International Baccalaureate
CARROLLWOOD DAY SCHOOL
has been an IB World School since March 2005.
CDS is the first IB World School in Florida
fully authorized to offer
the complete continuum of IB programmes
and the sixth school in the U.S. to achieve this distinction.
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International Baccalaureate Mission Statement
The International
Baccalaureate 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 programmes of
international education and rigorous assessment.
These
programmes encourage students across the world to become active,
compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people,
with their differences, can also be right.
What is IB?
The
International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) assists schools in their
endeavors to develop the individual
talents of young people and teach them to relate the experiences of the
classroom to the realities of the world outside. In 2003, Carrollwood
Day School made the decision to pursue becoming an IB World School
because the IB programmes strengthened and enhanced our nationally
recognized academic program and character development initiative.
Essentially the IB programmes provide an approach rather than a
curriculum.
IB
strives to develop students to become critical and compassionate
thinkers, life-long learners, and informed participants in local and
world affairs, conscious of the shared humanity that binds all people
together while respecting the variety of cultures and attitudes that
makes for the richness of life. The IB programmes, while demanding, are
not elitist programmes for exceptionally gifted students only. The IB
draws from research and best practices from around the world to create
a relevant, engaging, challenging and
significant educational framework that can enhance the ability to learn
for all students.
Primary Years Program (PYP):
The
PYP is a comprehensive approach to teaching and learning designed for
children ages 3 - 12. The PYP focuses on the development of the whole
child. It offers a framework that meets children's several needs:
academic, social, physical, emotional and cultural. Traditional
academic subjects are part of the program but it emphasizes the
interrelatedness of knowledge and skills through a transdisciplinary
program of inquiry.
In March 2005 Carrollwood Day School became one of the first schools in Florida fully authorized by the IBO to offer the IB Primary Years Programme .
Middle Years Programme (MYP):
The
MYP addresses the unique needs of students in grades 6 - 10. This
period, encompassing early and mid-adolescence, is a significant phase
of personal and intellectual development. Learning how to learn and how
to evaluate information critically is as important as learning facts.
The MYP helps students develop learning attitudes and skills that will
enable them to participate actively and responsibly in a changing and
increasingly interrelated world. The students' experience with the MYP
culminates in their sophomore year with a yearlong Personal Project.
This project provides students with a wonderful opportunity to shine:
to choose and explore a topic that showcases their unique interests and
talents.
In April 2008, CDS received authorization to offer the Middle Years Programme
for students in grades 6 - 10. Carrollwood Day School is the only
school on the west coast of Florida to offer the full five-year MYP
programme.
Diploma Programme (DP):
The IB
Diploma Programme is a rigorous pre-university course of studies that
meets the needs of highly motivated secondary school students. The
IBO's reputation for rigorous assessment gives IB diploma holders
access to the world's leading universities and solid preparation for
high achievement once enrolled. Unlike the PYP and MYP IB programmes
which are integrated throughout the curriculum for all students through
grade 10, the IB Diploma Programme will be optional for 11th and 12th
grade CDS Prep students.
In February 2008, CDS became fully authorized to offer the prestigious IB Diploma Programme.
The Complete IB Continuum:
With all three IB programmes in place at CDS, students flourish in a
rich continuum of learner-centered education that begins in preschool,
continues through high school graduation, and will last a lifetime. The
IB learner profile is at the heart of this common framework and infuses all elements of the PYP, MYP and DP programmes at CDS.
The programmes move purposefully from skill-based to content-based learning. As they progress
through the three levels of IB, students learn how to learn, begin to understand language
and culture, and appreciate a holistic approach that does not lose
depth. Various studies show that IB Diploma students have higher college
acceptance rates and perform better in post-secondary education than
their peers. These students will be well prepared for their future in a changing
world.
