Central Middle School and Sunrise Park Middle School are pursuing authorization as IB (International Baccalaureate) World Schools. The middle schools are currently IB candidate schools.

Why IB?

Our world is changing rapidly, and young people today are growing up in an increasingly interconnected global society. Their lives are shaped, and will continue to be shaped, by what happens in other parts of the world. With the new demands of the 21^st century, our schools must help young people to meet the challenges they will face now and in the future, both in their own communities and in the wider world.

With the challenges and opportunities of the 21^st century in mind, White Bear Lake Area Schools is committed to ensuring students are challenged, excelling academically, and provided with global experiences to increase their understanding of the world. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) was researched and chosen as a framework to ensure challenge and a world class learning experience for students at the middle schools.

 

What are the benefits of IB?

 

• The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme helps students gain the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes that they need to be successful in high school and beyond. Through a balanced curriculum in 8 subject areas (English, math, science, humanities, the arts, world languages, physical education, and technology), students are challenged to see the connections between different subjects and to see how what they are learning is connected to them, their local community, their country, and other parts of the world.

 

• Teachers develop the curriculum and create units based on their Minnesota and/or national standards. In addition, teachers receive ongoing professional development at their schools.

 

• The IB program offers a sound education because it involves young people fully in their own learning through the use of a wide range of active and participatory learning methods. Learners are engaged and develop confidence and skills of critical thinking, communication, problem-solving, collaboration, and independence. These are all vital elements in improving motivation, behavior, and achievement in school and in the work world.

 

• The program encourages students to contribute to their community through service.

 

• The program includes a commitment to developing communication skills in English and a second language.

What is happening at the middle schools this year?

As mentioned above, Central and Sunrise Park middle schools are currently IB candidate schools, and all teachers have attended IB training and are writing and teaching two IB units in the 2012-13 school year. The IB units are organized around questions and concepts that make learning interesting and relevant for students. Teachers also develop challenging assessments for students where students demonstrate their learning through projects, presentations, writing, labs, etc. Changes students and parents may notice this year are more interdisciplinary teaching, more connections between subject areas, and more assessments connected to rubrics and formative assessments. Students also will experience more projects, scenarios, and real-world applications across the subject areas.

 

Stay tuned for updates on the IB units in progress this year and to learn more as the schools work toward authorization as IB World Schools.

If you have questions about the IB MYP, please feel free to contact the coordinator, Ms. Jill Pearson, at jill.pearson@isd624.org or 651-653-2708. You may also find more information on International Baccalaureate at: www.ibo.org