Brien McMahon on way to offering International Baccalaureate diploma, NPS says

NORWALK, Conn. – Some of the kids going to eighth grade this year in Norwalk are likely to be the first Norwalkers to graduate from Brien McMahon High School with an International Baccalaureate diploma, which is held in high regard by colleges and universities, according to a Norwalk Public Schools press release.

BMHS has been officially accepted as a candidate school for the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program, a high school diploma program based on international standards of achievement, the Monday press release said. McMahon will pursue authorization as an IB World School. Creating a Norwalk International Baccalaureate progam was an initiative of former Norwalk Superintendent of Schools Manny Rivera.

“The IB program at McMahon was a priority under the Strategic Plan that the Board approved last year, so we are very pleased that the school’s candidacy has been accepted,” said Board of Education Chairman Mike Lyons in the press release.  “With the development of this new program, Norwalk Public Schools will have yet another alternative for students who want challenging opportunities that will help them reach their highest potential.”

IB World Schools share a common philosophy — a commitment to the high quality, challenging, international education that Brien McMahon High School believes is important for students, the press release said.

“The IB Diploma Program is a comprehensive and rigorous two year pre-university course of study,” the press release said. “International Baccalaureate diplomas are regarded by major college and universities as excellent preparation for college. IB programs have also been demonstrated to impact college acceptance rates, with the average acceptance rate of IB students into universities 22 percent higher than the average acceptance rate of the total population. Many competitive universities will grant semester credits for a particular course if a student receives a qualifying score in an IB class, or may grant a full year of college credit for students earning an IB diploma.”

“We were thrilled to receive this news from the International Baccalaureate Organization,” said BMHS Principal Suzanne Koroshetz in the release. “We believe that an IB program will be a perfect fit for our emphasis on developing globally aware citizens who can think critically and independently. We’re very pleased that the program has accepted our application, and we are looking forward to taking the next steps toward full authorization.”

“With full authorization anticipated for the 2017-18 school year, Koroshetz expects that current eighth graders will be the first BMHS students eligible to take IB courses or apply for the IB Diploma Program,” the release states. “Students at Brien McMahon High School as well as the Center for Global Studies, located within McMahon, will be eligible for the International Baccalaureate program. As tenth graders, students may apply for the Diploma Program, which includes two years of IB classes and additional IB requirements, or may register for individual IB courses with the possibility of receiving college credit.”

A committee of teachers and administrators, led by teachers Julie Parham and Kristi Carriero and administrators Scott Hurwitz and Roz McCarthy, began studying the IB program requirements preparing McMahon’s application for candidacy in October 2013, the release states.  The committee presented the plan to the BoE   last October.

“By offering an IB program here in Norwalk, Norwalk Public Schools has again expanded the high quality options available to help prepare students for success in a globally competitive society,” Norwalk interim Superintendent of Schools James Connelly said in the release. “My congratulations go out to Principal Koroshetz and the entire school community for their acceptance into this prestigious and highly competitive program. I’d also like to thank the IB program committee for their hard work and dedication.”

Preparation for the program will now begin in earnest, the release said, continuing:

“The IB core at BMHS will include a ‘Theory of Knowledge’ course, which will be an interdisciplinary approach to learning and critical thinking; a self-selected research project; and a ‘Creativity, Action, Service’ (CAS) requirement that includes weekly hours devoted to creative projects, physical activity and service learning. Over the 2015-16 and 2017-18 school years, curriculum revision and alignment needs will be reviewed, a recommended course of study for pre- IB classes will be established, and professional development for IB teachers will be offered. The first IB courses are expected to be offered with the 2017-18 school year.

“Parents and students interested in the IB program should to refer to the McMahon website or the CGS website for more information about the program and about course selection for grades 9 and 10. Families with additional questions can reach IB coordinators Julie Parham (parhamj@norwalkps.org) or Kristi Carriero (carrierok@norwalkps.org).

“With roots dating back to the 1920s, IB programs emphasize educating the whole person and encouraging students to ‘learn how to learn.’ Since 1970, the IB high school program has graduated more than half a million students. They are also aligned with Connecticut State Standards. Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programs: the Primary Years Program (PYP), the Middle Years Program (MYP), the Diploma Program or the Career-related Program (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programs, visit http://www.ibo.org/.”