The IB Program

at Ross Sheppard

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is a rigorous

academic enrichment program, recommended for students who want to

challenge themselves with content that requires robust critical/analytical

skills, open-mindedness, risk-taking and intellectual curiosity. The

programme’s broad-based internationally-minded curriculum fosters

students’ personal, intellectual, emotional, and social growth, aiming at

developing compassionate, knowledgeable and globally-responsible

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.

Inquirers They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to con-

duct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively

enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.

Knowl-

edgeable

They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance.

In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding

across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

Thinkers They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to rec-

ognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.

Commu-

nicators

They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively

in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They

work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.

Principled They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and

respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take

responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany

them.

Open-

minded

They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and

are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and

communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points

of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.

Caring They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings

of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a posi-

tive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

Risk-

takers

They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and fore-

thought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and

strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

Balanced They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance

to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

Reflective They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They

are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to

support their learning and personal development.

The IB Learner Profile

What Does IB Strive to Develop?

Although IB students study subject content in greater depth and delve

more deeply into the philosophy of learning, their grades do not suffer.

Teachers separate IB and Alberta course assignments and material,

which allows for high grades despite the extra content.

Students’ marks are not lower in IB courses than they would be in the

regular level academic course.

What is Needed to Succeed in IB?

• Intellectual curiosity

• Self-motivation

• Be willing to accept responsibility for your learning

• A good work ethic

• Time management skills

• Grades over 75% highly recommended

What are the Challenges of IB Program?

• A demanding curriculum

• Self-discipline and self-motivation to do academic work

At Ross Sheppard School you will share your IB classes with many of the

same people so it feels like a small school. This creates a great atmos-

phere for close friendships to develop.

Success in IB

Ross Sheppard ’s IB Students Achieve!

• Development of good work habits in preparation for post-

secondary school

• Positive and focused learning environment

• Balanced life style—Encourages extracurricular involvement in

athletics, music, drama, art, leadership, and more

• Highest level academic program at Ross Sheppard

• Multiple levels of challenge

• Specially trained teachers

• Internationally recognized curriculum

• Part of a worldwide group of students

• Emphasis on process skills

Why Choose Shep IB?

Discover the Advantage

Activities for IB Students include:

• IB ski trip

• I.B. Science students attend lectures, labs, and demonstrations at the U of A

• Celebration events for IB Diploma Students

• U of A IB student conferences

• Arts: Jazz Band, Vocal Jazz, Drumline, Chinese Drums, Guitar,

Choral, Drama, Musical Theatre, Improvisation, Visual Arts, etc.

• Sports: more than 30 teams in 17 various sports

IB Subjects Offered at Ross Sheppard DP Students must choose one subject from each of the six groups

Higher Level (HL) Subjects Standard Level (SL) Subjects

English French, Chinese,** Spanish*

(*ab initio **ab initio and SL)

Chinese

History Math

Biology Chemistry, Physics

Visual Arts, Music, Drama Visual Arts, Music, Drama

Full IB Diploma • 3 subjects at the Higher Level (HL) and

• 3 subjects at the Standard Level (SL)

• 1 subject must be from each of Groups 1

through 5, and the 6th subject can be from

Group 2, Group 4 or Group 6.

Extended Essay A 4000-word essay of independent research on a

topic of the student’s choice, submitted in grade

12. Students will have a teacher advisor to help

and guide them.

CAS

Creativity, Action, Service

CAS encourages students to share their energy

and special talents with others by participating in

theatre or musical productions, and/or commu-

nity service activities. This is completed during

grades 11 and 12.

Theory of Knowledge A course that encourages critical thinking about

knowledge. Students explore two key questions:

“What do I know?” and “How do I know it is

true?”

Students are encouraged to appreciate other

cultural perspectives on knowledge.

Assessment in 6 Areas

of Study

Two forms of assessment

Internal Assessment—subject-specific assess-

ment of work completed in class

External Assessment—exams, musical perfor-

mance, art exhibition

IB Diploma

What Does Full IB Include?

For partial IB, students can earn IB Certificates in individual subject

areas in which they are interested. Certificate students are encour-

aged to register in at least 2 IB subjects.

HL= Higher Lever SL = Standard Level

Partial IB

An Alternative to Full IB

Why Choose Shep Pre-IB?

Discover the Advantage

Pre-IB courses are designed specifically to prepare students to

meet the demands of the IB curriculum when they enroll in the IB

programme in grades 11 and 12. The Ross Sheppard pre-IB pro-

gram is not a construct of the International Baccalaureate Organi-

zation: it covers the Alberta Education High School Curriculum.

However, the pre-IB courses differ from regular academic courses

in two ways:

1. Enriched content, targeting the development of critical ana-

lytical thinking and a broad range of academic literacy skills.

2. Comprehensive coverage of concepts.

All pre-IB students are assessed only on the Alberta High School

Curriculum.

Students can choose from various levels of enrichment: IB Diploma, IB Diploma

with an extra certificate in a third Science, or individual IB courses (Certificates).

In most subjects, the curriculum is organized so that if a student chooses to

transfer out of IB between years the transition involves no course overlap.

Sample Grade 10

Full Pre-IB Timetable* Semester 1 Semester 2

Block Day A Day B Day A Day B

1 English 10-1 IB

Language 10 IB

English 10-1 IB Language 10 IB

2 Mathematics 10C IB

Mathematics 10C IB

Mathematics 20 IB

Mathematics 20 IB

3 Social Studies 10-1 IB

Science 10 IB Social Studies 10-1 IB

Science 10 IB

4 Phys. Ed 10

Phys. Ed 10

Option Option

*Actual timetables will vary depending on individual choice and scheduling.

All courses are 5 Credits unless indicated otherwise and most are full year.

Students may choose to take CALM and Physical Education at Summer School,

freeing up more time for optional courses.

Select Courses are available in early morning (8:00 am), lunch time, and after

school.

Options at Ross Shep allow for a full range of educational experiences!

Grade 10 Pre IB Courses

English 10-1 pIB

Social 10-1 pIB

Math 10C pIB

and

Math 20-1 pIB

Science 10 pIB

ONE 2nd Language pIB

PE/CALM

Arts Option pIB or Regular Option

University Recognition

Many universities offer advantages to students graduating from high

school with IB:

• Advanced credit/advanced placement with a grade of 6

• IB-specific scholarships

• IB student advisors

*Students seeking early acceptance into the Faculty of Engineering

must take IB Chemistry and IB Physics.

Predicted grades for IB diploma students are available in mid-

March. Ross Sheppard High School’s average grade for IB diploma

students has been 37 points on average over the last 10 years.

University Advanced Course University Credits

U of A English (6), Biology (3), History (3), Open Elective (3), Physics

(3)

U of C English (3), Biology (3), History (6), Open Electives (15 )

UBC Biology (8), English (6), History (6)

U of T Biology (1), English (1), History (1), Music (1)

Queens Total: 12 – 18, if student completes IB Diploma

McGill Biology (6) - receive a total of 30 advanced credits

University Recognition

Universities Compete for IB Students!

Most universities in Canada realize that students who graduate with an IB

Diploma are more likely to experience success in university courses. To

encourage IB students to apply to their university, many offer special

benefits for IB Diploma students.

Studies at the University of Alberta show that students who have

completed the IB Diploma have a higher grade point average in their first

year than students who did not complete the IB Diploma (after corrected

for incoming GPA).

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) Provides:

• Direct, online access for university admissions officers and government officials to syllabuses and recent examination papers.

• A database containing contact details of universities around the world together with up-to-date information about their requirements for admission to assist IB diploma students in making appropriate choices.

• Grade access directly from the IBO’s secure web site.

• For university recognition policies contact your university of choice

directly or visit www.ibo.org/country/CA and select Universities and

institutions that recognize the IB diploma.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Courses: IB Courses are offered in wide range of subjects. Students pursuing the IB Diploma must take IB courses in six subject areas, and they must take ToK, Extended Essay and CAS. Certificate students may pick and choose IB courses. Courses are designed to be challenging.

Exams: Students taking IB exams must have 150 hours (1 year) for SL and 240 hours (2 years) for the HL exam. IB students may take both AP and IB exams.

Teachers: Teachers help students prepare for year-end exams. All IB teachers are required to be trained at 3-6 day workshops, nationally or internationally. They submit projects, taped oral exams, labs, papers etc. to external examiners who score them to provide standardization of quality and rigor.

Assessment: IB tests, papers, labs, orals, etc. are scored on an international scale by carefully selected and trained examiners in countries all over the world.

University Admissions and Credit: High scores on IB exams may garner university credit or advanced standing. Universities around the work recognize IB coursework/diplomas and often allow university credit for successful IB exams. Some universities allow the student to skip the intro level of a course or skip a student a full year ahead.

Program Start up: IB is a full program rather than a selection of classes. A broad range of courses must be available to all students and must at all time, meet international requirements. Official IBO authorization and periodic program evaluation for standardization of quality rigor is required.

International Baccalaureate

Advanced Placement (AP)

Courses: AP courses are offered in a wide range of subjects and students may take those that appeal to them. Courses are designed to be challenging.

Exams: Nearly all students attend one, two or three semesters of an AP class to prepare for an exam. Students with special knowledge take exams without taking an AP class. AP students may not take IB exams.

Teachers: Teachers help students prepare for year-end exams. All AP teachers must be endorsed by their high school principal. They may receive training ranging from one day to one week. Training sessions are available to teachers in each of the 32 subject areas. Training is not required. Teachers may choose to be trained in Canada or the United States.

Assessment: AP tests are evaluated by carefully selected and trained college and university professors and experienced AP teachers. Exams are sent to test centers for marking.

University Admissions and Credit: Participation in AP courses can be very helpful in gaining college admission. High scores on AP exams may garner college credit or advanced standing. Universities recognize AP coursework and often allow university credit for successful AP exams.

Program Start up: AP classes can be implemented as a school wishes, on an individual basis. Courses must be approved by Advanced Placement through the AP Course Audit Process.

International Baccalaureate Advanced Placement

21st Century Skills

That IB Students Obtain!

5 Skills for Thriving in Today’s World

Curiosity—This is what makes humans unique from machines.

Machines follow rules, but we’re built to adapt.

Creativity— Your unique perspective to connect ideas in new

ways that will differentiate you.

Initiative—Ideas are great, but without initiative, those ideas will

float into a sea of billions of ideas being generated everyday.

Multi-Disciplinary Thinking—Multi-asking vs. Multi-tasking

(Understanding what we know and don’t know i.e TOK).

Empathy– Sensing what others are feeling and thinking is at the

core of our ability to communicate, work together and be a part

of our ever-changing world.

Testimonials

What Our IB Students Have to Say

“The main thing that attracted me to the IB Programme was all of the options it provided. Taking IB means that I can really explore what I love and expand on my knowledge in a way that I cannot in other programs. I also really like the idea of challenging myself as it helps me improve my skills in practically every area— time management, studying, communi-cation, etc. The program has introduced me to many unique individu-als; I’ve met some of my best friends through our mutual IB classes and I excellent teachers as well.” — Eman Shayeb, Grad 2021

“IB was more that just a program, it was a way of living life. The habits I developed in IB helped me keep up with the constant workload of uni-versity while still having the time for other activities. It not only im-proved my studying habits , but also my entire quality of life during the transition to post-secondary. IB was without a doubt, an integral part of my growth as a student in pursuit of higher education.” — Steven Vuong Grad 2019

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