AP/IB Boosters Newsletter, February 7, 2005

Hello AP/IB Boosters!

Contents

• Inglemoor International Baccalaureate (IB) Program Info Night Recap
• Advanced Placement Report to the Nation 2005
• Creating an Equitable AP Program, College Board Online Event, February 15^th, 2005
• Jackson HS PTSA Newsletter Article
• Drug and Alcohol Prevention: Keeping Kids on the Right Track, U.S. Dept. of Ed Online Event, February 15^th, 2005
• Jackson HS Community Drug Awareness Night, February 16^th, 2005
• Saving for College Information Night at Heatherwood Middle School, February 24, 2005
• Summer Programs (Time to register)
• Lunar New Year Celebration, February 12, 2005, Year of the Rooster

Well, it was a good thing the fire marshal wasn’t there. The theatre was packed – stuffy standing room only. Several Inglemoor students and teachers explained some of the aspects of the IB Program. It was easy to see why Inglemoor is one of the top IB schools in the nation. Current IHS students (sophomores and seniors) explained to students in the audience that yes, your GPA will drop a little. But you will learn so much. Two of the six IB students on the panel were seniors who also played on the football team. These young men talked about how the IB program is indeed demanding but students still have time for other activities including sports. Comments that the IHS teachers were the key to the success of the Inglemoor program was the common theme of the evening. All IB teachers must meet the rigorous IB international standards. Their work (assignments and grading) are periodically reviewed throughout the school year by experts from around the world to ensure compliance to IB standards. And of course the culminating IB exams for students also give feedback to teachers on how well they are teaching. The IB exams are even more rigorous than AP exams. IB exams can take 5 hours over 2 days and can cover content learned over 2 years. Inglemoor already has a wide selection of IB level courses. But their program continues to expand. They are adding IB Music this Fall. They are adding additional higher level (HL) IB science courses. Inglemoor’s IB Computer Science will start using the Java programming Language - same as the College Board’s AP Computer Science courses.

AP and IB have a bit of a healthy competition. IB takes more of a holistic approach. But both programs are outstanding and continue to improve. Inglemoor math students often take the AP Calculus BC exam and the AP Statistics exam. IB and AP are in the same league.

Most of the material that was distributed at the February 2^nd IB Info Night Event is online at Inglemoor’s web site.

http://ihsweb.nsd.org/

The 50^th year anniversary of the Advanced Placement Program is approaching. (It is not a fad.) Part 1 of this report summarizes each state’s participation and performance data. Part 2 highlights the leading performing schools in each AP subject area. For instance, the schools that are leading the world in helping the widest segment of their population attain college-level mastery of AP World History are:

Small size school (<500 students): International Baccalaureate School (Bartow, FL).

Medium size school (500 – 999 students): Staten Island High School (Staten Island, NY).

Large size school (1000+ students) Highland Park HS (Dallas, TX); Newport HS (Bellevue, WA).

School with the largest number of African American students scoring 3+: Elmont Memorial Junior Senior HS (Elmont, NY).

School with the largest number of Latino students scoring 3+: Barbara Goleman HS (Miami, FL).

The report describes a new measure of AP equity and excellence. It is the % of students in a population (school, district, state) who had at least 1 AP experience that resulted in an exam score of 3 or higher. (AP exam scores range from 1, the lowest, to 5, the highest.) Beginning this summer, each school will receive this performance assessment as part of their AP school report card.

This new measurement has the following benefits:

1. It shows the overall population that demonstrates college-level mastery of an AP subject sometime in high school.
2. Each student only counts once. This fosters inclusiveness.
3. There is no way to inflate this metric by restricting access to AP.

Washington State is one of the six states that have shown the greatest amount of positive change in this measurement. The other states are Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Colorado, and Connecticut.

For the class of 2000, the % of students who demonstrated college-level mastery of an AP course in high school in Washington’s public schools was 7.6. For the 2004 class, it was 11.6.

The full report can be found at:

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/documentlibrary

http://apcentral.collegeboard.com

"The Oak Ridge schools have been rated as one of the top 100 school districts in the United States and second in the South (Wall Street Journal's Offspring Magazine). The high school offers 22 AP courses and administers over 500 AP Exams."

Oak Ridge principal, Ken Green, will give this presentation on giving all students access to AP.

About Oak Ridge High School.

http://orhs.ortn.edu/

We would like to thank the Jackson HS PTSA for publishing the many articles we have submitted over the years in the JHS PTSA Newsletter. The February 2005 PTSA newsletter contains an article we submitted that is a reprint from the organization "Parents - The AntiDrug."

"EXPERTS AGREE THAT MARIJUANA AND LEARNING DON’T ADD UP.

An open letter to parents: The high school years can be an anxious time in your child’s life and perhaps yours as well. As teens set their sights on making the grade and making their way in the world, the stresses can begin to add up for the entire family. You’ve worked hard to encourage your child in school. But you might not be aware of the increased risk for drug use during this important life phase, or of the impact marijuana can have on a teen’s ability to learn and succeed. Teens are at a critical point in building the academic foundation for the rest of their lives. But experts agree, marijuana has no place in the equation for success.

Consider this:

• Teens who begin marijuana use at an early age when the brain is still developing may be more vulnerable to neuropsychological deficits, especially verbal abilities.
• Researchers have found that heavy marijuana use impairs the ability of teens to concentrate and retain information. This can be especially problematic during peak learning years.
• Research has discovered that teens with an average grade of "D" or below are more than four times as likely to have used marijuana in the past year as youth who reported an average grade of "A."
• The more a student abuses substances, the lower his grade point average is likely to be.
• Further, those who drink underage or use drugs are up to five times more likely than their peers to drop out of high school.

Don’t let drugs or alcohol compromise your child’s ability to learn. The good news is that teen drug use and underage drinking have dropped in the past two years. Help keep that trend going by staying involved in your teen’s school life, and share these facts about marijuana. Be clear about your expectations, because the rules you set and enforce today will make all the difference in your teen’s life tomorrow."

SIGNED

American Academy of Family Physicians

American Academy of Pediatrics

American School Counselor Association

The Center for College Health and Safety

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities

National Association of Asian and Pacific-American Education

National Student Assistance Association

Partnership for a Drug-Free America

United Negro College Fund

Office of National Drug Control Policy

PARENTS. THE ANTI-DRUG

www.theantidrug.com

The U.S. Department of Education has many online events to help kids and parents with primary school education, secondary school education, and college. This month’s event is on drug and alcohol prevention.

http://registerevent.ed.gov/

http://registerevent.ed.gov/downlink/event-flyer.asp?intEventID=182

We want Jackson HS students (and all ESD students) to be successful in college and in life. However, they must first avoid the drug and alcohol trap. Jackson HS is offering an information night for families to assist in this effort.

We are proud to be working with the Heatherwood Middle School PTA and Heatherwood administrators on this upcoming event. Mark your calendars. We will have more to say about this event in our next newsletter.

http://www.apibboosters.org/SavingForCollege.html

If you want your child or teenager to enroll in a summer academic program, you need to register soon. Some of the outstanding programs (such as UW Summer Stretch) will fill up quickly. We have updated our calendar of events page. At the bottom of it, we list some of the summer youth programs in our community. Some are open enrollment and some are selective.

One of the listed open enrollment programs is Cougar Quest at Washington State University.

"Cougar Quest is for you if you are entering grades 7 through 12 fall 2005. It is an exciting week long camp where you choose your route to discovery. Your days will be filled with hands-on activities led by world class Washington State University faculty."

http://www.cougarquest.wsu.edu/

Another one of the open enrollment programs is DigiPen in Redmond. DigiPen presents a summer workshop series designed to introduce participants of all experience levels to the fundamentals of game programming, robotics, and 3D computer animation. There are courses for middle school students, high school students, and college students. All workshop attendees will have an opportunity to tour portions of Nintendo of America.

http://www.digipen.edu/

One of the selective programs is Science Splash at Seattle University. This program is for 8^th grade girls.

"Scholarships will be provided for the girls who are selected.

Students will do what America's top scientists do every day:

• Perform experiments and gather data
• Analyze the results with charts, graphs, and computers
• Ask questions about the significance of the outcomes

They will also:

• Work with scientists on research projects
• Use their knowledge and skills to serve the community
• Learn about career opportunities
• Develop trust and friendships
• Become part of a local network and a worldwide community"

http://www.seattleu.edu/splash/

http://www.apibboosters.org/events/Events.html

http://www.internationaldistrict.org/event_detail.asp?EventID=71

"FREE ADMISSION!!!

Saturday, February 12, 2005

12:00 - 6:00 PM

Union Station Great Hall

401 South Jackson Street

Seattle, WA 98104

The Chinatown-International District welcomes you as Bank of America presents the Lunar New Year Celebration on February 12th, 2005 at the Union Station-Great Hall (401 South Jackson Street). There will be plenty of entertainment and fun activities that are sure to delight guests of all ages! Come and enjoy lively musical performances and cultural dances on the Toyota Main Stage. Bring your family and friends to visit our many booths featuring arts & crafts, local businesses, and community organizations. Experience the rich flavors of the Chinatown-International District at our food court. $3.00 food coupons may be purchased at the door.

After the celebration, we encourage you to visit the brand new International District/Chinatown Community Center`s 2005 Lunar New Year Celebration For Kids for sports and activities for the whole family!

We look forward to celebrating the Year of the Rooster with you!"