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International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
2011 IB Seniors

Highland Park is one of three schools in St. Paul, and 16 in Minnesota, to offer the IB Diploma program. The program started at Highland in 1994. Worldwide, IB is offered in more than 2,400 schools in 131 countries. Any student who is motivated to take stimulating classes is welcome to participate in Highland's program, either taking the complete IB Diploma curriculum or in IB Diploma individual courses in an area of interest. Because IB students assume high levels of responsibility and require support from their families, parents are asked to sign their approval on any IB registration. For further information, please visit the IBO website or contact Highland's IB Diploma Program Coordinator Charlotte Landreau. 

Getting ready for IB
Students begin preparation for the IB Diploma Program by taking Accelerated classes in grades 9 and 10. These Accelerated courses help to develop andrefine higher level thinking skills, writing

2011 IB Seniors
techniques and oralcommunications. Accelerated courses are required for some IB courses.  

Components of IB
IB combines the strengths of a liberal arts curriculum with several important additional features. The components are:

  • Coursework in six academic areas: English, world language, history, science, mathematics, arts andelectives. Examinations in these areas are offered in May of each year.Successful examinations can lead to advanced college placement and/orcollege credits, depending on the individual college's policy.  
  • Theory of Knowledge (TOK): TOK is aninterdisciplinary requirement for Diploma and Honors students intendedto stimulate critical reflection on knowledge and experience gainedinside and outside the classroom; it is a three trimester-long courseoffered in the senior year. Students examine the grounds for the moral,political and aesthetic judgments that individuals must make in theirdaily lives.  
  • Creative, Action,
    2011 Seniors present at MN IB Association
    Service (CAS):     The goal of IBis to educate the whole person, to help students become responsible,compassionate citizens. The CAS requirement for Diploma and Honorsstudents encourages them to share their energy and special talents withothers outside of the school day.   
  • Extended Essay:Each student has the opportunity to investigate a topic of specialinterest. The essay requirements for Diploma candidates acquaint themwith the kind of independent research and writing skills expected inuniversity study.  

Students have a variety of choices within IB:
• They may pursue the full IB Diploma.
• They may pursue the IB Honors curriculum.
• They may take examinations in separate subjects.
• They may take the IB courses in areas of interests without taking examinations.

Participationin the program helps fulfill the requirements for high schoolgraduation in Minnesota.  Criteria for assurance: Highland Park Senior High

2008 Seniors
Class of 2008 IB Diploma Honors students
School can assure theanticipated IB Diploma candidate the opportunity of working towardher/his IB Diploma if the student enters their sophomore year: at levelthree (3) in their chosen World Language; at algebra/trigonometry.  

Full IB Diploma Path—High School Progression Diplomacandidates are required to select one subject from each of the sixsubject groups. At least three and not more than four are taken athigher level (HL), the others at standard level (SL). HL coursesrepresent 240 teaching hours, SL courses cover 150 hours. By arrangingwork in this fashion, students are able to explore some subjects indepth and some more broadly over the two-year period of their juniorand senior years.In addition to the six testing subjects, diploma students take arequired interdisciplinary course called Theory of Knowledge (TOK) intheir senior year. The Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS)requirement takes seriously the importance of life outside the world ofscholarship, engaging students in a minimum of 150 hours ofextracurricular
2007 IB Senior
Class of 2007 IB Diploma and Honors students
activities. Finally, diploma candidates are required toundertake independent and original research and write an extended essayof some 4,000 words during 11th and 12th grades.  

The Honors Diploma Students can earn an IB HonorsDiploma by testing in four subjects, completing 75 hours of CAS, takingthe TOK course, and presenting a reflective speech to a panel theirsenior year.  

Continued Progress in IB It is important for studentstaking IB classes to successfully master the content of coursematerials as future classes will be based on that knowledge. Studentsare encouraged to work with their teachers if they need additional helpin understanding class content and/or assignments. Students who receiveNs in two trimesters of a course cannot take the IB course in thatsubject area the following year.University Recognition Directory -  to determine a specific university's policies for IB recognition.
Volunteering Opportunities for CAS

IB Diploma and Honors students participate in service, action, and creativity projects as part of the CAS requirement.  See the Volunteering sidebar for more details, or contact Nancy Kolb, at nancy.kolb@spps.org, or in her office, near the Guidance offices.
News


Dates to watch for in Summer 2011:

If you are took an IB exam this May, your scores will be available online after July 6.  College transcripts are sent in late July.

Class of 2012 - be sure to prepare for your classes, look at colleges, and plan for the canoe trip to the BWCA!


Students  delivered their Honors Speeches on January 19 and 20, at 2:15, in the Band room.  Thanks to the panel of judges- the speeches were  great fun!




   If you have questions, please contact C Landreau at charlotte.landreau@spps.org or 651-293-5108.
IB at HPSH Calendar

Events in the life of IB Diploma program students at HP:
Art exams- April 18 and 19, in the multi purpose room (1314)
Senior IB Diploma and Honors student recognition:  Wednesday, April 27, 6pm, in the library- look for your invitation in the mail.
IB Exams - May 3-23, in the multi-purpose room (1314).  See attached calendar for details.