International Baccalaureate
Currently Chatham College School offers the Ontario Academic High School Program. This program provides the required academic course of study for all public and separate high schools in Ontario, Canada.
Graduates are issued an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and are eligible to apply for university and college admission.
Chatham College School, in its first year, will be applying to become an IBO primary years (PYP) school. The following information is derived directly from the IBO's website and can be accessed through the following link: www.ibo.org
Chatham College School intends to implement all three IBO levels of curriculum, the Primary Years Program (ages 3-12), Middle Years Program (ages 11 to 16), and the Diploma Years (ages 16 to 19).
What is the Primary Years Programme (PYP)?
It is a transdisciplinary programme of international education designed to foster the development of the whole child. The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) is designed for students aged 3 to 12. It focuses on the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic development. The PYP draws on research and best practice from a range of national systems with a wealth of knowledge and experience from international schools to create a relevant, engaging, challenging and significant educational framework for all children.
What is the curriculum framework? The curriculum framework consists of five essential elements: concepts, knowledge, skills, attitude, action. The knowledge component is developed through inquiries into six transdisciplinary themes of global significance, supported and balanced by six subject areas.
What is the Middle Y
ears Programme (MYP)?
The five-year MYP, grades 6-10, offers an educational approach that embraces yet transcends traditional school subjects. Students in the MYP study all the major disciplines, including languages, humanities, sciences, mathematics, arts, technology and physical education. The MYP seeks to help students make connections between disciplines to give them a broader perspective, and encourages them to participate actively in their communities. Teachers plan and teach much of their curriculum in an interdisciplinary way so that these connections are evident. International-mindedness is foundational to the program.
District and state subject area standards are more than met in the curriculum. MYP supplements and enhances it so that the rigor and pace are appropriate for students. IBMYP objectives and assessment criteria are used per subject. Assessment is criterion referenced, which means that students are assessed against standards rather than each other.
The curriculum model shows 8 subject areas and 5 "Areas of Interaction," themes that weave through the subjects, adding relevance and real-life application on a daily basis. Students earn a certificate in the MYP in grade 10 after the successful completion of the program requirements, which include community service and the culminating year-long independent Personal Project.
Frequently Asked Questions about the International Baccalaureate
What is the International Baccalaureate program ?
The International Baccalaureate (IB) program is an academic program that is delivered and respected around the world. IB began in Europe in the mid-1960s to meet the academic needs of children in international communities. It blends the best educational practices of all countries. The IB program emphasizes rigorous study in all academic areas, a worldwide assessment system that ranks students on an international basis, responsible citizenship, critical and compassionate thinking, lifelong learning, an international outlook, and respect for other perspectives.
What is the difference between IB and Advanced Placement (AP)?
Both IB and AP share the goal of educating young people to take on the challenge of further advanced coursework. They differ in that IB offers an entire program, which requires the student who chooses it to master all course areas, conduct independent research, consider the roots of knowledge, and do community and school service. IB scores (1-7) are based on several components of work such as a portfolio, oral exam, written exam, lab notebook, as well as written papers. AP scores (1-5) rest solely on a single exam given on a single day.
Is IB an advantage when my child goes to college/university?
IB students are highly regarded by universities and colleges not only in the US but also around the world. In addition, most colleges and universities offer credit for scores of 4-5 or above, and many students who complete the diploma program are awarded sophomore college placement upon admission. Many well known Ivy League Institutions‘ Admission Deans state IB graduates are highly sought after as students for their prestigious schools. (See “What Universities say about the IB”) There are scholarships available at many universities in the US exclusively for IB diploma holders.
Can my child still be a child and yet keep up with the challenging work of IB?
IB courses grow in rigor as your child grows and matures academically, so each year is challenging but “handleable.” At Chatham College School we encourage the students to seek a life that balances healthy living, sports, leadership activities, community service, family, and friends along with academics.
What if our family moves, will it be difficult for child to continue the IB program?
The program is offered to children in more than 1,700 schools in 122 countries, including 677 schools in the United States. The number of IB students worldwide grew 73 percent between 2000 and 2005, to 62,885. In fact there are several whole school districts in the US that offer IB curriculum. There is a rapidly growing number of other prospective and candidate schools at all three levels in the US and around the world.
What is the IB's global outlook?
IB encourages international-mindedness in students. To do this, The IB program encourages students to first develop an understanding of their own cultural and national identity. In His State Of The Union Address in January 2006, President Bush cites IB as crucial to his “American Competitiveness Initiative,” a program designed to aid American students to achieve their highest potential enabling the U.S. to maintain its leadership in an increasingly competitive and innovative global markets and industries.
The IB curriculum aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. The IB organization encourages students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right. Respecting people is in keeping with all the faiths of the world. The IB curriculum aims to develop inquiring knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.