Saint George has been a member of the prestigious International Baccalaureate Organization (IB) since 1995 and was the first school in the Caribbean authorized to teach the IB course of study.
The IB Program is a demanding two-year optional course for highly motivated Senior School students between the ages of 16 and 19. It allows its graduates to comply with the requirements of several national education systems and the classes may be considered for exoneration at the University level. This program of study is not based on any specific country’s, although it integrates the best elements of many of them. The use of both languages and the multicultural environment at Saint George, coupled with the IB studies program, promotes critical, creative and reflective graduates.
The IB Diploma may be validated at universities throughout the world and many of our graduates have been able to obtain subject credit according to their IB results.
Rhayza Hurtado
IB Coordinator
rhurtado@saintgeorge.do
IB Courses (HL -Higher Level / SL – Standard Level)
Group 1
Spanish A: Lengua y Literatura (HL)
English A: Language and Literature (HL)
Group 2
French
Group 3
History Route 2: Peacemaking-Americas (HL)
Business and Management (SL)
Group 4
Biology (SL)
Chemistry IB (SL)*
Physics (SL)
Group 5
Maths (SL)
Mathematical Studies (SL)
Group 6
Visual Arts (SL)
Option A or B
These IB courses are an integral part of our curriculum and are mandatory for all 11th and 12th grade students, although exams are optional. Due to the extensive material that needs to be covered for the IB Program, some of the contents are integrated into the 9th and 10th grade courses. Grades corresponding to these courses are therefore reflected under each subject area in the transcript.
Apart from these traditional liberal arts program components, the IB requires students to complete the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course and the Creativity, Action, Service (CAS). The TOK, taught in English, is an interdisciplinary course which stimulates students to critical reflection about knowledge acquired both inside and outside the classroom; it invites them to question the fundamentals of knowledge. CAS involves students in community service, theatre, and sports activities thus contributing to the integral and humanitarian formation of students.
Evaluation of an IB student is based partially on the work he/she completes in school, yet above all, on the external examinations sent directly from the IB Organization’s international offices. The student must also produce an extended essay for Theory of Knowledge, two more for Literature (English and Spanish), a complete company business plan for Business & Management and a Visual Arts portfolio. Also, a Mathematics research portfolio, a group research project for Biology, and present oral examinations for English, Spanish, French and/or Mandarin.
IB Learner Profile
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. IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers
They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
Knowledgeable
They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.
Thinkers
They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
Communicators
They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.
Principled
They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.
Open-minded
They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring
They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
Risk-takers
They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.
Balanced
They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well being for themselves and others.
Reflective
They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.
At Saint George School we are very proud of our students’ IB Diploma results. However, we also recognize that Diploma points are simply one method of judging the success of the IB Diploma Programme. All students are included in our results statistics and our educational mission and aims are always priority. Decisions concerning subject groups and levels are made in order to provide students with the most challenging and intellectually stimulating combination of courses for each individual.
We strongly believe the success of the SGS Diploma should be judged on much more than the final scores, preferring to measure this through some of the less tangible outcomes of the programme, such as those outlined by the IB’ s Mission and Learner Profile. Along with the IB score awarded, we consider the most important part of our success to be that our graduates are life – long learners who are interculturally aware, seek to make a positive difference in the life of others, and remain part of a learning community. We also believe that university destinations for SGS graduates reflect our focus on holistic education rather than only on the number of points earned at the end of the two-year programme.
Overview May 2017 exam session
Number of candidates registered for this session: 43
Number of students registered as Diploma candidates in this session: 18
Number of subject entries in this session: 207
Number of students who obtained the Diploma: 12
Average result obtained by Diploma students: 28
Highest Diploma points achieved by a student: 35
Average result of SGS students who obtained the Diploma: 4.58
Overview May 2016 exam session
Number of candidates registered in the session 38
Number of Diploma candidates registered in the session 14
Number of subject entries in the session 166
Number of candidates who passed the Diploma 11
Average points obtained by candidates 31
Highest diploma point awarded to candidate 40
Average grade obtained at the school by candidates who passed the diploma: 4.95
Overview May 2015 exam session
Number of candidates registered for this session: 24
Number of students registered as Diploma candidates in this session: 9
Number of subject entries in this session: 107
Number of students who obtained the Diploma: 6
Average result obtained by Diploma students: 27
Highest Diploma points achieved by a student: 31
Average result of SGS students who obtained the Diploma: 4.25
UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCES
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