Students in Years 12 and 13 at LIS follow the IB Diploma Programme. Our school was authorized to teach this programme beginning in the 2005-6 school year; our first IB Diploma graduates will take final exams in May 2007. This challenging programme of studies has gained a worldwide reputation for quality and relevance for students who expect to attend university or college courses after graduating from High School. The Diploma Programme encourages students to:

• ask challenging questions
• learn how to learn
• develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture
• develop the ability to communicate with, and understand people from, other countries and cultures.

Students take six subjects drawn from different subject groups. For the 2007-8 school year students in Year 12 will be able to choose from the following options:

First Languages: English A1, Spanish A1 (self-taught); Portuguese A1 (self-taught)

Second Languages: Spanish B, Spanish ab initio, English B

Individuals & Societies: History (or Economics as an elective –see below)

Experimental Sciences: Biology (or Chemistry or Physics – see below)

Mathematics: Higher Level, Standard Level

Electives/Sixth subject: Economics or Chemistry or Physics

Students taking three of these subjects at Higher Level follow the full Diploma Programme. These students also take Theory of Knowledge, participate in Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) and undertake an independent research paper called an Extended Essay.

Students who do not take three subjects at Higher Level are considered IB Certificate Candidates. Both full diploma and certificate candidates are considered  “honor students” when applying to many universities.

Further details about the IB Diploma Programme are available at www.ibo.org 

top

Information From the Foremost Authority on U.S. University Education

From The College Board: “The U.S. authority on Universities”

What is the International Baccalaureate®?

The International BaccalaureateDiploma Program (IB®) is a rigorous pre-university program leading to

assessments in six subject areas. Established in 1968, the IB offers a challenging curriculum noted for its depth and its international perspective. The two-year IB Diploma provides a coherent and demanding educationalexperience across the full curriculum. Beyond completing college-level courses and examinations, IB students are also required to engage in community service, individual research, and an inquiry into the nature of knowledge. The IB Diploma is accepted as an admissions credential at universities in 102 countries. In addition, high scores on IB exams often entitle students to credit or placement at university. IB courses and exams are offered at 1,217 schools in 113 countries.

What is the IB® Diploma?

The International Baccalaureate Diploma, based upon best practices from national systems of education

around the world, was designed to provide students from all countries an education credential that could be understood by universities in any country. IB assessment is varied, authentic, and takes place over the entire course of IB instruction. It culminates in a series of examinations, which were offered in 157 different subjects in 2001. These subjects are drawn from the following six subject groups.

• Language A1
• Language B, Language A2,
• Ab Initio
• Individuals and Societies
• Experimental Sciences
• Mathematics
• Arts

Full IB Diploma students must study one course from each of the first five groups, plus either an Arts course or an elective from Groups 1–5. In addition, all diploma candidates must fulfill three central requirements:

1. Theory of Knowledge, an externally assessed course that contrasts ways of knowing in all six subject areas;
2. Extended Essay, an externally assessed, independent research project of 4,000 words in one of the six subject areas;
3. Creativity, Action, Service (CAS), active involvement in a minimum of 150 hours of community service, artistic, and physical activities.

IB assessments are scored on a 1–7 scale, with up to three additional points available for exemplary work on Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. To earn an IB Diploma, a student must achieve a minimum total score of 24 points without any failing conditions.

How do colleges and universities recognize International Baccalaureate courses and the IB Diploma?

IB has largely succeeded in its goal to be a universally recognized admissions credential. Specific agreements are in place with ministries of education and universities in 102 countries that recognize the IB Diploma as a valid means of earning entry to postsecondary study. The IB Diploma is increasingly being viewed as a strong indicator of academic promise and achievement. IB students often have an advantage in the admissions process at selective universities. In addition, IB courses and exams are recognized for the purpose of advanced credit and/or placement at over 900 North American colleges and universities. In fact, over 150 postsecondary institutions now grant a full year of credit to students who have earned the IB Diploma.

What will an International Baccalaureate diploma do for me?

No one can promise that you'll be accepted at the college of your choice, or that you'll qualify for advanced standing. But by providing you with an outstanding pre-college education, your IB diploma can put you ahead of the crowd … today … and tomorrow. You'll have a head start on life in our fast-moving world — the Program teaches you how to think, how to adapt to change, and how to deal with new information — not just how to memorize facts. You'll have an advantage when competing for admission to top colleges and universities, here and abroad. You may be admitted to college as a sophomore — and with a year at college costing up to $30,000 or even more, that can make a huge difference to you and your parents.

What Admissions officers at top colleges and universities say about the IB Program.

“It should be noted that students who score four or five on four or more AP exams or who obtain a full IB diploma and achive a six or seven in their three higher level subjects may be eligible for sophomore standing.”
Marlyn McGrath Lewis
Director of Admissions,
Harvard and Radcliff Colleges

“We have found that students coming from IB programs are very well prepared to meet the academic challenges at Loyola University, Chicago. Students can also gain valuable college credits from their IB work.”
Robert Blust
Director of Undergraduate Admissions,
Loyola University, Chicago

 “The IB courses are rigorous … an excellent preparation for college. The full IB diploma is one of the most valuable academic programs available to students …”
Sheppard Stanley
Associate Director of Admissions,
Northwestern University

top

Homework Policy

All children from Years 1 to 13 will receive a notebook in which homework will be recorded.  Parents are asked to write a note to the classroom teacher when they have concerns or questions about homework. Students are expected to be able to complete their assignments independently. Homework will not be given for unexcused absences.

Belief Statement 

“We believe”…

• That homework can help students develop as independent learners if it is differentiated to meet the specific learning needs of the individual.
• That homework is done to improve learning. Homework should be designed to benefit the student, rather than an exercise to be completed and checked by the teacher. The results should be seen in applications at school.
• That the purpose of homework is to develop and consolidate the skills necessary for further learning, both in and out of school.
• That reading daily, both assigned and/or personal choice, will develop life long reading habits.

That students need time at home to pursue personal interests, mother tongue fluency, and to partake in physical, recreational and intellectual activities with their families and friends.

DP (Years 12-13) Homework Practices

All students at the Diploma level are expected to be independent learners and to manage their time effectively.  At this level the coursework is prescribed. The students and teachers work together to make sure students are assigned what they need to do in order to be better able to understand the courses and to be able to develop the necessary skills, knowledge and understanding to complete the Diploma Programme successfully. Students are expected to do about 2 hours of homework per week in each of the following subjects:

• Mathematics
• Language A (English)
• Language B (Spanish)
• Sciences: (Chemistry and/or Biology) 
• Humanities:  (Geography and/or Economics)
• Theory of Knowledge

In addition, there will be a significant amount of time invested in the Extended Essay and Community Action Service components of the DP. The work on these areas will be done in the students’ own time with supervision to manage the projects.

Expectations for Teachers

• Homework should be directly relevant to the coursework.
• Teachers should coordinate tests so that there is no more than one on any given day.
• Teachers should provide feedback on homework.
• Teachers should coordinate the assignments so that the students have a relatively even load.

Expectations for Parents

• To support and provide an environment conducive to learning and working. Help your child(ren) by talking and discussing the topics and books being studied.
• To help develop the study skills and commitment required for sustained application to work.
• To provide a computer and Internet facilities for independent research and word processing.
• To make provisions for a dedicated area set aside for concentrated study, including holidays (school year and July August holidays).

Expectations for Students

• Students will be expected to check the homework and assessment schedule and to budget their time to be prepared for the work or tests to be done at school.
• Students will be expected to touch type. If proficiency is less than our expectations, then a typing programme must be worked on at home to increase speed and accuracy. This is considered to be above and beyond the normal homework assignments.
• Students will be expected to make up assignments missed due to any absences.

Estimation of time

Students should expect to work for a minimum of 2 hours per day, including weekends.  Students will need to do ongoing work over all holidays.

top