1. What is the International Baccalaureate Organization?

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is an independent nonprofit educational foundation based inGeneva, Switzerland.  It offers three programs: the Diploma Program in the final two years of high school, the Middle Years Program (MYP) for students in grades 6-10, and the Primary Years Program (PYP) for K-5 students.  Please visit the IBO website at www.ibo.org for more information about the organization and its programs.

2. Must a student take all 3 programs, Primary, Middle and Diploma?

No.  Each program is separate and distinct.  However, there is a natural link among the three. A student can complete 1, 2 or all 3 IB programs. The only program presently being offered at Elsie Roy, Lord Roberts and King George is the Middle Years Program.  Two Vancouver Public High Schools offer the IB Diploma Program – Britannia Secondary and Churchill Secondary.

3. What is the Middle Years Program?

The Middle Years Program (MYP) is an educational framework that requires students to study in eight subject areas (Language and Literature, Mathematics, Individuals and Societies, Science, Language Acquisition, Arts, Physical Education and Design) in each year of the MYP program. The BC curriculum is the basis for each subject’s content. Teachers present the curriculum focused through the MYP’s Global Contexts.  In this way Instructional Strategies change rather than course content.  The diagram represents the MYP curriculum model.

The IB MYP curricular model shows the student at the center and the interrelatedness of eight subject areas developed through the global contenxts and the approaches to learning. The curriculum provides a balanced education designed to equip young people for effective participation in a complex world. The IB MYP subject disciplines are closely aligned with the BC curriculum.

Every student will study eight subject disciplines. These include:
1. Language A (English Language Arts)
2. Language B (French)
3. Mathematics
4. Science
5. Individuals and Society (Social Studies which includes History and Geography)
6. Arts (Music, Drama, Art)
7. Design
8. Physical and Health Education

The MYP also embraces three fundamental concepts: communication (valuing multiple forms of expression, language acquisition in at least two languages); holistic learning (finding the connections across and within the subject and grade levels); and internationalism (a growing understanding of a student’s own culture coupled with an understanding and appreciation of other cultures).

4. What grades does the Middle Years Program encompass?

The MYP is a five-year program beginning in grade 6 at Elsie Roy and Lord Roberts Elementary Schools and ending in grade 10 at King George Secondary School.

5. Are IB programs only for honors or gifted students?

No. The IBO permits IB authorized schools to implement their programs in ways that best meet their local needs.  Choosing to attend Elsie Roy Elementary, Lord Roberts Elementary, or King George Secondary automatically gives students from Grade 6 – 10 the opportunity to participate in the MYP program.   However, the Diploma Program (Grades 11 and 12) is designed for highly motivated academically-minded students who apply and are selected to attend.

6. Does the Middle Years Program lead directly to the IB Diploma Program?

The MYP is an excellent preparation for all graduation programs, including IB Diploma (Grades 11 and 12).  Many of the concepts, program elements, and the underlying philosophy found in the MYP are consistent with those found in the IB Diploma Program.  However, the MYP is not a prerequisite for the IB Diploma Program.

7. Is there a lot of extra school work with the IB program?

No. The program is taught well within the hours of instruction mandated by BC’s Ministry of Education.  The challenge is not in the amount of homework assigned; rather it is in the quality of the assignments and the extent to which students complete those assignments.  The added benefit is that students take greater responsibility for their own learning.

8. Do Middle Years students take IB examinations?

There are no IB examinations in the Middle Years Program.  Instead, classroom teachers design their own examinations, using a common set of IB-designed assessment criteria to mark the examinations.  The classroom teachers’ marks are reviewed by a team of specially trained MYP teachers from around the world to ensure that the assessment criteria are applied equally to the work of all MYP students.

9. Do Middle Years Program students receive any acknowledgement for their work?

Students may receive an IBO certificate of achievement at the end of grade 10. This certificate is evidence of the student’s good preparation for further studies, such as the IB Diploma or other rigorous programs.  It represents significant achievement and takes into account academic as well as non-academic aspects, such as community and service and the creation of a personal project.

10. We don't live in the schools’ catchment area. Can we still register?

Canadian residents may enroll in the MYP if space permits.  Please check with the office at each school site for registration information and space availability.

11. How can I get more information about the MYP at each of the sites?

Please contact the school at the above listed numbers and talk with one of the coordinators: Amarit Marwaha (Coordinator, Elsie Roy), Kirthana Shetty (Coordinator, Lord Roberts), Anne Mackie (IB Coordinator, King George), and Erin Stacey (IB Coordinator, King George).