International Baccalaureate at Colonel By

January 30, 2009

Re: IB Option Sheets

On behalf of the Colonel By community, please allow me to congratulate you on your effort and success during this past year in the International Baccalaureate program. The Colonel By Secondary School community consists of caring students, staff and parents working closely together to foster academic excellence and ensure high student achievement. Our academic program is challenging and is designed to provide our students with a strong curricular and technological foundation for their further studies. At Colonel By, we encourage students to take full responsibility for their learning and we ask that they engage their teachers, parents, and peer group for any assistance that they require to overcome obstacles. In the same light, we hope that each student look beyond themselves and assist students who may need their assistance.
This is the first time that we have used the online format to communicate our student option sheet information. This process would otherwise have us produce 16,000-20,000 sheets of paper. We hope this format will allow us to give out more information in a way that is environmentally more responsible.
Within this package you will find several folders. They are as follows:

1- Introduction
a. This introduction letter
b. The IBO folder contains a diversity of information put out by the International Baccalaureate Organization, most importantly their Mission Statement, The IB Leaner Profile, and general communications put out by the IBO office and the Regional office in New York

2- Prospectus 2009-2010
a. For students wishing to continue into the grade 10 preparatory IB program or continuing into the full IB 1 and 2 program please refer to the ‘Prospectus grade 10-12 booklet’. This material, in conjunction with the ‘OCDSB Course calendar’, should answer all course related questions regarding IB and OCDSB graduation requirements.
b. ‘The IB Course Continuum’ has been created as a shorter explanation of the IB courses, in their designated groups, over the 4 year continuum.

3- The OCDSB course requirements folder holds two documents:
a. The OCDSB course requirements is taken directly from the 2009-2010 calendar and defines what each student is required to complete in order to earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Please ensure that you have taken all required courses.
b. The Worksheet allows you to input all courses including summer school courses.

4- 2008 Math requirements for University admission.
a. Beginning in September of 2006, a new math curriculum was put in place for grade 11 math courses. In  2007, we saw new Math courses for the grade 12 student. Advanced Functions (MHF4U) and Calculus and Vectors (MCV4U).
b. University Admissions directors have indicated which Ontario course codes will be pre-requisites for their university programs. We have discussed appropriate coding of IB Mathematics courses with universities in order to have them match program requirements. It remains the responsibility of individual students and parents to verify university requirements.
c. Math HL will provide MHF4U and MCV4U over the two year program and will be acceptable courses for any and all university program’s Math requirement. A grade of 5 in a HL Math course will grant the student advanced placement at most universities.
d. Math SL will earn a MFH4U and MCV4U Math code.
e. Math Studies SL has moved to a grade 11 course granting students the opportunity of completing the course in grade 11. This course of action opens up additional course option opportunities for students while in grade 12. This course will continue to be useful to the student applying to non-non-Commerce and science programs at university.
i. It is recommended that a student wishing to follow a Science or Commerce stream at university take MHF4U and MCV4U at summer school and in grade 12.
f. We strongly encourage students to check with their guidance counselor regarding their math selections prior to making final decisions.

5- Worksheets:
a. ‘Potential 4-year plans’ are 4-year course agendas that could serve as a template to students while making decisions regarding course selections.
b. Two IB worksheets, a 2-year IB worksheet, and a second which allows for planning on a 4-year continuum.
6- What is C.A.S.?
a. Parents and students are quite interested in this element of the program. I ask that you look to www.colonelby.com, working towards the IB webpage, where you will find all information on the C.A.S. program including suggestions, reflection forms, and general guidelines. For interested parties, I have included the General guidelines in this package.
b. Reminder: C.A.S. hours cannot be recorded before a student enters IB (ie. Grade11)
c. As we attempt to prepare students for the academic rigour while in grades 9 and 10, we hope that students will prepare for the time and task management of the C.A.S. program by completing their 40 hours of Community Service while in grade 9 and 10. Reminder: Community Service hours do not count unless they are formally registered with the office.

Special Note: Option Sheet Information Evenings (parents and students invited)
Current grade 9 students: February 10, 2009 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
Current grade 10 students: February 10, 2009 from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Current grade 11 students: February 11, 2009 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
I hope this information will be helpful to you and your parents as you make decisions regarding your future. Should you have any questions, please make an appointment with Mr. Bélanger. Students are asked to sign up for an appointment at Mr. Bélanger’s office, while parents are asked to email me at the address below. Please give me details as to the reason for the meeting and times that are convenient to you. Appointments times during school hours are reserved for students.

Michel Bélanger
Coordinator, International Baccalaureate Program
Colonel By Secondary School
Ottawa, Ontario
(613) 745-9411 (0)
(613) 745-4680 (fax)
ibcb@ocdsb.ca