A guide to support our students throughout the next two years.

IB Diploma Program, ACS Athens

November 5, 2013

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American High School Diploma American High School Diploma +IB Diploma American High School Diploma + IB Diploma Courses American High School Diploma + AP Certificates American High School Diploma + AP Certificates + IB Diploma Courses American High School Diploma + The ACS Scholars Diploma American High School Diploma +IB Diploma + Greek Isotimia

The ACS Athens and IB Student Profile Achieved with Ethos through our Holistic Meaningful Harmonious Education Model : Morfosis

We all work together.. Administrators

Faculty Parents

To support our students throughout the two years of the IB program.

Our common objective: Achieve the highest performance in a holistic way, in all aspects of student life and learning.

What do new IB parents need to know about the program?

•The IB Diploma Requirements

•The Assessment for IB Diploma Courses: Internal and External

•The Format of the examinations

•The Conduct of the Examinations

• Minimum Score requirement for the IB Diploma to be awarded

•The timeline of completion for the course requirements

•The distribution of work/deadlines over the two years.

•The in-school processes and policies regarding the IB courses.

IB DIPLOMA requirements Minimum 3- High Level courses (HL) Minimum 2-Standard level courses (SL) An Extended Essay or EE (4,000 words)

A Theory of Knowledge Essay (1,500 words) TOK Essay

CAS – 150 hrs of Creativity, Action and Service

ASSESSMENT COMPONENTS INTERNAL ASSESSMENT (IA) LANGUAGES: ORAL SOCIAL STUDIES: WRITTEN COMMENTARIES OR PAPERS EXPERIMENTAL SCIENCES: LAB REPORTS MATH: PROJECTS ARTS: PROJECTS

Prepared in the course of the two years, Assessed by ACS Athens faculty, Moderated by IBO moderator.

Final grade decision is made by IB moderator. Final Score weight: 20% for HL and 25% for SL

EXTERNAL ASSESSMENT WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS WRITTEN TASKS EE TOK ART PROJECTS MAY EXAMINATIONS Final Grade weight between 75-80%

FORMAT OF EXAMS Students write 3 exams (papers) for each HL course. Students write 2 exams (papers) for each SL course.

PAPER 1 PAPER 2 PAPER 3 All IB courses are assessed on 1-7 scale. TOK Essay and Extended Essay on F-A scale and both

receive a total of 3 points

IB second year May exams Exams are scheduled by IBO Exams are delivered by IBO RULES AND REGULATIONS FROM IBO

ACS Athens Mock Examinations Exams are prepared by ACS Athens

faculty Exams are scheduled by ACS Athens

administration Rules and Regulations of IBO are applied

for both MOCK EXAM IN JUNE OF YEAR 1 MOCK EXAM IN JANUARY YEAR 2

Diploma is awarded when.. Diploma with a score of 24-27 points

Diploma with a score of 28 points

TOK Pass

EE Pass

CAS Pass

There is no grade 1 in any subject.

3 HL courses

12 points no grade 2 11 points no more than one grade 2

3 SL courses

9 points no more than one grade 2

8 points no more than two grade 2

Overall, there are no more than three grades 3 or below.

Quarter 1: Perceptions & Realities Ms. Gournaris Mr. Kakaris Hristakos + Mr. Tsitsilonis Pittas Pisanias

Students say…. Teachers explain…..

The IB program is easy!!!

I studied for the test but why did I get a C and not a B+ or an A in the first test?

Understanding the assessment criteria for IB courses is one of the first quarter challenges.

Quarter 2: Realities

Mr. Tsitsilonis Hristakos Mr. Kakaris Miniotis

Students say….. Teachers explain…

Why do homework assignments seem so much harder now?

Demands for deeper understanding of course content is now apparent to students.

WHY due dates for homework assignments or tests fall during the same day or week?

Proper Planning and organizing tasks is one of the challenges. Need to ask for help.

Quarter 3: Feeling Stronger! Strengths… weaknesses Reflecting… acting

January exams are over Evaluate performance/ Administrative intervention may be required. Are there any program changes required for the student to be more successful?

Confidence raised Build on strengths

Identify weaknesses Seek improvement

Quarter 3: New challenges Ms. Gournaris Hristakos Miniotis Mr. Tsitsilonis Pittas Mr. Kakaris Stelios Anna

New Challenges… Supporting processes Internal Assessment Teachers can help!!

Extended Essay More and more homework and not enough time to go out for a coffee with friends….

Time and organize tasks

Anxiety Share concerns and anxiety with counselors, parents and friends. Confront challenges early on. Not the day before. Assistance to relieve stress.!

Students are monitored with respect to completing tasks according to deadlines.

The IB office communicates any problems to parents in writing.

Quarter 4. More Challenges..

Mr. Tsitsilonis Mr. Kakaris

Pittas

Pisanias Ms. Gournaris Anna Stelios

Challenged to excel… Our support…

I worked so hard to rewrite my essay and my teacher says that it is still mediocre!!

Need encouragement to continue the hard work. Need to understand that revising, editing and rewriting is required in order to achieve the best performance. Encourage them to use class time effectively.

How will I be ready for the Mock Exams. If I fail, I will lose my status as an IB Diploma student. I will not be able to enter the HL classes for the courses I need for my college applications.!!!

Use time effectively, organize work, use Spring break to get ahead and prepare for the mock exams. Share concerns/anxieties with parents, teachers, counselors. They can help.

June Mock Exams results on Skyward! The mock exam grade is recorded on Skyward

a) out of 100 and recorded as a letter grade on the Semester 2

exam column. b) out of 7 on the IB scale in the quarter 4 comments. Notice on Skyward the SIB= Score on the IB scale Measures course performance according to the IB requirements

i.e. Internal Assessment, written tasks, written assignments and the Mock exam using the IB score weights.

THUS, SIB ＝, or ≠ ACS Athens course grade

After the Mocks- Holidays!??

Dealing with the results, rethinking of options for applications. Identify opportunities and challenges.

Need help to reflect and evaluate Mock Exam results focusing on academic plans. Do academic plans fit student profile and personality?

Summer Homework!!!! A pile of unfinished work. Need to work on the options for sciences, finish

the first draft of the Extended Essay,…... What about my CAS project? Help students plan their work in parts. Efficient organization will give them more time for holidays. Pisanias, Pittas, Anna, Hristakos

Year 2: A hard beginning I must, I must, I must……… Stelios Must submit all summer work. Must write mock exams in class before the end of the

first quarter. Must complete my College Applications. But why, A parent: Mr. Tsitsilonis….. is it that teachers are so strict and do not give students

the benefit of the doubt with the IB Predictions? Answer: Tokatlidou

Year 2- Now I need support!! Reality

Stress, even panic is observed amongst the IB Diploma seniors. Some experience the consequences of not doing the summer homework.!!

Support mechanisms Counselors work in the Senior Advisory class to motivate

students and help them keep focused on task.

Parental support is very important at this point. Parents can help students maintain a long run perspective.

My last Christmas as a high-school student! Let me enjoy it please.!!

WORK, work, work….Can I please have the Christmas day to enjoy the season? PARENT

Spend the break listening to concerns, reading your child’s essay, checking with what must be completed for the Internal Assessment. STELIOS

Students need to work around the clock. EE, TOK essay and English written tasks and written assignments must be completed before the end of February. This is an External Deadline. PITTAS PISANIAS

The rest of the IA work must be completed before the end of March. Do not leave things for the last minute. HRISTAKOS

The last quarter…. All IB requirements, except the exam, are complete.

Bravo! Now, focus on the exam. Develop an effective strategy to prepare for the

exams. Need help? Ask teachers, counselors, parents. All will be happy to help…..

Soon you will be an IB Diploma Graduate

Useful documents General Guidelines to the IB diploma Extended Essay Guide CAS guide Please visit our school’s website or www.ibo.org for more

information on the requirements and regulations of the IB diploma program

HMH education at all levels Reflecting on our practices….. Does the variety of supporting programs and

procedures satisfy HMH?

This is our Goal and this is our Reflection. Please give us your input any time.