Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy

Open House - November 4, 2015

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging & balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at university & life beyond.

The programme is normally taught over 2 years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities.

Students learn more than a collection of facts. The Diploma Programme prepares students for university and encourages them 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.

IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

Curriculum Framework 6 academic areas surrounding the 3 core requirements.

The 6 Academic AreasGroup 1: Language A1 (English)Group 2: Second Language (French)Group 3: Individuals & Societies (History or Economics)Group 4: Experimental Sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics)Group 5: Mathematics & Computer Studies (Math)Group 6: The Arts (Drama, Visual Arts, Music, or may

substitute with one additional course from groups 1-5)

Students study 6 subjects selected from the subject groups. Normally 3 subjects are studied at Higher Level (courses representing 240 teaching hours), and the remaining 3 subjects are studied at Standard Level (courses representing 150 teaching hours).

The core of the curriculum model• The Extended Essay, with a prescribed limit of 4,000 words,

offers students the opportunity to investigate a topic of individual interest and acquaints them with the independent research and writing skills expected at tertiary level.

• The interdisciplinary Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course is designed to provide coherence by exploring the nature of knowledge across all disciplines, encouraging an appreciation of other cultural perspectives.

• Participation in the school's Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) programme encourages students to be involved in artistic pursuits, sports and community service work, thus fostering their awareness and appreciation of life outside the academic arena (150 hours).

Examples of CASCreativity• Arts Council, Arts Awareness Week, Bands, Black History Month Activities,

Choir, DECA, Drama Club, Environmental Council, Improv Team, International Night, Mural Committee, Sears Drama Festival, SLAM, Sound Crew, Talent shows, Yearbook, music lessons, dance lessons.

Action• School/club teams (badminton/table tennis, baseball, basketball, cross-

country, cricket, golf, hockey, rugby, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, ultimate, volleyball), Fitness Club, Marketing Fair, Martial Arts, SAC, Student Government, Terry Fox Run – participation as athlete, manager, trainer, assistant or event/tournament organizer

Service• Best Buddies, Covenant House, Environmental Club, Earth Day Clean-Up,

Equity Advisory Committee, Female Student Empowerment, Free the Children, Gateway to McGivney for new Canadians, Missionaries of the Poor, Good Shepherd, Christmas Casseroles, Greenhouse Club, International visitors, Interact, OSAID, Peer Mentorship, Peru high school, Rose of Sharon, ShareLife, SLAM, Student Government, tutoring, Tuck Shop

IB Learner ProfileThe aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded

people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful

world. IB learners strive to be:

• Inquirers• Knowledgeable• Thinkers• Communicators• Principled

• Open-minded• Caring• Risk-takers• Balanced• Reflective

Diploma Programme Assessment

A variety of different methods are used to measure student achievement against the objectives for each course.

External assessment

• Examinations form the basis of the assessment for most courses because of their high levels of objectivity and reliability. They include: essays, structured problems, short-response questions, data-response questions, text-response questions, case-study questions, multiple-choice questions (limited use of these).

• There are also a small number of other externally assessed pieces of work, for example, theory of knowledge essays, extended essays and world literature assignments. These are completed by students over an extended period under teacher supervision instead of examination conditions, and are then marked by external examiners.

Internal assessment

• Teacher assessment is also used for most courses. This includes: oral work in languages, fieldwork in geography, laboratory work in the sciences, investigations in mathematics, artistic performances.

• Assessments are checked by external examiners and normally contribute between 20% and 30% of the total mark.

• Some of the arts courses, for example, music, theatre arts and visual arts, have assessment of a major practical component, which can account for as much as 50% of the total mark.

Conditions of the IB Diploma

Performance is based on a 7 point scale for each course.

6 courses x 7 points/course = 42 points

Bonus points for outstanding Extended Essay & TOK Essay = 3 points

TOTAL = 45 points

Minimum score needed for Diploma is 24 points.

***Plus, satisfactory participation in creativity, action & service (CAS)

IBSO Table of Equivalent Grades

IB 7-point Scale OSSD % Ranges

7 97 – 100%

6 93 – 96%

5 84 – 92%

4 72 – 83%

3 61 – 71%

2 50 to 60%

1 Below 50%

University Recognition

• Universities around the world welcome the unique characteristics of IB Diploma Programme students & recognize the way in which the programme helps to prepare students for university-level education.

• Applicants must possess a minimum score of 28 and have completed the diploma with 6 subjects (3 higher-level and 3 standard-level).

• A maximum of 3 transfer credits may be granted for higher-level courses with grades of 5 or better.

http://www.ibo.org

FMM Pre-IBWhat is it?

The FMM Pre-IB Programme takes place in Grades 9 & 10.

It is meant to be preparatory years where students can “test the IB waters” to see if the programme is the right choice for them for Grade 11 & 12.

Fees• $35 Testing fee (Test date: Saturday, November 21, 2015)• $100 School Activity Fee (all students at FMM)• $150 IB Special Programme Fee (Grades 9)• $350 IB Special Programme Fee (Grades 10), $1250 (Grade 11),

and $1250 (Grade 12)

• Fees defrays cost of:– Annual school fee– Student examination fees– TOK & Extended Essay fees– Courier & postal charges

• Refund Policy: Special Programme Fee will be refunded in full prior to June 30th, 2016. After June 30th, 2016 a $25.00 administration fee will be withheld. Once school begins in September, there will be no Special Programme Fee refunds provided.

Applications available online: http://fmmh.ycdsb.ca

• Gr. 9 FMM Pre-IB Application form• Final Gr. 7 Report Card & most recent Grade 8 Report

Card• Confidential Report from Grade 8 Teacher• Pre-Admission Questionnaire/Checklist for all Non-

Associate Feeder Elementary Schools• TCH 19A for applicants out of school boundary/region• $35 application fee • Test date: Saturday, November 21, 2015 (8:30 am –

11:30 pm)

Submit to Mr. Simmons in the FMM Main Office by Friday, November 13, 2015

Selection Process

Successful candidates must demonstrate:

– The ability to study academic type courses– “Very good” to “Excellent” learning skills and subject

achievement as indicated on report cards– Recommendation from teacher(s)– Submission of completed application by deadline date– Test Results

Notification

Offer of acceptance into the

Grade 9 FMM Pre-IB Programme

will be mailed: January 29, 2016.

International Baccalaureate Organization

For further information about the

IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org