GUELPH – Students who graduate from the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program at Bishop Macdonell receive two diplomas: a regular Ontario Secondary School Diploma as well as a globally recognized IB diploma.
And it’s open to all interested Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) students – there is no aptitude test, minimum average, or interview to gain admittance.
Coordinator Amy Wilson attended the WCDSB meeting on Jan. 15 and said the program encourages critical thinking and independent thought, “aiming to educate the whole person” rather than only focussing on academics.
The IB classes are also smaller than other WCDSB classes.
A significant theme throughout the program is The Theory of Knowledge, Wilson said, which is both a stand-alone course and a concept that is incorporated in all IB courses.
The Theory of Knowledge encourages students to consider how they know what they know and to acknowledge assumptions and biases, she explained.
Kirsten Espina, left, and Jayda Saunders are Grade 9 International Baccalaureate foundations students. Above they are participating in a field study recording an index of invertebrate species to determine the water quality of the Eramosa and Speed Rivers. Submitted photo
Wilson said what sets the IB program apart is it “really understands what students need in the 21st century as learners,” preparing them for post-secondary and beyond. “It equips our students for the world today,” she continued.
And “Universities recognize the rigour of the IB program,” she said, as IB students are “often well ahead of their peers in terms of preparedness and skills they have starting their post-secondary” education.
Wilson has taught psychology in the IB program at Bishop Mac since its inception in 2018, and has been the program’s coordinator for two years.
Wilson explained the reason the IB diploma is internationally recognized is because it has a standardized assessment system.
The program is taught in over 150 countries and territories to almost two million students at more than 5,000 schools, according to IB officials.
Grade 11 International Baccalaureate students organized a ‘Socks for Legs’ fundraiser in which they sold socks to raise money for prosthetic legs. From left: Mhairi Milne, Adriana Richards, Christina Morrison, Maddie Rossit, and Madeline Marks showcase their fundraiser’s success. Submitted photo
Students write exams at Bishop Macdonell, and completed tests are sent out to be marked by IB assessors, to ensure “assessment is fair and equitable across the globe,” Wilson explained.
While the IB Diploma Program officially starts in Grade 11, Bishop Macdonell offers IB foundation courses in Grades 9 and 10, giving students a chance to give IB a try before signing up for the full program for Grades 11 and 12.
The WCDSB also offers an IB Primary Years Program at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Guelph for students in Kindergarten through to Grade 8.
For information about IB programs, visit ibo.org.
For more infromation about the program at Bishop Macdonell, email amy.wilson@wellingtoncdsb.ca.
To inquire about the IB Primary Years Program email natasha.finoro@wellingtoncdsb.ca.
