Coordinator's Messages

Welcome to School Year 2008-2009!

We are off to a great start, despite the tropical storm. Students are enthusiastic, the faculty is feeling positive, and the opening of school was relatively smooth.

We had a great testing year in 2008. Our diploma rate was 88 percent, so many of the Class 2008 entered universities at the sophomore or higher level. Here is Heidi McNabb, enthusing about her son Justin’s matriculation to University of South Florida:

“ I just want to say that IB is a beautiful thing....This is what shows for Justin at USF, and he hasn't taken a class yet!

Major woo-hoo for IB!!! (At least to this tuition paying mom!)”

You have already earned the following:

Level

Type

Hours

Undergraduate

Transfer

30.00

So, when your student starts to wonder if it is worth it, remind him/her that it certainly is. Additionally, what the Class of 2008 is not yet able to express but which they will soon realize, is that they were excellently prepared for the challenges of college. While their classmates panic at the thought of a 5-page paper, IB students sit down and get it done. That is priceless!

Mrs. Bailey, our CAS coordinator, and I will soon meet with freshmen to cover CAS requirements. Sophomores must have 20 hours completed and documented by April 1, 2010.

I have met with juniors to give them some perspective on the junior year. The junior year may be the first time some of the students have had to put in real time studying. I also pointed out that those students with perfectionist tendencies would have to start letting go. Of course, we want all students to shoot for 4,0, but also remember that a B is a respectable grade in IB. Finally, students and parents need to have perspective and a sense of humor. As I am always saying to the students, unless someone is permanently physically damaged, almost any situation can be fixed or at least ameliorated.

Seniors should be looking at colleges, signing up for SATs and ACTs, working on CAS, applying to college and keeping up their grades. Not too much…Seriously, your senior needs emotional support and understanding at this time. It is a very busy and intense time in a student’s life, but should also be fun.

Remember the Eat, Meet and Greet on Sept 7 at Langford Park. Also, keep your eye on this space for upcoming IB PAC Meeting dates.

Email me with any ideas you might have for IB PAC presentations. What do you need to know as your student progresses through the program? Give me ideas and then mark the date for meetings. The more you know, the more comfortable you will be with the path your student has chosen.