv

26. Question and Answer Time • Please leave additional questions on an index card, and we will post the answers on our school website. Thank you for Coming!