AAPS to Phase in International Baccalaureate Program

FROM:  http://news.a2schools.org/aaps-to-phase-in-international-baccalaureate-program/

 

March 27, 2014

By Tara Cavanaugh

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is set to become one of the few districts in Michigan with a comprehensive K-12 International Baccalaureate program.

The AAPS Board of Education voted to approve the program during its March 26 meeting. The board first discussed details of the program, including how students would be admitted, during a study session at Skyline last week.

International Baccalaureate offers high-quality international programming to more than one million students in 146 countries. IB works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. IB diploma certificates are given in addition to the high school graduation certificate and are accepted at universities worldwide.

Starting during the 2014-15 year, the district will begin the three-year process of fulfilling IB requirements and receiving IB authorization. The program will be in place for the 2016-17 year.

"We know that this program will satisfy a tremendous demand that we have," Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Swift said at the meeting.

"We feel that as we look into phasing in the International Baccalaureate program, we will be leveraging quite a lot of an investment back into our own Ann Arbor Public Schools and we will be able to provide that world-class and globally-connected program right here at home in our own district."

During the 2013-14 school year, 218 AAPS students participated in the Washtenaw County Consortium programs. The county offers a variety of alternative consortium programs for high school students, and the most popular one is its IB program. The district covers the cost of AAPS student attendance in those programs.

"That's $1.9 million we are paying to the county," Dr. Swift said, "And a good amount of that is for its International Baccalaureate program."

The board trustees voiced their support of the new program.

"This is absolutely wonderful," trustee Susan Baskett said. "I think this is a great opportunity for our students across the district. …This is going to be a very, very exciting adventure."

PHOTO: Big Bully Assembly

I want to thank the Performance Network Theater performers for their presentation today of Big Bully. Mitchell students really enjoyed the assembly and benefitted from hearing an important message that bullying does not make sense - in line at school, on the bus, online, or anywhere.

During the assembly, the performers shared what kids can do help prevent bullying including:
Set a good example for others.
When you see someone who is getting bullied, help them get away.
Tell a trusted grow up when you need help.
Sometimes bullies have very few friends. You might try being their friend today.

Tweet from Kevin Karr (@kevinkarr_aaps)

	Kevin Karr (@kevinkarr_aaps)
3/28/14, 10:10 AM Disability Awareness Day at Mitchell pic.twitter.com/hv5S2nmWCI

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PHOTO: Disability Awareness Day at Mitchell School

Thanks to the Betas of UM for sending 12 volunteers to today's workshop at Mitchell!

Jon Muncie@jmmuncie   @Beta_Michigan brothers volunteering at Mitchell Elementary this morning!@BetaThetaPi @tri_4everpic.twitter.com/s2thb3Ias5       01:42 PM - 28 Mar 14       Reply to @jmmuncie Retweet  Favorite

International Baccalaureate Program Coming To Mitchell, Scarlett, Huron

Dear Mitchell Families, 

The news below from the AAPS News website shares some exciting developments about the future of Mitchell School.  I believe the newly announced International Baccalaureate Program will be a fit for our students, families and teachers in extending the excellent work we already do in helping kids to show at least one year of academic growth during every school year.

Please expect that I will share more information as this develops. Of course if you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask.  You can email me, call the school office, or stop by!

Sincerely,
Kevin

 

AAPS to Phase in International Baccalaureate Program

FROM:  http://news.a2schools.org/aaps-to-phase-in-international-baccalaureate-program/

March 27, 2014

By Tara Cavanaugh

The Ann Arbor Public Schools is set to become one of the few districts in Michigan with a comprehensive K-12 International Baccalaureate program.
The AAPS Board of Education voted to approve the program during its March 26 meeting. The board first discussed details of the program, including how students would be admitted, during a study session at Skyline last week.
International Baccalaureate offers high-quality international programming to more than one million students in 146 countries. IB works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. IB diploma certificates are given in addition to the high school graduation certificate and are accepted at universities worldwide.
Starting during the 2014-15 year, the district will begin the three-year process of fulfilling IB requirements and receiving IB authorization. The program will be in place for the 2016-17 year.
"We know that this program will satisfy a tremendous demand that we have," Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Swift said at the meeting.
"We feel that as we look into phasing in the International Baccalaureate program, we will be leveraging quite a lot of an investment back into our own Ann Arbor Public Schools and we will be able to provide that world-class and globally-connected program right here at home in our own district."
During the 2013-14 school year, 218 AAPS students participated in the Washtenaw County Consortium programs. The county offers a variety of alternative consortium programs for high school students, and the most popular one is its IB program. The district covers the cost of AAPS student attendance in those programs.
"That's $1.9 million we are paying to the county," Dr. Swift said, "And a good amount of that is for its International Baccalaureate program."
The board trustees voiced their support of the new program.
"This is absolutely wonderful," trustee Susan Baskett said. "I think this is a great opportunity for our students across the district. …This is going to be a very, very exciting adventure."

MEAP Parent Reports

Dear Third, Fourth and Fifth Grade Families,
Today your child will bring home their fall 2013 MEAP test results in their backpack.  Please look for an envelope with your home address on the outside of it.
For more information about these results for Mitchell School, please go to:
http://mitchellschool.blogspot.com/2014/03/fall-2013-meap-update.html
If you have questions, please feel free to ask me or your child's teacher.
Sincerely,
Kevin

INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE PROPOSED FOR MITCHELL, SCARLETT, AND HURON

FROM:  http://news.a2schools.org/district-discusses-proposal-for-international-baccalaureate-program/

March 19, 2014

By Tara Cavanaugh

Grab your passports and hold onto your hats: the Ann Arbor Public Schools could soon be going global.

AAPS Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Swift is presenting a proposal for an International Baccalaureate program to the Board of Education at its March 19 meeting. The program would be infused into K-12 grades at Mitchell Elementary, Scarlett Middle and Huron High School.

International Baccalaureate currently offers high-quality international programming to more than one million students in 146 countries. IB works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment. IB diploma certificates are given in addition to the high school graduation certificate and are accepted at universities worldwide.

If implemented, AAPS would be among the first large districts in the State of Michigan to offer a comprehensive K-12 program.

Fully implementing an IB program takes three years. The district would need to fulfill IB requirements and receive IB authorization.

Starting the process now is opportune timing for the district, Dr. Swift said. AAPS is working to attract more students and increase revenue through strategic programming. The district is opening a new K-8 STEAM school at Northside as well as offering 750 Schools of Choice seats to students who reside outside district boundaries. The district is also implementing more world language instruction, a new alternative high school campus and launching the A2 Virtual+ Academy.

All of these new initiatives will take place during the 2014-2015 school year and are meant to attract more students, and therefore more revenue, to the Ann Arbor Public Schools. Dr. Swift calls it "value-added programming:" infusing innovative programming and opportunities into the schools in order to increase enrollment and also to broaden the excellence for which the district is already known.

The IB programming was also a consistent request heard at Dr. Swift's Listen and Learn meetings last fall.

If the program is implemented, students who reside in the Mitchell, Scarlett and Huron attendance area will receive top priority for enrollment. Students who live within AAPS boundaries will receive priority for the in-district transfer process. Students who live outside AAPS boundaries will participate in the Schools of Choice process to enroll. Wait lists will be created for students who express interest in IB beyond the available capacity.

The IB program will be discussed and potentially approved during the second briefing at the BOE meeting on March 26.