International Baccalaureate

What is an IB Education?

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

AN IB EDUCATION CENTERS ON LEARNERS

AN IB EDUCATION DEVELOPS EFFECTIVE APPROACHES TO TEACHING AND LEARNING

An IB education empowers young people for a lifetime of learning, independently and in collaboration with others by using the following approaches:

Inquiry: students working together to construct meaning and make sense of the world, exploring curriculum that is engaging, relevant, challenging, and significant.
Action: students are encouraged to act at home, in classrooms, schools, communities and the broader world. Action may involve service learning, advocacy and educating self and others.
Reflection: students are given opportunities to reflect on their own thinking and effort, which leads to deeper understanding of what is being learned.

AN IB EDUCATION WORKS WITHIN GLOBAL CONTEXTS

An IB education aims to develop internationally minded people by encouraging:

Multilingualism and intercultural understanding: involves communicating in a variety of ways and to recognize and reflect on one’s own perspective, as well as the perspectives of others in order to explore human commonality, diversity and interconnection.
Global engagement: involves a commitment to address humanity’s greatest challenges, at the local and global level.

AN IB EDUCATION EXPLORES SIGNIFICANT CONTENT

An IB education aims to provide students opportunities to explore curriculum that is:

Broad and balanced: offering students access to a broad range of content that spans academic subjects.
Conceptual: focuses on timeless, abstract, universal, and transferable ideas that reach beyond temporal, national, cultural and subject-area boundaries.
Connected: giving students authentic opportunities to make connections between many different subjects.

Contact Information

IB Diploma Program Coordinator
Conrad Anderson
(651) 552-5580 ext. 1374
canderson@sspps.org

MYP Coordinator
Melissa Miller
(651) 552-5569
mmiller@sspps.org

Lincoln Center Elementary
Diane Tiffany
(651) 457-9426
dtiffany@sspps.org

Kaposia Education Center
Kim Laska
(651) 288-6878
klaska@sspps.org

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMMES

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME (PYP) GRADES K-5

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME

Lincoln Center Elementary and Kaposia Education Center are proud to be International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP) World Schools. Designed for students in grades K-5, the PYP covers the traditional elementary school subjects and standards; organizing the curriculum around six age appropriate themes that reflect the best practices in teaching at the elementary level.

For example, in addressing one of the six themes, “Where we are in place and time,” a student might go beyond the traditional study of South St. Paul to find links to other river cities around the world. They might ask questions such as: How are they like South St. Paul? How are they different from my community?

In addressing each of the six curricular themes, teachers will guide the students to higher levels of knowledge by using a process of inquiry which builds upon the student’s own knowledge and innate ability to ask questions. The PYP will culminate in the 5th grade with a project, the PYP Exhibition, to address a real world issue or problem. The project will include written work, oral presentations, the use of technology, and demonstrate a variety of transdisciplinary skills.

Why PYP?

The PYP is a clearly articulated K-5 curriculum with the Minnesota State Standards imbedded.
The PYP has high standards for all of our students.
The PYP helps students to dig deeper into subjects and develop enduring understandings about content.
The PYP develops the whole child. We develop attitudes and teach meaningful content.
The PYP requires community action to place our learning in a real life context.
The PYP utilizes the best practices in education. (Inquiry, assessment, collaboration, and multiple perspectives)
The PYP requires continuous improvement for our schools with internal and external evaluations.

Click here to learn more about the PYP.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the PYP coordinators.

MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME (MYP) GRADES 6-10

MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME

The Middle Years Programme (MYP) includes all students in grades 6-10. As part of the MYP, a student studies eight traditional subjects each year which are organized around a framework for learning that is especially appropriate for the development of students in this age group. The MYP has no external assessments. However, in each subject area students must be assessed according to criteria established by the International Baccalaureate Organization.

South St. Paul Secondary became on authorized MYP school in July of 2008.

Why MYP?

The MYP is a challenging framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world.

The MYP is a five-year program, which can be implemented in a partnership between schools, or in several abbreviated (two, three, or four year) formats. Students who complete the MYP are well-prepared to undertake the IB Diploma Programme (DP).

Find out more a bout the MYP.

MYP Fundamental Concepts

The Fundamental Concepts are guiding principles for the overall implementation of curriculum. The three concepts are Communication, Intercultural Awareness, and Holistic Education.

In a world where information increases exponentially and can be shared in so many ways it is important for our students to have strong communication skills. These skills include reading, writing, speaking and listening as well as audio and visual presentations.

Intercultural awareness is concerned with developing students' awareness about their culture as well as others. South St. Paul Secondary has a rich history and a diverse student population. The goal of this concept is to develop empathy and understanding of other cultures.

The concept of Holistic Education is concerned with the interrelatedness of all disciplines. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the MYP coordinator.

DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

The International Baccalaureate (IB) program at South St. Paul High School builds on the strengths of the traditional American public school system while recognizing the need for global awareness and commitment as students prepare for citizenship in the 21st century.

The IB Diploma Programme is comprehensive and encourages critical thinking, research skills, and service to the community as part of the learning process. As many as 70 students a year graduate with IB Honors – in addition to completing IB course work, they have fulfilled a number of CAS hours, hours dedicated to Creativity, Activity, and Service. The coursework IB students complete provides a greater depth of study than courses that many other high schools offer. The IB Diploma Program prepares students for post-secondary success at any college or university – locally, nationally, or internationally.

South St. Paul High School's IB Program has been in place since 1986 and was Minnesota's first IB World School.

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME?

We want all students to be a part of the IB Diploma Program. Successful IB Diploma Program students show ability, interest, self-discipline, and an awareness of others. Students from other districts wishing to enroll as part of the State of Minnesota’s Open Enrollment Policy should notify their home district by December, if possible, of the year prior to enrollment and, at the same time, call South St. Paul Secondary at (651) 457-9408 to obtain open-enrollment forms required by our district.

WHY TAKE THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME COURSES?

IB Diploma Program courses provide you with the solid, well-rounded education you’ll need to succeed in the 21st century. Our IB graduates will tell you that taking IB Diploma Program courses helped them immensely. They learned how to prioritize, focus, write, and think. When they reached college, they felt prepared to tackle almost any assignment that came their way, and they felt better prepared than their peers whose schools didn’t offer IB Diploma Program courses. Research also has proven that students that take at least one Diploma Program course have a better chance of completing college.

A very practical reason to take IB classes is that colleges are eager to accept students who have taken the more challenging classes that IB high schools offer. In addition, students who receive good scores on IB exams often get advanced placement and credit in college. In fact, many students who pursue the full IB Diploma are able to enter college as sophomores. Having to take fewer courses in college, or to be able to double major in 4 years, is a real money saver for you and your parents.

THE IB DIPLOMA

In addition to earning a high school diploma, students at South St. Paul Secondary can also be eligible for the IB Diploma. The IB Diploma is a degree that is recognized by colleges and universities around the globe. In order to be eligible for the IB Diploma, students need to take a full IB Diploma course load which would include satisfactory completion in 6 subject areas, completion of a course called Theory of Knowledge, documentation of Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) hours, and the completion of a 4,000 word Extended Essay on a topic of their choice.

HONORS PROGRAMME

Students can graduate with Honors at South St. Paul Secondary. At graduation, the district will recognize students for their academic achievement and effort within the IB program and for their participation in the Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) program.Students who qualify for Honors will be recognized at the end of their senior year – IB Course candidates will receive a silver medal to wear at the June graduation ceremony; IB Diploma candidates will receive a gold medal.

For more information on Honors and CAS, consult the CAS/Honors Handbook available from the IB Coordinator or CAS Coordinator.

To qualify for Honors, IB Course candidates must...

Test in at least four IB subjects (includes tests taken as a junior and senior), or test in at least three subjects and take two terms of Theory of Knowledge.
Fulfill the CAS Requirement.

To qualify for Honors, Diploma candidates must...

Fulfill the academic requirements for the IB Diploma. This includes:
- testing in 6 subjects;
- completing ToK;
- fulfilling the CAS requirement;
- and completing an Extended Essay.

Find out more about the DP.
If you have any further questions please feel free to contact the Ib Diploma Program coordinator.

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In This Section

International Baccalaureate

What is an IB Education?

AN IB EDUCATION CENTERS ON LEARNERS

AN IB EDUCATION DEVELOPS EFFECTIVE APPROACHES TO TEACHING AND LEARNING

AN IB EDUCATION WORKS WITHIN GLOBAL CONTEXTS

AN IB EDUCATION EXPLORES SIGNIFICANT CONTENT

Contact Information

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROGRAMMES

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME (PYP) GRADES K-5

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME

Why PYP?

MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME (MYP) GRADES 6-10

MIDDLE YEARS PROGRAMME

Why MYP?

MYP Fundamental Concepts

DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

DIPLOMA PROGRAMME

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME?

WHY TAKE THE IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME COURSES?

THE IB DIPLOMA

HONORS PROGRAMME