program options at icp donna: the three core elements of the ib

THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
ORGANIZATION MISSION
and may include dance, horseback riding lessons, and team sports, to
name a few examples. Service generally consists of community service
projects, of which we have many at ICP DONNA. Many of our
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.
students have created their own service projects in which their peers
take part. Examples of service include visiting the RGV Food Bank,
volunteering to assist with wildlife conservation projects, Proyecto
Azteca, or raising fund for cancer organizations.
PROGRAM OPTIONS AT ICP DONNA:
IB Diploma Candidates & IB Course Students
Our Mission – IDEA College Preparatory Donna is rewriting the story
All our 11th and 12th grade students are enrolled in our IB
of underprivileged communities by creating a positive learning environment that equips students with the academic, social and leadership skills
and international mindedness that are required to succeed in college and
our global society.
Diploma Programme. Nevertheless, there are two paths that they can
follow:
The Full IB Diploma Path
Our IB Teachers– The teachers in our IB program are highly quali-
To be a full IB diploma candidate a student must be in strong
fied to deliver course content effectively and engagingly. Over half of our
IB teachers have achieved master’s degrees, 100% of our IB teachers have
been trained in officially sponsored IB workshops and several of them hold
a masters degrees. Low student /teacher ratios in IB classes allow for a great
deal of individual attention and hands-on activities.
THE THREE CORE ELEMENTS OF THE IB PROGRAM
IB CLASSES OFFERED AT ICP DONNA
inquire into the nature of knowing and deepen the understanding of knowledge
Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
English Language A: Literature HL
Spanish Language A: Language and Literature HL
academic standing and needs to have demonstrated excellent time
1. Theory of Knowledge: develops a coherent approach to learning that
unifies the academic disciplines. In this course on critical thinking, students
as a human construction.
2. Extended Essay: asks students to engage in independent research through
management and organization skills. Students must also be on track
to graduate (in other words, cannot take or retake any courses from
previous grade levels as they will not fit in their schedule). In addition
to the six subject classes, full IB Diploma candidates must also take
the Theory of Knowledge class. They also must write a 4000 word
Extended Essay, which is based on the topic of the student’s selection
(though is connected to one of the student’s IB subjects).
an in-depth study of a question relating to one of the DP subjects they are
Pursuing the full IB Diploma is a rigorous endeavor and for this
Group 2: Language Acquisition
studying. A 4,000 word essay that follows specific IB guidelines is required to
reason, it is not the best option for all students. Full diploma
Spanish AB Initio SL | Spanish B SL / HL
complete this requirement. The essay should represent 40 hours of independent
candidates design their program in the following manner:
Group 3: Individuals and Societies
work and is begun in January of junior year. The student will work with a faculty
1. Select one course from each of the six subject groups.
History of the Americas Route 2 HL
supervisor, who will provide limited feedback and guidance not to exceed five
2. Three courses must be taken at higher level, and three courses
Group 4: Sciences
hours (per IB regulations).
must be taken at standard level (Please note that English and His-
Biology SL / HL
3. CAS (Community, Action, Service): All ICP Donna students com-
Group 5: Mathematics
plete an approximate of 150 hours of CAS in grades 11 & 12 combined (fifty
3. Full diploma students must also complete an approximate of 150
Mathematical Studies SL | Mathematics SL / HL
hours per element). Creativity may take many forms- such as designing a website
hours of Community, Action, and Service during junior and senior
Group 6: The Arts
or creating a video for our fund-raising music video evening. Action generally
years combined. Please note that this is also a graduation require-
Visual Arts Option A SL / HL
takes the form of sports done outside of the normal physical education program
ment as per ICP DONNA board policy.
tory are only offered at the Higher Level at ICP DONNA).
IB Course Students
The ICP Donna High School Diploma
At ICP Donna, our goal is offer a program designed to support each student’s
Regardless of whether a student is pursuing the full IB Diploma or IB courses,
individual learning needs and career goals. Since the full IB Diploma program
all ICP Donna students who meet graduation requirements earn an ICP Donna
is not suitable for all students, the other programmatic option we offer is to be
High School diploma, which is recognized by the state of Texas. Full IB Diploma
an IB Course student. Students who pursue IB courses may take as many or as
Candidates who pass their exams and meet all other requirements (CAS, Ex-
few IB exams as they like, without the pressure of having to take three classes at
tended Essay and TOK) earn BOTH an IB Diploma AND an ICP Donna High
higher level and three at standard level.
School Diploma. Course students earn IB certificates for each of the subjects, as
Additionally, course students do not take Theory of Knowledge nor do they need
well as an ICP Donna High School Diploma, provided they have met all credit
to write the Extended Essay. Many of our course students have earned outstand-
requirements and grade point average minimums.
ing scholarship packages to top-ranking US universities, as well as an enormous
amount of college credit, thus demonstrating that pursuing the full IB Diploma
program is not the only avenue for students to gain admission to excellent
universities and to earn substantial scholarships. Course students design their
program in the following manner:
Donna
1. Register for as many or as few IB exams as the student wishes (levels do not
matter)
Public Schools
2. The certificate student does not take Theory of Knowledge, nor does the
course student write an Extended Essay.
3. The student MUST still complete 150 hours of community service at the
High School level as an ICP Donna graduation requirement.
Open Access Policy
Many IB schools around the world and in the Valley have entrance requirements,
such as grade point average minimums or entrance exams, that are used to determine whether or not a student is eligible to pursue the full IB Diploma or enter
as a Course student. At ICP Donna we prefer to allow students the opportunity
to challenge themselves with this highly rigorous program should they, in consultation with their parents, desire.
During the second semester each year, the IB coordinator meets with all tenth
grade students and their parents to give them a thorough overview of the program and options within it (such as full diploma versus IB courses). Following
this meeting, the IB coordinator meets with individual students based on questions or concerns
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
contact Ms. Betzy Montalvo
(956)373-7769
betzaida.montalvo@ideapublicschools.org
What is the
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
Diploma Programme
at IDEA Donna?