IB MATTERSSeptember 2012

Al Zahra College aims to develop faithful, knowledgeable and wise citizens who take responsibility for creating a better and more peaceful world.

We will challenge our students to become active learners and critical thinkers who promote intercultural understanding and respect.

IB MATTERS

A monthly publication about the Primary Years

Programme (PYP), trialling of the Middle Years

Programme (MYP) and planning for the IB Diploma

Programme (IB DP) at Al Zahra College.

The International Baccalaureate

The International Baccalaureate (IB) is an exciting set of educational programs offered in more than two thousand school schools in over 120 countries around the world. The programs focus on student-centred inquiry-based learning and global concerns. They challenge students to think in sophisticated ways about the connections between ideas in different areas of study. They put learning into an international context.

IB at Al Zahra College

In 2011, Al Zahra College was authorised as an IB World School to offer the Primary Years Programme (PYP). The goal is for Al Zahra College to eventually offer all three programs to our students.

NOTE: AZC is undertaking a trial implementation of the Middle Years Programme (MYP). Authorisation can take several years and cannot be guaranteed.

The initial planning for PYP and other possible IB programmes at AZC began back in 2003.

Following first-hand experience with all three programmes (PYP, MYP and DP) in Qatar, Dr Darvall recommended trialling its implementation at AZC.

In 2008, AZC registered with IB as an Interested PYP School. Following a preliminary visit in 2009, AZC was invited to become a Candidate PYP School.

During 2010, AZC completed a Pre-Authorisation visit that considered our preparedness for authorisation as a PYP School.

Following an authorisation visit, AZC was authorised as an IB World School for PYP.

In 2009, AZC registered as an Interested MYP School in preparation for the commencement of Year 7 in 2010.

In 2010, AZC was accepted as a Candidate MYP School.

In 2012, AZC will request an authorisation visit for the Diploma Programme (DP) in 2013 so that the DP can be offered as the AZC exit credential.

Information sessions are conducted to facilitate parent understanding of what PYP, MYP and DP are all about - bringing learning alive.

PYP & MYP @ AZC

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������������������������������������On# behalf# of# Al,Zahra# College# administration# and# faculty,# I# would# like# to# welcome# you# to# the#

September# IB#newsletter# edition#which# is#designed# for#you.#As#promised#earlier,#newsletter# editions#

shall#be#addressed#to#a#specific#group#monthly.#As#future#IB#students’#parents,#it#is#expected#that#you#

have# concerns# and#worries# regarding# the# program#and# its# implementation# at# school.#But# one# thing#

you# should# always# keep# in#mind# is# that# at# its# heart,# the# IB# is# working# to# develop# your# sons’# and#

daughters’# intellectual,# personal,# emotional# and# social# skills# thus# enabling# them# to# live,# learn# and#

work#in#a#rapidly#changing#world.!

The# benefits# of# participation# in# the# IB# program# are# numerous.# A# college# level# of# instruction# from#

global# perspectives,# development# of# strong# study# skills,# and# encouragement# of# critical# thinking# are#

just# a# few.#We# believe# that# the# culmination# of# this# course# work# is# the# examination# itself.#We# will#

strongly#encourage#each#student#to#fulfill#every#stage#of#his#/her#commitment#to#excellence.#Taking#the#

examinations#will#enable#our#students#to#be#prepared#for#college#examinations,#both#oral#and#written,#

and#may#facilitate#acceptance#and#/or#advanced#placement#on#the#university#level.##

Too#often#I#hear#students#and#parents#saying#that#the#IB#program#is#too#hard#and#one#wouldnHt#have#a#

life# if# one# became# involved.# I#would# disagree.# The# IB# program# is# not# hard,# but# rather# an# academic#

challenge.#IB#students#are,#indeed,#involved#in#many#activities#in#and#out#of#school.#The#challenge#is#

for#Australian#students#to#do#as#students#do#in#most#other#cultures,prioritize,#placing#their#education#

as#number#one.#

Once#authorized#by#IBO,#we#will#be#publishing#a#newsletter#for#students#and#their#reflections,#which#

we#will#distribute#electronically#the#first#of#each#month.#The#purpose#of#this#newsletter#will#be#to#keep#

the#students#and#their#parents#updated#on#important#issues#and#dates#for#each#month.#The#students’#

newsletter#will#also#be#posted#on#Al,Zahra#College#homepage.#In#addition,#we#will#be#corresponding#

with#you#each#quarter# to#keep#you#updated#on#program#events.#Through# these# tools,# I#hope# that#we#

will#be#able#to#keep#the#organization#and#time#management#skills#on#an#optimum#level#of#efficiency.##

The# school# will# also# schedule# parent# meetings# regularly# to# share# more# information# about# the#

expectations#for#the#program.##

For# those# of# you# who# wish# to# electronically# access# more# information# about# the# International#

Baccalaureate#Organization,#the#address#is#www.ibo.org!

���� �� � ���������� � � �������� � � ��� � ��������� ���� �������������������������������������������������������� �������� �

!!

����������� ��������������What%is%so%special%about%IB%programmes?%

Well,%

• IB%programmes%are%recognized%around%the%world%and%ensure%an%increased%adaptability%and%mobility%for%IB%students.%

• The%curriculum%and%pedagogy%of%IB#programmes%focus%on%international%perspectives%of%learning%and%teaching,%while%insisting%that%students%fully%explore%their%home%culture%and%language.%

• IB%World%Schools%must%undergo%an%exhaustive%authorization%process%in%order%to%offer%one%or%more%of%the%programmes,%which%includes%a%study%of%the%school’s%resources%and%commitment%to%the%IB%mission%and%philosophy.%%

• IB%teachers%participate%in%a%wide%variety%of%professional#development%opportunities%to%constantly%update%their%knowledge%and%share%their%expertise%with%colleagues%around%the%world.%

• Many%students%graduating%from%the%Diploma%Programme%find%that%it%enhances%their%opportunities%at%tertiary%institutions.%The%IB%works%closely%with%universities%around%the%world%to%gain%recognition%for%IB%programmes.%

• The%core%components%of%IB%programmes%encourage%students%to%participate%in%creative%and%serviceEoriented%activities,%while%at%the%same%time%emphasizing%the%importance%of%reflection%on%a%personal%and%academic%level.%

%

!

��� � ���� ��� ��� ����� ��������������� Is#the#IBDP#really#a#good#education#programme?#Yes$ it$ is.$ Of$ course$ no$ education$ programme$ is$ perfect,$ and$ the$ IBDP$ is$ no$ exception.$However,$ if$ one$ compares$ the$ IBDP$ to$ the$ major$ systems$ with$ which$ it$ often$‘competes’(those$ in$ the$ US,$ Canada,$ Australia$ and$ the$ UK)$ there$ is$ no$ doubt$ in$ any$educator’s$mind$that$the$IBDP$is$really$a$far$superior$system.$You$need$not$worry$about$the$intrinsic$value$of$the$DP$itself,$and$you$can$limit$your$concern$to$the$way$it$is$implemented)at$your$school.$

My#child#is#not#a#top#student,#and#I#am#worried#the#IBDP#is#a#system#for#the#elite#only.#

Not$ true.$What$ is$ true$ is$ that$ the$ IBDP$ requires$more$ initiative$ and$ discipline$ –$ students$lacking$ motivation$ will$ likely$ fail.$ Those$ students$ who$ are$ willing$ to$ give$ it$ their$ best,$however,$will$find$that$the$IBDP$leaves$a$lot$of$room$for$personal$efforts$and$also$rewards$them$for$it,$unlike$some$national$education$systems.$$

Will#my#child#lose#his#or#her#own#culture#and#national#identity#by#studying#an#international#education?#

To$the$contrary,$the$IBDP$will$allow$your$child$to$constantly$express$his$or$her$own$cultural$perspectives,$ and$ compare$ it$ against$ other$ cultural$ perspectives,$ thus$ maintaining$ and$further$developing$the$national$identity.$The$result$is$that$students$will$be$much$more$aware$of$ their$own$cultural$ identity.$Of$course,$what$parents$must$accept$ is$ that$ the$ IBDP$won’t$develop$ a$ blind$ adherence$ to$ the$ original$ culture,$ but$ rather$ a$ critical$ attitude,$ with$ a$renewed$appreciation$for$what$works$well$and$what$may$not$work$so$well.$

With#so#few#IBDP#schools#and#students#worldwide,#I# feel#my#child#shall#be#subject#to#too#much#experimentation.#

While$ it$ is$ true$ that$ the$ IBDP$ is$ rather$ small,$with$ slightly$over$1000$ schools$participating$worldwide,$ it$has$been$subjected$to$ intense$scrutiny$over$ the$30$years$of$ its$existence,$and$some$of$ the$ best$ schools$ in$ the$world$participate$ in$ it.$Over$ these$ last$ 30$ years,$ there$ has$been$a$ steady$and$coherent$development$ that$has$consistently$ led$ to$ improvements$ in$ the$programme.$By$now,$it$really$is$a$mature$system$with$a$longer$history$than$many$national$systems.$

Al Zahra College submitted its application for Candidacy for the IB Diploma Programme (IB DP) on 31 March, 2012. This application is a request to prepare for authorisation to offer the IB DP during 2013, so that AZC can commence in January 2014.

The IB Diploma Programme is designed as an academically challenging and balanced programme of education with final examinations that prepares students, normally aged 16 to 19, for success at

university and life beyond. The programme is normally taught over two years and has gained recognition and respect from the world's leading universities.

IB Diploma Programme students study six courses at higher level or standard level. Students must choose one subject from each of groups 1 to 5, thus ensuring breadth of experience in languages, social studies, the experimental sciences and mathematics. The sixth subject

may be an arts subject chosen from group 6, or the student may choose another subject from groups 1 to 5.

In addition, the programme has three core requirements that are included to broaden the educational experience and challenge students to apply their knowledge and understanding. These requirements are: Theory of Knowledge; Extended Essay; and Creativity, Action, Service.

IB Diploma Programme

Al Zahra College

The IB Learner Profile is the

attributes and descriptors that

define the type of student that IB

hopes to develop through its

programs (for example, MYP).

THE LEARNER PROFILE

Risk-TakersCaring

Communicators

ThinkersReflective

Open

Minded

KnowledgeablePrincipled

Balanced

Inquirers

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AL ZAHRA COLLEGE An IB World School

Catering for students from Preschool to Year 9 3 - 5 Wollongong Road, ARNCLIFFE. NSW 2205

P: (+61) 2 9599 0161 F: (+61) 2 9599 0162

E: info@azc.nsw.edu.au W: www.azc.nsw.edu.au