St. Robert Catholic High School is accredited by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) as an IB World School to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. This is a prestigious world-wide programme that offers a rigorous and intellectually challenging pre- university course of study, leading to examinations, for highly motivated student in the final two years of secondary school. (Grades 11 and 12) Applicants will have successfully completed St. Robert Pre-IB courses in Grades 9 and 10 (minimum of B+ in all subject areas) to meet the criteria for admission to the programme. The final decision for acceptance into the Diploma Programme rests with the Principal. To be eligible for the Diploma, students will complete six IB courses (equivalent to 14 Ontario credits), a Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course (equivalent to one Ont. credit), an extended essay of approx. 4,000 words, and C.A.S. (Creativity, Action, and Service). The mastery of subject content and the development of critical thinking, and research skills are fundamental pre-requisites for success at post-secondary institutions in North America and abroad. The IB Programme gives students the opportunity to investigate disciplines at a greater depth and breadth than they might normally experience. Students must be achieving a minimum of 65% in the Ontario Curriculum in year one of IB in order to secure a spot in the second year of the Diploma Programme. Continuation in the IB Programme is dependent upon student achievement and IB teacher recommendation. Successful Diploma Candidates will receive both the IB Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) at the end of Grade 12. LANGUAGE A1 (ENGLISH) INDIVIDUALS AND SOCIETY (HISTORY OR ECONOMICS) LANGUAGE B (FRENCH) MATHEMATICS EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES (CHEMISTRY) ARTS (INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC) or SCIENCE (BIO or PHYSICS) Page 1
Application Process: Students enter into our grade 9 St. Robert Pre-IB programme according to the criteria below, and may be eligible to enter Grade 10 St. Robert Pre-IB Programme, depending on excellent student achievement, teacher recommendation and Principal approval. These years are preparation years to ensure that students who enter into the grade 11 IB year will be successful. Students enter the grade 9 St. Robert Pre-IB programme in order to have two years to prepare for the grade 11 and 12 IB courses. These preparatory years also give students the opportunity to settle into their high school career and enjoy all that St. Robert C.H.S. has to offer. Application Process for Grade 9 St. Robert Pre-IB On November 6, 2014, there is a presentation to the general public about the IB Programme offered at St. Robert. At this time, parents will have the opportunity to start the application process. Parents may also apply on-line. The application process is as follows: 1. The completed application with all required documentation is due by November 14,2014 The application fee is $35 (Cheque made payable to St. Robert C.H.S.) 2. All applicants will write a standardized test at St. Robert on November 29, 2014 Criteria for acceptance into Grade 9 (St. Robert Pre-IB courses) Each student accepted into this Pre-IB program must demonstrate: 1. the ability to study academic level courses 2. have very good to excellent learning skills and excellent subject achievement, as indicated by the Grade 7 and 8 Report Cards 3. Standardized test scores must be at grade 8 level or higher. If parents are unable to attend the presentation, they can apply on-line. Although a committee will review the applications for grade 9 St. Robert Pre-IB, the final decision for acceptance rests with the Principal. Page 2
Progression of Courses It must be understood that when a student enters into any special program at St. Robert, the make-up of the program will limit elective course selections in other areas. As shown below, IB students have very few elective choices during their four years of high school. Parent and students must understand that when a decision is made to enter the St. Robert Pre-IB grade 10 programme, a timetable is created to facilitate the completion of the IB Diploma by June of the grade 12 year. International Baccalaureate Streams There are two streams of study available to IB students at St. Robert. One stream, the science stream, is designed for students who wish to study sciences or engineering at the university level. The arts stream allows students to study instrumental music at high school. Given the breadth of the IB programme, each stream will prepare students to study the sciences, business or the humanities at the university level. When students enter the grade 9 St. Robert Pre-IB programme, the course sequencing, as shown below, is available to them. During course selection time in February, guidance counsellors, teachers and the IB Coordinator will provide support and information regarding the appropriate course selection. As students move from grade to grade, information sessions will occur to help them make selections and answer their questions. Please be aware that subject offerings may vary from year to year. The variety of courses being offered is dependent on the number of students selecting the course. GRADE 9 AND 1O (PRE-IB COURSES) Grade 9 Courses Electives (pick one) Grade 10 Courses Electives (pick one) HRE207 Religion ENG1D7 English MPM1D7 Math CGC1D7 Geography SNC1D7 Science FSF1D7 French PPL1OM/F Phys. Ed ADA1O7 (Drama) or AVI 1O7 (Visual Arts) or AMU 1O7 (Music) or BTT 1O1 (Business) or TIJ 101 (Technology) HRT 3M7 Religion ENG2D7 English MPM2D7 Math CHC2D7 History SNC2D7 Science FSF2D7 French MCR3U7 - Math (gr.11) AMU2O7 must have gr. 9 prerequisite) Drama Visual Arts Intro to Business Phys. Ed Tech Studies *All students are required to take a minimum of one ARTS course (Music, Visual Arts or Drama) within their elective choices. Page 3
THE ARTS STREAM (GRADE 11 AND 12 IB) Grade 11 Courses HZT 4U7 TOK/Religion ENG3U7 English MHF4U7 Higher Functions* SCH3U7 Chemistry MCV4U7 Calculus and Vectors* FSF3U7 French* FSF4U7 French* AMU3M7 Music Grade 12 Courses ETS4U7 English Literature *** ENG4U7 English*** SCH4U7 Chemistry*** SNC4M7 Integrated Sciences***( Chemistry) CIE3M7 Economics CIA4U7 - Economics or CHY4U7 History CPW4U7 Politics (Economics HL or History HL package)*** (spare period in semester 2) AMU4M7 Music** THE SCIENCE STREAM (GRADE 11 AND 12 IB) Grade 11 Courses HZT 4U7 TOK/Religion ENG3U7 English MHF4U7 Higher Functions* SCH3U7 Chemistry MCV4U7 Calculus and Vectors* FSF3U7 French FSF4U7* French SBI3U7 Biology or SPH3U7- Physics Grade 12 Courses ETS4U7 English Literature *** ENG4U7 English *** SCH4U7 Chemistry SNC4M7 Integrated Sciences*** CIE3M7 Economics CIA4U7 Economics *** OR (Economics HL or History HL package) SBI4U7 Biology** or SPH4U7 Physics** CHY4U7 History CPW4U7 Politics*** (spare period in semester 2) Notes: 1. St. Robert Pre-IB students may be exempt from taking Careers/Civics Credit (GLC201 & CHV201), provided that they continue with the IB programme in Grade 11 and 12. We recommend that Grade 9 St. Robert Pre-IB students take Careers/Civics at summer school or online before their Grade 10 year. 2. * indicates that a SL (standard level) exam will be written in May of year one ** indicates that a SL exam will be written in this subject in May of year two *** indicates that a HL (higher level) exam will be written in May of year two 3. The IB Diploma Programme at St. Robert is not a certificate programme. This means that IB students must be enrolled in a full diploma programme and that non-ib students may not enrol in IB courses. The only exception is French Non-IB students may enrol in French 3U7 and 4U7 only if French 3U1 and 4U1 are not offered. In this case, students may be eligible to receive an IB certificate in French. Page 4
4. Students who opt to leave the programme must submit a letter with parent signature and meet with the IB Coordinator and their Guidance Counsellor. It is important that IB students adhere to the timelines for dropping courses as outlined in the student agenda. Not adhering to timelines of Course Selection may result in courses being full and/or unavailable. Page 5