An SGS senior has used the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to set up a program to reduce stress in her neighborhood -- with therapy bunnies and tea! 

CAS Project Highlight: Senior Erika Piotrowski has developed a Bunny Outreach Program that she will run for two months.  This will be a neighborhood stress release program with her pet bunnies as therapy animals.  She plans to individually schedule people for the program, then show up wearing a mask and bringing a folding table.  She will set the rabbit and some tea on the table then move six feet back.  The neighbor, who is wearing a mask, will help themselves to refreshments and will be able to interact with the bunny.  In conjunction, they will discuss their day and any other light-hearted topics.  Erika has already discussed this program with some neighbors to gauge interest, and they all seem really enthused by it. 

CAS Experience Highlights: CAS experiences for all of our Upper School students (in the US and in China) include cooking clams, delivering cookies, making rings, shadowing a parent at work for a day, skiing, participating in a community night, making dessert, volunteering at 2nd Harvest, making a snowman, solving a Rubik’s cube, and walking dogs.  

EE Highlight: Senior Sophie Yao is doing her Extended Essay on a topic in Economics.  She is discovering the pros and the cons of her EE question: To What extent does passing out coupons to citizens influence the general merchandise industry in Hangzhou, China.  She came up with the idea because Hangzhou’s government was passing out an electronic coupon through a site called Alipay.  Most of the citizens had successfully obtained the coupon, including Sophie’s mother, which sparked her interest in her research topic.

IB Question of the Week:  Can you explain a little more the difference between HL and SL courses?

With humor, see the picture below:

 
But seriously, follow this link to see the brief on HL and SL courses: https://www.ibo.org/globalassets/publications/recognition/slhl-brief-en.pdf

“It is essential for any pre-university education to equip students with the depth of discipline-specific knowledge and skills that they will need for their chosen academic and career paths. However, this must be balanced with the breadth needed to develop well-rounded students who can draw connections between the different disciplines. 

"As such, the philosophy of the IB DP is that students should engage with a range of subjects while being able to explore specific areas of personal interest in greater depth. SL courses ensure students are exposed to a range of disciplines that they might otherwise opt out of, and HL courses allow students to spend more time with subjects they are more interested in by exploring options in addition to the SL core curriculum. In this sense, all DP courses, regardless of whether they are SL or HL, are integral to the programme.”

IB Overview:  The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum for grades 11-12 is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE).  Please refer to our IB webpage and to the IB Resources page in PowerSchool Learning for detailed IB information.  

An SGS senior has used the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to explore the meaning of characters created by a major Spanish author.  

EE Highlight: Senior Cambrie Rickard is writing her Extended Essay on the book Caperucita en Manhattan (Little Red Riding Hood in Manhattan) by Carmen Martín Gaite, one of the most important and influential Spanish authors of the 20th Century.  Cambrie is writing about the representations of freedom (libertad) and solitude (soledad) in the novel as portrayed by some of the characters, especially Miss Lunatic. 

CAS Project Highlight: Reagan Ivey and Adelaide Lennemann will be starting a clothing drive to donate clothes to the Teen and Kid Closet. They will promote the drive with posters and other means and will deliver the donations to the closet. The drive will run for 2-3 weeks. Details will be coming out soon. 

CAS Experience Highlights: CAS experiences for all of our Upper School students (in the US and in China) include  the lifetime fitness class, learning to sew, skiing on Mt. Spokane, learning about human trafficking and making care packages w/ Spokane Girl Up Club, OUR, and International Network of Hearts, restarting the writing center, skiing, setting up Christmas lights, building a snowman, playing ping pong, doing Among Us drawings, painting a picture, and creating a game server.

IB Question of the Week:  What is the IB doing about exams during the pandemic?
The IB continues to release updated guidance for schools regarding assessment since the pandemic started.  Their documents aim to supplement the subject guides and existing teacher support material (TSM) for DP subjects and to share guidance and advice on how teachers can support students working remotely to undertake this work.

Last year, the IB established a non-exam route as a result of the pandemic and came up with a course grade for students using their Internal Assessments (IAs), predicted grades from teachers, and past predicted grade reliability.  

Schools who tested in November 2020 were given the guidance that they could opt in or out of exams.  If they opted into exams, a student’s course grades would be based on their exams, IAs, predicted scores and past predicted grade reliability.  If schools opted out, course grades would be based on IAs, predicted grades and past predicted grade reliability, like in May 2020. 

The IB has not yet sent official and final guidance for the May 2021 cohort. They have told schools to look at the guidance given to November 2020 schools for what to expect.  Schools have been told by the IB to expect an official guidance to be released in late January/early February.  So far, for the May 2021 cohort, it is official that all IAs will be sent to the IB examiners, and not just a sampling as in a normal year.  We are waiting to hear about the exam and non-exam choices and routes. 

IB Overview:  The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum for grades 11-12 is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE).  Please refer to our IB webpage and to the IB Resources page in PowerSchool Learning for detailed IB information. 

One aspect of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme is CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service).  SGS Upper School students (in the US and in China) performed a wide variety of CAS experiences during the holiday break.  

CAS Experience Highlights: Delivering cards and gifts to nurses, cleaning up their neighborhood, making a Cindy Lou, participating in Operation Christmas Smile, dog walking, learning breakdancing for fun, participating in the US door decorating, teaching themselves to play Stairway to Heaven, playing tennis, skiing at Silver Mountain, a week of exercising a dog, debate tournament, participating in the 2nd Harvest Food drive, making Christmas cookies for friends, picking chrysanthemums, visiting a Panda base, mentoring, making a grocery basket to donate, learning a new gymnastic drop using silks, wrapping gifts, decorating advisory doors, going to a barbershop and learning about a new culture.

IB Question of the Week:  Are there any YouTube videos that help students/parents further understand the IB and also that help students navigate IB courses?  
Yes, often times IB alumni will post YouTube videos, either explaining the IB or helping students with certain tactics they learned when taking certain courses and studying for exams.  All ages can benefit from watching these videos because KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!  Here are some relevant videos:
> Ivy Lilia’s video on “IB EXPLAINED | everything you NEED TO KNOW about IB” can be found here: https://youtu.be/6mRI6Mcp5hM.  Ivy has lots of IB videos out there so check out her channel.
> One student who got a 45 (the highest score you can get) explains her top ten tips here: https://youtu.be/dk4y0jWdKgI
> Diana Ang gives her tips from “a realistic IB student” here: https://youtu.be/jq7ZGRbOxzw

IB Overview:  The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum for grades 11-12 is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE).  Please refer to our IB webpage and to the IB Resources page in PowerSchool Learning for detailed IB information.  

An SGS senior has used the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to explore a topic of particular interest to him -- heavy metal contamination.

EE highlight: Senior John DeForest chose to write his extended essay on a topic in Chemistry, a subject he is passionate about.  His EE question is: How is the rate of diffusion of iron through hydrated sediments affected by the presence and properties of solid layers?  His advisor, SGS chemistry/biology teacher Ian Townley, and partners at Kaiser Aluminum are helping him.  What inspired John to pick this topic?  “I read an article in a local online newspaper about heavy metal contamination in nearby Lake Coeur d' Alene -- scientists were concerned about rising fertilizer runoff into the lake and surrounding tributaries causing heavy metals from decades of mine tailings to release from their resting place in the sediment.  Nowhere in the article did it mention just how fertilizer was causing the heavy metals to leach out, and I was intrigued by this.  Thus began a long process of digging through the literature, calling local tribes and researchers, and connecting with local manufacturing companies to find answers." 

"I discovered that it was more of a biological process than a chemical one," John says.  "Bacteria eat the iron that stores the heavy metals, releasing them into the sediment and water column.  I reassessed with my advisor and decided that the release process was too complex in both scope and equipment, so I turned to a different factor that affects heavy metal release.  Layers of ash from the Mt. St. Helens eruption appear to have blocked the movement of heavy metals complexed in the iron (which would prevent them moving to areas with bacteria).  So I am designing an experiment to discern the chemical and physical properties of sediment layers that block this process.”

Once again, we love to see how the process of choosing a topic comes to be and evolves with research.  We cannot wait to read this full EE in January.

CAS Project Highlight: Five graduates from the DP program, in places spread all over the world, reflect on the values and benefits of CAS in this article: https://blogs.ibo.org/blog/2019/11/01/cas-service-benefits/

CAS Experiences Highlights: CAS experiences for all of our Upper School students (in the US and in China) this week included participating in the mentor program, making videos for Lower School students, raking leaves for the Ronald McDonald House, making cards for the police and sheriffs, cleaning up a yard for a cancer patient, creating flyers, skiing, adopted family Christmas shopping, taking a CPR, BLS and First Aid class, curating a cheese board, tutoring, 

IB Question of the Week:  Why is it important to choose an extended essay topic that a student is passionate about? 
DP graduate Stephanie Stan, from Bloomfield Hills High School, offers her advice on how to make the extended essay transform from just an assignment to a project that expands upon your own knowledge of a topic.  See her article here: https://blogs.ibo.org/blog/2018/05/02/extended-essay-topic/

IB Overview:  The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum for grades 11-12 is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE).  Please refer to our IB webpage and to the IB Resources page in PowerSchool Learning for detailed IB information.  

An SGS senior has used the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to explore a topic of particular interest to him -- vegetarian weight lifting!

EE Highlight: For his Extended Essay, senior Nico Morales wanted to test how a vegetarian diet affects his recovery time in an area of sports.  His research question is: Will a vegetarian diet improve recovery time during a weight lifting program?  In the time of COVID-19, he was able to find a subject matter that interested him and occupied his summer when he was missing summer basketball.  We can’t wait to read about his findings.  Remember the EEs live in our school library for our full diploma students from 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.  Please talk to Sara Smith or Elizabeth Tender if you want to read any of them.

CAS Project Highlight: Junior Alyssa Zhao is helping Qingqing Ji teach classes for her CAS project.  She is just starting this.  She says she "will create several lectures and activities for the SGS IB Chinese learners.  The purpose is to help them have a better understanding for Chinese and provide some useful tools, materials and additional help.”  When asked what new skills or skill levels she hopes to develop, she responded with "Public speaking, leadership, and event organizing ability."

CAS Experience Highlights: CAS experiences for all of our Upper School students (in the US and in China) this week included making “SGS obituaries and impact plans” (where students think about the things they have done and the things that they would like to do in their remaining time at SGS), having a weekly yoga meeting for mental health, participating on the Blood Drive Committee, annotating classical Chinese literature, skating, clearing yard waste, participating in a fellow IB student’s IA for Psychology class, playing tennis, creating a self-care menu, making letters and helping with Everlasting Envelopes, running in a 5K, learning the 4x4 cube, volunteering at LIVE House, practicing yoga, donating blood for the blood drive, teaching basic English to persons in China, and starting an Etsy shop.  

IB Question of the Week: How has the IB as an organization adapted its requirements for COVID-19?  The IB Organization is addressing the loss of instruction time through targeted removals and/or amendments of assessment components or submission requirements.  These adaptations aim to empower teachers to address each subject’s aims and objectives with flexibility and fairness in preparation for the May and November 2021 session.  Learn about all of the ways the IB is responding to the extraordinary challenges ahead at https://www.ibo.org/covid-19-support/  

IB Overview:  The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum for grades 11-12 is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE).  Please refer to our IB webpage and to the IB Resources page in PowerSchool Learning for detailed IB information.  

Three SGS seniors have used the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme to explore topics of particular interest to them -- Cryptography and 3D Printing!

EE Highlight:  Senior Jake Gliniak wrote his EE on the topic of Cryptology.  His research question is, "How does RSA encryption use math to secure information?"  RSA encryption is a system that solves what was once one of the biggest problems in cryptography: How can you send someone a coded message without having an opportunity to previously share the code with them?  More about RSA encryption (until you are able to read Jake’s EE) can be found here on Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RSA_(cryptosystem).

CAS Project Highlight:  COVID has created some challenges for students’ CAS projects.  We have students who wanted to do a basketball skills clinic or spearhead the 2nd Harvest Food Bank Drive, but have had to change their plans.  However, some students were able to stick with their plan.  This week we highlight Jake Gliniak, Alec Bunn and Tristan Krzyzanek.  Alec, Tristan, and Jake are creating 3D printed masks to help immune-compromised cancer patients stay safe when it's necessary for them to visit hospitals.  These seniors spent many hours designing and writing up the proposal, recruiting help and support, prototyping and improving the mask, manufacturing and assembling, and distributing the end product to cancer patients.  

Alec and Tristan coordinated the 3D printing, "however, finding strapping or sealant strips for the masks proved difficult due to extreme shortages in supply and limited access," the students wrote in their project proposal.  "We attempted to solve these issues through a number of unconventional solutions including: silicone caulk, elastic shoelaces, weather stripping, etc.  We settled on a combination of elastic shoelaces and weather stripping, which we felt provided the best seal, comfort, and ability to be sanitized."  Jake completed the assembly, with help from senior Sydney Bledsoe, and delivered the first nine prototypes to Summit Cancer Care in Spokane, where "the masks were a big hit."  Their goal is to supply 100 masks to local patients.

CAS Experiences Highlights: CAS experiences for all of our Upper School students (in the US and in China) this week included Everlasting Envelopes, painting pumpkins, pumpkin carving, Knowledge Bowl, National Novel writing Month, wiring letters to family members in Spanish, making signs for the blood drive, playing the ukulele, picking up branches and leaves, developing a Performance Management Chart (Tracking Tool) for Athletic Training, and painting poster for the food drive

IB Question of the Week:  How can you find other IB schools around the world?  Follow this link: https://www.ibo.org/programmes/find-an-ib-school/

IB Overview:  The Diploma Programme (DP) curriculum for grades 11-12 is made up of six subject groups and the DP core, comprising Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) and the Extended Essay (EE).  Please refer to our IB webpage and to the IB Resources page in PowerSchool Learning for detailed IB information.