IB World School

Middle School parents are invited to an Information Night on the Upper School Experience and the International Baccalaureate Program on Tuesday, Nov. 30 in Founders Theater.  (This is especially helpful for parents of 8th graders, who will be starting their journey through the Upper School next year.)  Learn what makes the SGS Upper School unique and what students can expect in grades 9-12.  Here's the schedule:

6:00-6:40pm
Introduction to the Upper School experience; Academics with Dr. Francesca; Clubs, music & arts, mentors, & events with Coach Rickard; Sports with Coach Peplinski.
6:40-7:00pm
BREAK with coffee and treats. Upper School students will share their perspectives on the US experience and CAS projects. 
7:00-7:30pm
What’s the International Baccalaureate (IB)?; What’s the advantage of IB versus AP?; How does the IB support the college admissions process?; followed by a Q&A time.

Feel free to attend the first part, the second part, or both presentations.  Please RSVP to Paige Halliburton (paige.halliburton@sgs.org) if you plan to attend.

Five recent SGS alumni returned to campus on Nov. 17 to talk with current students and parents about their college experiences, what they are doing after college, and how SGS helped them.  See a Photo Gallery of the alumni panel that featured: 
• Caroline Hammett Calder ’16: Pepperdine University ’20 (Malibu, CA);
• Collin Cremers ’16: Stanford University ’20 (Stanford, CA);
• Hunter Hyde ’17: Gonzaga University ’21 (Spokane, WA);
• Isabelle Nachtsheim ’16: Eastern Washington University ’20 (Cheney, WA);
• Hunter Olsen ’14: Claremont McKenna College ’18 (Claremont, CA).

IB Question of the Week:   How does the IB and its learner profile trickle down to the learning in the Lower School?  
The aim of all IB programs is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.  The IB learner profile represents 10 attributes valued by IB World Schools.  The IB and SGS believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities. 

All of the IB Learner attributes that the Upper School program emphasizes are also seen in the Lower School classrooms.  Below are three that are emphasized in an activity in the 4th grade classroom right now: 
• Thinker: We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems.  We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.  
• Risk-Taker: We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies.  We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
• Knowledgeable: We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines.  We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global signi¬ficance

The attributes of being a THINKER, being KNOWLEDGEABLE, and being a RISK-TAKER are evident as the 4th graders, for example, participate in monthly water testing, which implements the idea of change over time and connects directly to their science units where they study water pollution, invasive species, micro worlds and macro invertebrates.  The teachers are training them to be thinkers and risk-takers, while becoming more knowledgeable.  

IB Alumni Highlight:  
The Saint George’s School Alumni (SGSA) is excited to host a College and Career Panel this Wednesday, November 17 from 6:00 - 7:30pm in the Upper School.  This event is open to all 8th through 12th grade students and their families.  Hear from several recent SGS alumni about their college experience, their major and career selections, as well as other great insights.  There also will be a Q & A opportunity with the panel of speakers.  Please come to also ask any questions regarding how their experience with the IB helped them in college.  The speakers include these IB graduates: 

• Caroline Hammett Calder ’16: Pepperdine University ’20 (Malibu, CA) – Bachelor of Arts, Economics, French & Music; Wealth Management & Advisory Associate, Washington Trust Bank (Spokane, WA); 
• Collin Cremers ’16: Stanford University ’20 (Stanford, CA) – Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering; Stanford University ’21 (Stanford, CA) – Master of Science, Engineering; Associate Consultant, Bain & Company (San Francisco, CA);
• Hunter Hyde ’17: Gonzaga University ’21 (Spokane, WA) – Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice & Political Science; Gap Year (Spokane, WA);
• Isabelle Nachtsheim ’16: Eastern Washington University ’20 (Cheney, WA) – Bachelor of Science, Biology; Occupational Therapy Doctoral Candidate ‘22, Baylor University (Waco, TX).  

Hunter Olsen from the Class of 2014 is also speaking, but he graduated before the IB was implemented at our school: Claremont McKenna College ’18 (Claremont, CA) – Bachelor of Arts, Economics; Senior Analyst, Health Evolution (San Francisco, CA).

If you’d like to attend, please RSVP by 9am on Nov. 16 to Tracy Gonser at tracy.gonser@sgs.org or call 509-464-8830. 

CAS Experience Highlights: CAS experiences for all of our Upper School Students this week included learning about and working on car tires, participating in Joya Trunk or Treat, and donating blood.