AP/IB Boosters Newsletter, November 15, 2004


 

Hello AP/IB Boosters!

Contents

 

The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Harbour Pointe Middle School

Excerpt from the Harbour Pointe Middle School Web Site

"This is our third year implementing the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme at Harbour Pointe. We began with sixth grade in 2002, added the seventh grade in 2003, and will offer MYP in grade 8 in 2004. This is a five-year program that begins in grade six and continues to grade ten. We are creating a partnership with Mariner HS’s ICAT academy to include the ninth and tenth grade components for students that choose to complete all five levels of the MYP. The general goals of the MYP are to promote:

• A holistic view of knowledge: students will understand how learning is connected to other subjects and applies to the real world.

• Intercultural Awareness: This is fostered by teaching respect and understanding for all cultures as well as helping students develop a sense of the global society in which we all live.

• Communication skills: These are developed through one’s own language, acquisition of a second language, and appreciation of different modes of thinking and expression. Emphasis is placed on the development of one’s written communication skills as well as the use of technology in communicating.

Teachers use a thematic, multidisciplinary and inquiry based approach to teaching best which addresses the unique learning needs of young adolescents. The areas of interaction (health & social education, community service, environment, approaches to learning, and homo faber) provide a framework for connecting the learning in all subject areas. Students are assigned a team of academic teachers that share a common group of students. The team gives the young adolescent an identity as soon as they begin their middle school career. There are multiple levels of math offered at each grade level while our other classes are heterogeneously grouped."

http://schools.mukilteo.wednet.edu/hp/

http://schools.mukilteo.wednet.edu/hp/News%20and%20Events/MYP%20Program/IBO.htm

 

Community Comments Regarding Schools
 
Please consider adding your comments
GreatSchools.net K-12 Schools in California, Arizona, Texas and Nationwide
http://aol.greatschools.net/
 
 
Using PSAT/NMSQT Scores with Students

Free College Board Event for Counselors

November 18 at 3:00 p.m. (EST)

"This online event will take place just before score reports arrive in schools. Pam Tan, director of operations for the PSAT/NMSQT, will describe the score reports and highlight some of the new information that will be provided on www.collegeboard.com for your students."

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

 

Cascadia Community College Open House, Saturday, November 20, 2004

Cascadia Community College, perhaps one of our state’s best community college, has its Fall Open House this Saturday, November 20, 2004, from 9 AM to 1 PM.

"Featuring Showcases and Information Sessions on:

Easy steps to get started in college

Worker retraining orientation

Online degree programs

Choosing a career

Financial aid opportunities

Continuing education offerings

Study Abroad

Student clubs and organizations

Library and Media Center

Bookstore

Tours of our beautiful campus

Families and kids are welcome!

Door prizes, food and more!"

Cascadia Community College

18345 Campus Way NE

Bothell, WA 98011

http://www.cascadia.ctc.edu/openhouse/

 

Virginia Virtual Advanced Placement School

School districts across our country are finding innovative ways to offer challenging courses to students regardless of where they happen to live. The following is a description of a program starting in Virginia. This program is similar to the Online High School of the Everett School District.

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The Virginia Virtual AP School was developed to ensure that a wide variety of college-level courses are available to every Virginia public school student, regardless of location. AP course offerings through the school will include English, Government, Calculus, Statistics, U.S. History, Chemistry, Biology, Spanish, Human Geography, Macro Economics, Micro Economics, Psychology, and Physics.

"Students achieve at a higher level when challenged by rigorous courses," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Jo Lynne DeMary. "The Virginia Virtual AP School increases opportunities for students in divisions that have been unable to offer such a wide array of courses."

"The College Board lauds the state of Virginia for its commitment to expanding AP opportunities for traditionally underserved students by providing AP courses via satellite and the internet," said Lee Fails, vice president for Regions and K-12 Services with the College Board, the not-for-profit organization that administers the AP Program. "Virginia has long been one of the leading states in AP participation and achievement, and this new initiative shows that Virginia is not content to rest on its laurels, but is truly committed to providing equitable opportunities for all motivated students to experience the benefits of the rigorous and stimulating AP curriculum."

http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Press_Policy/Releases/2004/Jun04/0617.htm

 
New World Language Courses from the College Board
Several new world language courses and exams from the College Board are on the horizon. The exams will assess students' interpersonal communication skills, their abilities to present and interpret language in spoken and written forms, and their functional familiarity with the culture.

AP Italian Language and Culture

New College Board course and exam starting in 2005/2006

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

 

AP Russian Language and Culture

New College Board course and exam likely to start in 2005/2006

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

 

AP Chinese Language and Culture

New College Board course and exam likely to start in 2006/2007

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

 

AP Japanese Language and Culture

New College Board course and exam likely to start in 2006/2007

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

 

Everett School District World Language Offerings

Spanish, French, and German are offered at the 3 high schools. Everett HS also offers American Sign Language. We are happy to report that additional World Language courses for the ESD are under review at this time. We would like to see at least one Asian language offered in 2005. We live on the Pacific Rim. Those of us in the private sector are constantly doing business in Asia. We, as world citizens, need to strengthen our ties to other countries.

 

 


Thank you.

Executive Board

AP/IB Boosters
Advanced Placement Opportunities for All Students
www.apibboosters.org
info@apibboosters.org

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