patching...
Update: The next chapter of your community's story begins with a single voice. Yours. Blog on Patch. »
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Middle Years Programme

Friday, March 22, 2013

Hopkins Approves Junior High International Baccalaureate Program

Both junior highs will begin implement IB’s Middle Years Programme in the 2014-15 school year.

Hopkins junior highs will become International Baccalaureate schools starting in the 2014-15 school year. The School Board on Thursday approved a budget package that anticipates spending $109,000 on bringing IB to the junior highs. The program will change the junior high schedule and eliminate study halls, according to the school district. "This vote to move forward with the International Baccalaureate Program Middle Years Program in Hopkins Junior Highs affirms our commitment to providing an internationally recognized quality education and with a staff of teachers that have the skills and talents to meet this challenge and stand with the best," a news release West Junior High Principal Shirley Gregoire. IB’s Middle Years Programme …

Thursday, February 14, 2013

VIDEO: Decision on Hopkins Junior High IB Program Coming Soon

Next week, the School Board will discuss what the district has learned while investigating IB over the past year.

Hopkins is nearing a decision on whether it will transform its junior highs into International Baccalaureate programs. The School Board voted in March to initiate candidacy in the IB’s Middle Years Programme. The schools are now in the midst of the 2012-13 candidacy year, during which the junior highs have been: The School Board will discuss the findings of the past year at its Feb. 21 meeting, said school district spokeswoman Jolene Goldade said. The board will then take a preliminary vote at its March 21 budget meeting on whether to become an IB program—followed by a final vote in May. Unanimous approval isn’t a given. While the board did agree to pay the $109,000 candidacy initiation fee last year, directors Wendy Donovan and Irma …

Oldsterone

9:36 am on Saturday, March 9, 2013

We need to get out of the UN. More importantly, we need the UN out of the United States. One of the many ways we can shove back is to stop funding the International Baccalaureate Program. Across America, even Catholic schools are adopting this curriculum out of Geneva Switzerland. What could be more insidious? They infiltrate our schools with a "global" curriculum that subverts our values and …   more ›

Friday, March 16, 2012

Hopkins Takes First Step Toward Junior High IB Program

The school board gave preliminary approval on Thursday to set aside $109,000 to pursue International Baccalaureate candidacy.

A proposed International Baccalaureate program at the junior highs received tough questions and two dissenting votes Thursday, but the Hopkins School Board voted to preliminarily approve $109,000 to initiate candidacy with the program and further explore whether it’s a good fit. Board Vice Chair Warren Goodroad praised the way the program could expand on recent additions to enhance rigor at the junior highs—including new schedules and the addition of more-challenging courses. “I think we have an opportunity right now to look at one more thing we can do to really make this a complete transition,” Goodroad said. IB’s Middle Years Programme provides an enhanced curriculum for grades six through 10, although Hopkins would only offer Middle …

Frank DiGeorge

8:19 am on Saturday, March 17, 2012

1) Compared to AP, IB will increase college costs for most students. 2) The IB diploma required TOK class is composed entirely of questions like, "When can it be right to disobey the law? Can suicide bombers be right?" 3) IB will not improve student performance. 4) IB's pedagogical method is one of constructivism and inquiry based learning to promote a specific ideology. 5) IB is extremely …   more ›

Got a Hot Tip?