1. Parent/Student Information Meeting
Mt. Mourne School Authorized 2011

2. What is the International Baccalaureate Organization?
IBO is a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is aimed at creating a better world through education.
The organization works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging education programs with rigorous assessment components.
Its programs encourage students across the world to become life long learners.

3. IB Statistics
Size: The IBO works with 3,490 schools in 144 countries and serves over 1,064,000 students.
North Carolina: There are 57 IB schools. The closest to ISS are JM Alexander, North Mecklenburg High IB, and Hickory High IB Schools.
Programs: The IB curriculum offers three programs for students aged 3 to 19:
Primary Years Program
Middle Years Program
Diploma Program

4. The IB program in Iredell County
Mt. Mourne
6-8 MYP
South Iredell High
MYP & DP
9-12
Northview

5. Why is ISS providing the International Baccalaureate course of study for our students?
The Iredell-Statesville School District encourages all students to take the most rigorous course of study possible.
-- Research shows that students who succeed in IB programs tend to do better on university level work than other groups of students.
-- IB students earn higher average SAT scores in high school and maintain higher grade point averages at universities than non-IB students.

6. Why is ISS providing the International Baccalaureate course of study for our students?
University admissions officials are looking for three main things:
Students who took the most challenging high school courses possible
Students who are well-rounded
Students who demonstrate the likelihood that they will be successful post-secondary students

7. What makes IB Curriculum Different?

8. Middle Years Program Curriculum
IB Fundamental Concepts Holistic Communication International Mindedness

9. Middle Years Program Curriculum
Areas of Interaction
-The lens through which we view the content-
The five areas of interaction in the Middle Years Program are:
Community and Service, a component that requires students to take an active part in the communities where they live;
Human Ingenuity, another common entity of the program that promotes student exploration of the processes and products of human creativity, ultimately enabling them to lead fuller and more productive lives;
Environments, a component aimed at promoting students’ awareness of their interdependence with the environment and the acceptance of their responsibilities for it;
Health and Social, dealing with physical, social and emotional health and intelligence, leading to complete and healthy lives;
Approaches to Learning, with emphasis on students being responsible for their own learning, thereby developing an awareness of how they learn best.

10. Middle Years Program Curriculum
Student Learner Profile
- the attributes we want to instill in every IB student -
Inquirers
Knowledgeable
Thinkers
Communicators
Principled
Open-minded
Caring
Risk-takers
Balanced
Reflective

11. IB Learners turn their learning into Action.
Community and Service
IB Learners turn their learning into Action.
Required Hours:
6th Grade/Level hours
7th Grade/Level hours
8th Grade/Level hours
9th Grade/Level hours
10th Grade/Level hours
Community Service Is… Is Not…
Mowing an elderly neighbor’s yard Selling raffle tickets to neighbors
Serving homeless children Babysitting a sibling
Turning learning into action Something you would have done
even if you weren’t an IB student

12. Middle Years Program Curriculum
International Mindedness
Integrated into units through MYP Unit Planner
Focus of Global Conversations
Imbedded into everything we do

13. Middle Years Program Curriculum
Interdisciplinary Approach
There is a focus on Interdisciplinary Units between multiple (2 or more) disciplines
Synergize the learning
One assessment for multiple subjects
Helps students see interconnectedness
of the subjects

14. Middle Years Program Curriculum
Academic Rigor
A/B schedule – only 90 days per subject vs. 180
8 Subjects are considered core
Projects & Presentations
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
Students must take Integrated Math 1 in 8th grade
Students will take all 4 sciences in 9th & 10th grade
Summer Reading requirements
Summer Math requirements

15. Middle Years Program Curriculum
Foreign Language
6th Grade – French 1A or Spanish 1A
7th Grade – French 1B or Spanish 1B
8th Grade – French 2 or Spanish 2
9th Grade – French 3 or Spanish 3
10th Grade – French 4 or Spanish 4
Student will be fluent in Language B by the end of 12th grade

16. How are students evaluated?
8 subjects
3-6 criteria per subject
Objectives/rubric for each criterion
Work scored on scale of 0-8
Criteria outline what a student needs to know to be successful in the class.
Participants have a copy of the criteria for all subjects

17. Why it works treats learning as a process, not a product
based on the notion that Middle Years are not a three-year proposition
demands teachers design student-centered approaches to individuals through various lenses and methods  students become “makers of meaning” and problem-solvers
focuses on 21st-century skill acquisition, real-life experiences and deep understanding over rote
esteems critical thinking (Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation)
pushes beyond perceived comfort zones

18. Benefits of MYP (grades 6-10)
International-Mindedness and The Paradigm Shift from learning content to using content to grow:
Learner ProfileTraits:
The attributes of an IB Learner
Approaches to Learning: The ways in which IB Learners Learn
Balanced
Open-Minded
Collaboration
Caring
Principled
Communication
Communicators
Reflective
Information Literacy
Inquirers
Risk-takers
Organization
Knowledgeable
Thinkers
Reflection
Thinking
Transfer

19. IB and Athletics

20. Scholar Athletes & IB
Scholar athletes are encouraged to be in the IB program
Students will play for their home school based on attendance zone
Bussing is available to BMS and LMS
IB students will not be ‘penalized’ for not being at the home school

21. What will our students need in order to succeed?
The number one indicator of your child’s success at Mt. Mourne is MOTIVATION. (Learning for the sake of learning)
Students should have a strong foundation in reading and writing skills as well as strong study habits early in their schooling.
Students should have a strong foundation in mathematics. At Mt. Mourne, the math program moves at a quick pace.
Students should be able to demonstrate a high level of classroom success.
Being a student at Mt. Mourne requires a family commitment to academic success.

22. Lottery
In the event that more students request admittance and meet the criteria than space allows, a lottery may be implemented. If a lottery is required, the following criteria must be met to be included:
Application must be complete and submitted by due date.
All entrance criteria must be met.
Any lottery required would be held at the district office at a published time and date.
After allotment is met, students will be put on a wait list in the order that they were drawn and would be offered admittance if space becomes available during the school year.
Ivey

23. Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions
What grade levels will be included in the IB Candidate Schools? Grades 6 – 10 (grades 6-8 at Mt. Mourne and grades 9-10 at South Iredell High School)
Is there a cost to parents? No. Application to the IB program is open to any student living in the Iredell-Statesville School District.
What are the entrance criteria? Entrance criteria will include, but are not limited to, a previous year’s EOG scores and academic data and a statement from both student and parent regarding motivation, expectations and commitment to achievement in a rigorous curriculum.
How will students be assessed? Teachers organize continuous assessment over the course of the program taking account of specified criteria that correspond to the objectives for each subject. The NC state adopted standards will continue to be used as the basis for instruction.

24. Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions (continued)
5. Do IB teachers receive specialized training? Yes. Very specific training based upon IB principles and processes is provided for the IB staff. Plans are in place for teachers selected to teach in the ISS Program to receive training during this school year and the summer of Will bus transportation be provided? Yes. Students will be transported to their “traditional” school and then shuttled to the IB school. 7. Will students be allowed to participate in athletics and other extra curricular activities? Yes. Students may participate in sports and extra curricular activities at the school located in the district in which they reside (their traditional school). 8. How do I apply? . The application process and necessary forms can be found on the Mt. Mourne website. The deadline for submitting applications is February 14.

25. Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions
9. When will parents be notified whether or not their child has been accepted into the IB school? Written notification will be provided by March 31.
10. If my student attends the IB school and is not happy, will he/she be allowed to return to the traditional school? Yes. We want all students to be successful. If a student can be more successful in the traditional setting, they will be allowed to transfer at the end of the term.
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Links to additional International Baccalaureate information:
Middle Years Program at a Glance
IB Information for Parent
Iredell-Statesville Schools Choice
Mt. Mourne School
Northview School

26. Question and Answer Time
Please leave additional questions on an index card, and we will post the answers on our school website.
Thank you for Coming!
Ivey + All