International Baccalaureate Program
Since 2015, Big Sky High School has proudly been an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. As an IB World School, Big Sky High School joins a network of over 5,500 schools located around the world committed to developing knowledgeable, caring young people who will be ready to negotiate their futures successfully. Many colleges and universities around the globe recognize the value of the IB Diploma and Subject Courses, and as such, award college credit for many of the courses and the full Diploma.
- Mission
- IB Learner Profile
- Handbooks
- IB Forms & Scholarship Application
- Exam Schedule
- Program Coordinator
- FAQs & Additional Information
Mission
"The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. To this end, the IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international educational and rigorous assessment. These programs encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right."
The international Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a nonprofit educational foundation established in 1968. IB currently works with over 4,000 schools (56%) public) in 141 countries to develop and offer three challenging programs to over 1,000,000 students aged 3 to 19 years. The program helps develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world.
IB Learner Profile
The IB Learner profile describes both characteristics of students entering the program and characteristics that students will gain throughout their experience in Big Sky's IB program.
Inquirers: Our natural curiosity is nurtured. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct constructive inquiry and research, and become independent active learners. We actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
Knowledgeable: We explore concepts, ideas and issues which have global relevance and importance. In so doing, we acquire, and are able to make use of a significant body of knowledge across a range of disciplines.
Critical thinkers: We exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to approach complex problems and make reasoned decisions.
Communicators: We understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication.
Courageous: We approach unfamiliar situations with confidence and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. We are courageous and articulate in defending those things in which they believe.
Principled: We have a sound grasp of the principles of moral reasoning. We have integrity, honesty, a sense of fairness and justice and respect for the dignity of the individual.
Caring: We show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. We have a personal commitment to action and service to make a positive difference to the environment and to the lives of others.
Open-minded: Through an understanding and appreciation of our own culture, we are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and cultures and are accustomed to seeking and considering a range of points of view.
Well-balanced: We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives--intellectual, physical,spiritual, and emotional-- to achieve well-being for themselves and others. We demonstrate perseverance and self-discipline.
Reflective: We give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and personal development. We are able to analyze their strengths and weaknesses in a constructive manner.
Handbooks
For information regarding the CAS component of the program, please contact Brandon Honzel at: bhonzel@mcpsmt.org
IB Forms & Scholarship Application
Exam Schedule
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Program Coordinator
Meleina Helmer
Email: mhelmer@mcpsmt.org
FAQs & Additional Information
- Who is an IB candidate?
- Are there any entrance requirements to take IB courses?
- Are Full Diploma Students too busy to be involved in other activities?
- What are the differences between IB and AP?
- What Makes the IB Diploma Programme Unique?
- What does the DP curriculum contain?
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Acronyms
Who is an IB candidate?
Are there any entrance requirements to take IB courses?
Are Full Diploma Students too busy to be involved in other activities?
- No, students can be involved in activities outside of the program. Currently, IB students at Big Sky are involved in wide variety of activities.
- Remember the CAS portion of IB requires students actively participate in school life.
- However, students cannot do it all prioritizing activities is a must.
What are the differences between IB and AP?
- AP only has external assessments
- IB has internal and external assessments
AP exams are norm referenced IB exams are criterion referenced - IB program more international in scope AP is run by US based College Board
- IB is a program of study while AP is individual courses, although students may take individual classes in IB as well
- IB requires teacher collaboration while AP does not
- IB schools undergo periodic review and receive feedback on student assessment performance
- Many IB courses are two years in duration while AP are usually one year
What Makes the IB Diploma Programme Unique?
- Internal assessments are evaluations scored by the BSHS teachers which become part of students' IB grade. These assessments account for anywhere between 30% and 50% of a students overall grade.
- External assessments are exams students take at the end of their course. Exams are scored by IB examiners all over the world. These scores, combined with the internal assessment, make the final IB grade.
- Students are assessed based on their performance in relation to a set of standards consistently applied around the world, not by comparing their performance to other students. AS a result IB scores have stayed relatively consistent for the past 20 years.
What does the DP curriculum contain?
International Baccalaureate (IB) Acronyms
CAS - Creativity, Activity, Service hours (core requirement)
DP - Diploma Programme (grades 11 and 12)
EA - External Assessment (student work assessed by external IB graders)
EE - Extended Essay (core requirement)
G4P - Group Four Project (a project involving all the subjects in group 4)
HL - Higher Level course (2 years/approx 240 hours of study)
HOA - History of the Americas (option in group 3 history)
IA - Internal Assessment (portion of student assessment done by teacher not IB but moderated by IB)
IBIS - IB Information System
IB - International Baccalaureate
IO - Individual Oral (explore a passage of text and present to examiner)
Language A - The student’s native language
MYP - Middle Years Programme (grades 6-10)
Paper - External Exam given to students at the completion of class (these take place in May)
PYP - Primary Years Programme (grades k-5)
SL - Standard Level course (1 or 2 years/150 hours of study)
TOK - Theory of Knowledge (core requirement)
IWB - Investigation Workbook for Visual Arts