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INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE (IB) PROGRAM

AT ST. FRANCIS XAVIER SECONDARY SCHOOL

IBO Mission and Strategy Statement
STFXSS Beliefs and Vision Statement
IB Learner Profile Booklet
IB Americas promotional video

International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a rigorous pre-university course of studies, leading to examinations, designed for highly motivated secondary school students between the ages of 16 and 19 years. Conceived as a comprehensive two-year curriculum that allows its graduates to fulfill requirements of various national education systems, the diploma model is based on the pattern of no single country, but incorporates the best elements of several. 

The IB diploma candidates are required to select one subject from each of six subject groups.

Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature

Language A: Literature; Language A: Language and Literature, and Language A: Literature and Performance (an interdisciplinary subject).

In our school we offer Language A: Literature (in English)

Group 2:  Language Acquisition

Language ab initio courses are for beginners (that is, students who have little or no previous experience of learning the language they have chosen). These courses are only available at standard level.

Language B courses are intended for students who have had some previous experience of learning the language. They may be studied at either higher level or standard level.

Latin or Classical Greek coursework provides opportunities for students to study the language, literature and culture of ancient Rome or Greece.

Our school offers French B for this group.

Group 3: Individuals and Societies

Business and Management, Economics, Geography, History, Information Technology in a Global Society, Philosophy, Psychology, Social and Cultural Anthropology. All of these subjects may be studied at higher level or standard level. Global Politics is intended to be offered from September 2015.  World Religions will become a mainstream Standard Level only course for first year teaching in September 2011 and first examinations in May 2013.

Economics, History and Philosophy are offered in our school.

Group 4: Experimental Sciences

Biology, Chemistry, Design Technology, Physics, Environmental Systems and Societies (this course meets the Group 3 and Group 4 requirements).  All of these subjects may be studied at higher level or standard level. Sports, Exercise and Health Science will become a mainstream group 4 subject in 2012 with first examinations in 2014 (at Standard Level).

Biology, Chemistry, and Physics at both levels are offered in our school.

Group 5: Mathematics and Computer Science

Students must study at least one course in Mathematics; Computer Science is an elective.

Mathematics courses include: Mathematical Studies at Standard Level, Mathematics at Standard Level, Mathematics at Higher Level, and Further Mathematics at Standard Level (this course will become a Higher Level course in 2012 with first examinations in 2014).

Our school offers Mathematics at both levels.

Group 6: The Arts

Film, Music, Theatre, Visual Arts. These subjects may be studied at Higher Level or Standard Level. Dance will become a mainstream SL/HL course for first year teaching in September 2011, first examinations in May 2013.

We offer Music and Visual Arts in this group.

NOTE:  Students are required to choose one subject from each of the six academic areas, including one from Group 6 although instead of a group 6 subject they can choose a second from groups 1 – 5. In our school the choice is from groups 3 and 4.

The programme offers special features in addition to the strengths of a liberal arts curriculum.

  • Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is a required interdisciplinary course intended to stimulate critical reflection upon the knowledge and experience gained inside and outside the classroom. Theory of Knowledge seeks to develop a coherent approach to learning which transcends and unifies the academic subjects and encourages appreciation of other cultural perspectives.
  • Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) is a fundamental part of the diploma curriculum. The goal of educating the whole and fostering a more compassionate citizenry comes alive in an embedded way when students reach beyond themselves and their books.
  • Diploma candidates are required to undertake original research and create an Extended Essay of some 4000 words. This project offers the opportunity to investigate a topic of special interest and acquaints students with the kind of independent research and writing skills expected at university. 

The grading system used by the International Baccalaureate Organization is criterion referenced. This means that each students performance is measured against well-defined levels of achievement consistent from one examination session to the next. Top grades are not simply awarded "on a curve" to a certain percentage of candidates, but rather reflect attainment of knowledge and skills relative to set standards equally applied to all schools. Validity, reliability and fairness are the watchwords of the IBO's international examining board.

Please open the IB Preparatory Program Information Booklet for more details regarding the IB Diploma Programme at our school.

 
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