Important Dates
01/17/12 - NWSS - Pre-IB Information Night for parents of current Grade 8 students. Begins at 6:30pm, in the NWSS Library.
02/03/12 - Deadline for receipt of Teacher Referral Forms for prospective grade 9 NWSS Pre-IB students.
02/25/12 - NWSS Pre-IB Entrance Testing for grade 8 students, 9:30am - 12:30pm in the Pearson Cafeteria.
05/24/12 - Entrance testing for prospective NWSS Pre-IB grade 10 students, prospective grade 11 students. 9:00am - 12Noon, Room 160A.
05/02/12 to 05/22/12 - Grade 12 IB Examinations. Good Luck grade 12s.
07/03/12 - Grade 12 IB Examination Results available. See Mr. Janz for your username and password.
Extended Essay
The extended essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research, culminating in a 4,000-word paper. As a required component, it provides:
- practical preparation for the kinds of undergraduate research required at tertiary level
- an opportunity for students to engage in an in-depth study of a topic of interest within a chosen subject.
Emphasis is placed on the research process:
- formulating an appropriate research question
- engaging in a personal exploration of the topic
- communicating ideas
- developing an argument.
Participation in this process develops the capacity to:
- analyse
- synthesize, and
- evaluate knowledge.
Students are supported throughout the process with advice and guidance from a supervisor (usually a teacher at the school).
Theory of Knowledge
The theory of knowledge (TOK) requirement is central to the educational philosophy of the Diploma Programme. It offers students and their teachers the opportunity to:
- reflect critically on diverse ways of knowing and on areas of knowledge
- consider the role and nature of knowledge in their own culture, in the cultures of others and in the wider world.
In addition, it prompts students to:
- be aware of themselves as thinkers, encouraging them to become more acquainted with the complexity of knowledge
- recognize the need to act responsibly in an increasingly interconnected but uncertain world.
As a thoughtful and purposeful inquiry into different ways of knowing, and into different kinds of knowledge, TOK is composed almost entirely of questions. The most central of these is “How do we know?” It is a stated aim of TOK that students should become aware of the interpretative nature of knowledge, including personal ideological biases, regardless of whether, ultimately, these biases are retained, revised or rejected.
TOK also has an important role to play in providing coherence for the student as it transcends and links academic subject areas, thus demonstrating the ways in which they can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility
Creativity, Action, Service Hours
The CAS requirement is a fundamental part of the programme and takes seriously the importance of life outside the world of scholarship, providing a refreshing counterbalance to academic studies.
- Creativity is interpreted broadly to include a wide range of arts activities as well as the creativity students demonstrate in designing and implementing service projects.
- Action can include not only participation in individual and team sports but also taking part in expeditions and in local or international projects.
- Service encompasses a host of community and social service activities. Some examples include helping children with special needs, visiting hospitals and working with refugees or homeless people.
Students are expected to be involved in CAS activities for the equivalent of at least three hours each week during the two years of the programme. Each school appoints a CAS supervisor who is responsible for providing a varied choice of activities for students. Programmes are monitored by IBO regional offices. A system of self-evaluation encourages students to reflect on the benefits of CAS participation to themselves and to others, and to evaluate the understanding and insights acquired.