WELCOME TO THE HAINES CITY INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM!

1. WELCOME TO THE HAINES CITY INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAM!

2. WHAT WILL I GAIN FROM TONIGHT’S MEETING? • An overview of the IB program, including the mission of the organization, the components of the program and the course of study. • The selection process for Polk County’s IB programs. • The advantages of being a part of the IB school. • Expectations for IB students and parents. • Zoning for the two IB schools.

3. ZONING FOR IB HCHS BHS Lake Gibson Sr. Lake Wales Sr. Haines City Sr. Bartow Sr. Ridge Community Mulberry Sr. Winter Haven Sr. Frostproof Sr. Lake Region Sr. Ft. Meade Sr. Auburndale Sr. George Jenkins Sr. Lakeland Sr. Kathleen Sr. Tenoroc

4. How did YOU get here tonight? • Letters were given to all eighth grade students who ended the 7th grade with a 3.25 grade point average.

5. Organization: What is the IBO mission?We are motivated by a mission to create a better world through education. Mission The International Baccalaureate Organization 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 IBO 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.

6. Scheduling Model • Haines City High’s schedule is as follows: 1st period meets everyday Followed by three 90 minute blocks that alternate throughout the week.

7. How does the IB program fit into Haines City High? • The IB program has a different curriculum and graduation requirements than the standard diploma track. However, students may take electives within the high school and of course, participate in all of the extra curricular activities HCHS offers.

8. WHAT IS THE IB PROGRAM? The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program is a rigorous two year preuniversity course of study. *Designed for students in 11th and 12th grades. *Students take six IB subjects and each subject culminates in an exam at the end of the two years. *Students participate in a pre-IB program in grades 9 and 10 to develop a strong academic foundation for the IB Diploma Program.

9. THE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME CURRICULUM

10. CURRICULUM • Language A- 4 credits Grade 9: Pre-IB English I Grade 10: Pre-IB English II Grade 11: IB English III Grade 12: IB English IV • Language B- 4 credits Grade 9: Pre IB Foreign Language I Grade 10: Pre IB Foreign Language II Grade 11: IB Foreign Language III Grade 12: IB Foreign Language IV We offer Spanish, French and German.

11. Curriculum, Continued • Individuals and Societies- 4 credits Grade 9 :Advanced Placement Human Geography Grade 10: Advanced Placement European History, AP World History or World History Honors Grade 11: IB History of the Americas Grade 12: Contemporary History • Experimental Sciences – 4 credits Grade 9: Pre-IB Biology I Grade 10: Pre-IB Chemistry I Grade 11: IB Biology II or IB Chemistry II Grade 12: IB Biology III or IB Chemistry III

12. CURRICULUM, CONTINUED • Mathematics- 5 credits Grade 9: Algebra 1 and Geometry Grade 10: Algebra II or Pre-Calculus Grades 11 and 12: IB Math Sixth Subject: • This group includes visual arts, music or psychology • Theory of Knowledge: 1 credit • Extended Essay of 4,000 words on a personal research project.

13. COMMUNITY SERVICE • COMMUNITY SERVICE IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE IB PROGRAM. NINTH AND TENTH GRADE STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO EARN 25 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE each year. • Over the 11th and 12th grade years, students must earn a total of 150 CAS hours ( creativity, action and service).

14. COMMUNITY SERVICE • FOR STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, FOR EACH HOUR OF PARTICIPATION IN A PRACTICE ( SUCH AS BAND, ROTC COMPETITION, SPORTS COMPETITIONS, CHESS COMPETITIONS ETC.), STUDENTS MAY EARN ONE HOUR OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, UP TO A TOTAL OF 20 HOURS.

15. RECAP OF IB DIPLOMA REQUIREMENTS: A STUDENT MUST: • Complete courses from the six content groups • Take and meet the IB standards on the six exams • Complete the CAS requirement of 150 hours • Complete the Theory of Knowledge requirement • Completion of an Extended Essay

16. SCHOOL HOURS: • IT’S EARLY!!! • SCHOOL BEGINS AT 6:55 AND RELEASES AT1:35.

17. SPORTS AND CLUBS • Some of the clubs on campus include: Key Club: a service organization Interact Club: a service organization Chess Club: took second place in the Polk Scholastic Chess Competition this year A Team: a competitive academic team Drama Club Ceramics Club History Club We also have Student Government , National Honor Society and National Arts Honor Society .

18. SPORTS AT HCHS • Sports offered: • Football • Baseball and Softball • Volleyball • Track and Cross Country • Soccer • Weightlifting • Basketball, girls and boys • Tennis: girls and boys • Golf, boys and girls • Swimming • Cheerleading • Wrestling

19. Attitudes and Skills of a Successful IB Candidate: • An eagerness to learn. • Can use a planner, calendar, can manage time.

20. Skills continued • Uses note taking as a habit. • Arrives at class well prepared. • An ability to ask for help. • The willingness to work diligently and consistently for the entire four year program.

21. WHY SHOULD I BECOME AN IB STUDENT? • IB students often have an advantage in the admissions process at selective universities. Students earning the IB Diploma are awarded advanced standing at prestigious universities around the world. For example, of the last freshman class applying for admission to the University of Florida, less than 50% of applicants were accepted, although more than 78% of IB students applying were accepted. • With an IB Diploma, you may begin college with 30 or more college credit hours. ( one full year of college) • Schools must undergo an exhaustive application process for authorization to offer IB courses. Once authorized, schools are required to participate in IB professional development and be reviewed each five years. This ensures adherence to the high standards of the IB curriculum. • All teachers are trained by the IBO. • Our students are members of a small learning community, receiving individual attention from their teachers, and getting to know classmates well.

22. ADVANTAGES, CONTINUED • Students who earn the IB Diploma qualify for the Florida Academic Scholars (FAS) of the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program, which provides 100% tuition at Florida public institutions. • Individual attention to learning/emotional needs within a small nurturing learning community. • Opportunity to be a part of a curriculum which emphasizes a global perspective and encourages active citizenship.

23. How Did Our First Graduating Class Do? • Here are some highlights: Scholarships earned: U. of Miami: $96,000 NYU: $64,000 Kettering University: $54,000 U. of Chicago: $204,000 Fordham: $150,000 Scholarships totaled $1, 347, 910

24. WHAT NEXT? If you are interested in proceeding with the application process, please complete the one page form we passed out on your way in. If we do not receive yours tonight, we will take your child’s name off of the list of potential applicants. In late January, we will request the middle school grade point averages in the four core classes through the end of the first semester of eighth grade. Students will be given an exam developed by the College Board and we will also consider FCAT scores. Students will be notified before mid April of their acceptance status.

25. QUESTIONS? • PLEASE CHECK OUR WEB PAGE PERIODICALLY. WWW.HAINESCITYHIGHSCHOOL.COM • THEN TO THE IB LINK FOR UPDATES. • Feel free to email me with questions: sue.braiman@polk-fl.net or call at 419-3371.