International Baccalaureate

Dec 12, 2024

The IB Program at Churchill School

We are very proud to offer the IB Diploma Program at Churchill School since 1983. We are the 277th IB school in the world - out of over 5,800! Our program offers a breadth and depth of courses that contribute to the development of valuable 21st century skills; including: self-management, communication, social, research, and thinking. As a community of teachers and learners, we value the IB Mission Statement of making the world a better and more peaceful place. We expect our students to care about their communities and provide service to those in need. We offer unique courses such as TOK that encourages our students to think deeply, critically, ethically, and creatively about what they claim to know. For more details, please scroll down throughout this web page.

If you are interested in participating in our program, please join me for an information session at Churchill School in the Auditorium on November 27 at 5:30pm.

Here is a PDF of the presentation, I have added some slides to address common questions addressed after the presentation such as IB marking (criterion vs norm referenced models) and IB and University Recognition.

IB Information Night 2024.pdf

Application Document to be submitted with supporting citizenship and residency documents (Section 10): IB Application Form 2025.pdf(due to the Churchill Office by Dec. 12, 3pm)

Application Portfolio Planning Document (will not be submitted) & Microsoft Office Form (to be submitted, digitally):

Microsoft Office Form: https://forms.office.com/r/5N5M1fhWT8 (due Dec. 12, 6:00pm)

Optional Planning Form (a PDF) before you start your digital application: Please Note - this has been updated to now include Administrative Information as Section 1. If you already completed your digital application, please email kpuzio@vsb.bc.ca with your administrative details. Thank you. UPDATED IB Application Form 2025.pdf

It is highly recommended that interested applicants read more about the IB Programme and course offered at Churchill. This information can be found by scrolling down through the entire web page. Near the bottom are several videos and PowerPoints/PDFs provided by the IB Organization directly.

The IB Application Process for September 2025 Enrolment - SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

General Information Night (Churchill Auditorium): November 27 at 5:30pm

Applications released online: November 28 by 9:00am

Applications due by: December 12

Application portfolio due online by 6pm including application document (completed document to be uploaded in Section 10 of the Application Portfolio)
Proof of residency & Canadian citizenship due to Churchill School's Main Office by 3:00pm

Decisions issued from Churchill's Main Office on February 13

Notice of Acceptance due to Churchill's Main Office by February 18

Course Selection in Churchill's Cafeteria on February 27 at 4:00pm

Orientation for incoming IB students in Churchill's Cafeteria on June 11 from 4:00-6:00pm

IB Fees

IB Fees Schedule for 2024-25

Fee Schedule	February 21, 2024	April 15, 2024	June 17, 2024
Year One (Grad 2026)	$475.00	$475.00	$475.00

Fee Schedule	April 15, 2024	June 17, 2024	November 15, 2024
Year Two (Grad 2025)	$475.00	$475.00	$475.00

More about the International Baccalaureate

The IB Diploma Program is designed as an academically challenging and balanced program that encourages community involvement and service while also preparing students for success at university. The IB values 21^st century learning, there is a focus on the development of specific skills: communication, social, self-management/executive, research and thinking.

In the IB Program, we strive to meet the goals of the IB Mission Statement and to help our students develop the IB Learner Profile.

Videos available near the end of this page, keep scrolling!

The International Baccalaureate Mission Statement & International Mindedness

"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 school, 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."

At Churchill, all learners are encouraged to develop awareness beyond the individual and their immediate community.

School Strategy & IB at Churchill Secondary

The Learner Profile & IB Approaches to Teaching and Learning are frameworks for students, staff, and administration that encourages a holistic approach to education. Therefore, the foundation of the IB Mission Statement and International Mindedness are further reinforced. All teachers and students strive to be:

Inquirers are enthusiastic, lifelong learners who ask powerful questions.
Knowledgeable - learners who explore locally & globally significant ideas.
Thinkers - critical, ethical, and creative decision-makers.
Communicators - good listeners who strive to be confident in more than one language.
Principled - honest, fair, and responsible.
Open-Minded - learners who develop appreciation for their own culture and the cultures of others.
Caring - committed to service within the community.
Risk-Takers - courageous, resourceful, and resilient.
Balanced - focused on well-being for self and others.
Reflective - thoughtful, realistic, and hopeful for the future.

For more details about the individual learner profiles, see: learner-profile-en.pdf & IB Learner Profile

This philosophy of holistic education aligns completely with the Vancouver School District's School Plan, which includes:

Improving student achievement, physical and mental well-being, and belonging
Increasing equity
Continuing its Reconciliation journey with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit

The Outcomes of an IB Education at Churchill School

Diploma Programme candidates are required to study six subjects and a programme core. Specialization is provided by requiring at least three [no more than four] of the six subjects to be studied at HL. Breadth is provided by studying three subjects [two if four HL subjects are taken] at standard level (SL).

Below are the subjects we offer at Churchill, but please note that these offerings can change.

Contemporary Indigenous Studies (CIS): students who enroll in the IB Program at Churchill are also required to complete the new Contemporary Indigenous Studies course on time-table. This means that Grade 11 students cannot have an on time-table elective. This course must be completed, on timetable as an IB student even if the student has already completed the course. It is a part of our core program.

IB Diploma Subjects: students choose courses from the following subject groups:

Group 1: Studies in language and literature
- English A: Literature
- French A: Language and Literature (for French Immersion students)
Group 2: Language acquisition
- French B
  - Note: French Immersion students take two Group 1s: English A and French A
- Japanese ab initio
Group 3: Individuals and societies
- Geography
- History
- Psychology
Group 4: Natural Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
Group 5: Mathematics
Group 6: The arts
- Film
- Dance
- Theatre (runs every other year, scheduled next for 2025 intake)
- Visual Arts

Students may opt out of Group 6 to study an additional Group 2, 3, or 4 - depending on the timetable. We highly recommend that students consider taking a Group 6 rather than replacing it because it provides the best IB experience and balanced course load. For more detailed descriptions of the IB courses offered at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School, see the PDF attachments below.

The IB Core: theory of knowledge (TOK), the extended essay (EE) and creativity, activity, service (CAS).

TOK provides a forum for discussion, reflection and instruction that considers the nature of human knowledge and supports the development of interdisciplinary understanding.
The EE provides the opportunity to investigate an academic research question of individual interest and in the process to develop the independent research and writing skills expected for further education.
Participation in the school’s CAS programme broadens the educational experience by expecting students to be involved in creative, physical and service activities.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School

Most IB subjects are blended HL/SL in Year 1 (Grade 11). This means that HL and SL students are in the same classroom. Decisions about HL/SL status is made at the end of Grade 11 up to October of Year 2 (Grade 12).

All IB Group Subjects are completed following a linear schedule and on timetable over two years.

Please note: we do our best to accommodate all course requests; however, there may be restrictions in the timetable and students may not get all the courses and/or levels they request.

At Churchill School, IB teachers recognize that all teachers are, in practice, language teachers with responsibilities in facilitating communication. Students who join our program are to learn at least one language in addition to their home/personal language(s). At Churchill we offer French B and Japanese ab initio options for our IB students to learn.

French A is for candidates admitted to the IB French Immersion Programme.

Language of Instruction, Group 1:

English - All candidates will complete English A.

French Immersion A - French Immersion Candidates complete French A

Language Acquisition, Group 2:

French B

For candidates with grade 10 level ability in the language. There will be a language placement test for French B.

Japanese ab initio.pdf

For candidates who are interested in learning a new language from the beginning (ab initio) or for candidates who do not qualify for French A or French B, French ab initio or Japanese ab initio may be the right fit for you. Our Japanese Language teacher, Ms Wakabayahsi, will be available for questions at the Course Selection session as will Mme Kung for French. There will also be language placement exams for French B, French ab initio and Japanese ab initio

Individuals & Societies (Humanities), Group 3:

Candidates select one Group 3 subject (can select two if they elect not to complete a Group 6 subject). If a candidate chooses IB Psychology, in order to graduate high school, the candidate must also complete a Social Studies 11 (SS11) equivalent course online or in summer school as IB Psychology does not meet the requirements for SS11. If a candidate completes either IB Geography or IB History, the requirements for graduation are met and no online or summer school SS11 equivalent course needs to be completed.

Geography

History HL & History SL

Psychology

Natural Sciences, Group 4:

Candidates select one Group 4 subject (can select two if they elect not to complete a Group 6 subject).

NB: Most Canadian post-secondary institutions require students complete two sciences for admissions into their Science faculties. Also, most Canadian post-secondary institutions require that students complete Provincial-level (i.e. not IB) Chemistry 11 and Physics 11. IB candidates taking one of these (IB Chemistry or IB Physics, but not both) and IB Biology (thus completing the two required sciences) will need to complete the other (Chemistry or Physics) at the Provincial grade 11 level only. This should be done online or during summer school. Note: IB courses all have Provincial equivalencies; therefore, there is no need to double-up on courses (i.e. take IB Chemistry & non-IB Chemistry).

NB: Engineering programs vary in their requirements and IB candidates should examine what they will need for admissions before course selection. Most engineering programs require both Chemistry and Physics at the grade 12 level too; in that case, IB candidates completing one of these course requirements in IB (i.e. IB Chemistry or IB Physics) ought to complete the grade 11 and 12 at the Provincial level online or in summer school.

IB candidates can request to complete IB Chemistry and IB Physics; however, we encourage candidates to also follow their interests. If a candidate is interested in a future in medicine, they really ought to take IB Biology! The universities do not care if the required Physics and Chemistry 11 classes are IB or not. Many of our IB candidates complete the other required science at the provincial level online or during summer school.

Biology HL

Biology SL

Chemistry HL

Chemistry SL

Physics HL

Physics SL

Mathematics, Group 5:

With the IB Curriculum changes implemented recently, IB at SWC is approaching admissions to IB Math differently. Candidates who have successfully completed Math 10 will be placed in one cohort and candidates who have successfully completed Math 11+ will be placed in another. The cohort for Math 10 candidates will be learning Analysis and Approaches (AA) SL. The cohort for Math 11+ candidates will be learning AA blended HL. The difference between the dedicated AA SL and blended AA HL cohorts will be content and speed with which units will be taught. Essentially, the AA HL cohort is nearly a year ahead.

Candidates will work throughout the year in their designated cohorts to demonstrate their ability and upon their teachers’ recommendation and a minimum required IB score achieved by the end of term 2, candidates from both cohorts will either:

Join or continue in AA SL
Enter a new stream available in Year 2 only: Applications and Interpretations (AI) SL.
Continue in Math AA HL

NB: Candidates interested in admissions to Commerce, Sciences, or Engineering faculties in university must complete AA SL or HL to be considered for admissions. Candidates interested in Arts faculties will be considered for admissions with the completion of AI SL.

Math AA HL and SL.pdf

Math AI SL only.pdf

Fine Arts, Group 6:

For candidates to have the true IB experience and a most manageable course load, they ought to complete a Group 6 subject. However, IB recognizes some of the limitations post-secondary institutions have placed on admission requirements and Group 6 is optional.

NB: Group 6 is a perfect outlet for creativity, it adds balance and structure to the IB candidates overwhelming schedule, and significantly develops the critical skill of critical thinking. FYI: candidates interested in architecture ought to consider completing Visual Arts!