Summer 2008 Update
Dear Friends:
Wondering what is going on with SOMA Parents for IB?
We have a lot to catch up on. The short answer is that we are continuing to make contacts with all parties – administration, board, teachers, parents. But we recognized that the external assessment of the Language Arts program that Brian Osborne commissioned had to come first. The very good news is that the assessment of the Language Arts program, which the Board enthusiastically endorsed, did our work for us. It matched many of the concerns we supporters of IB have raised, and suggested solutions that fit very well with the fundamental philosophy and approaches of an IB program.
In particular, the Language Arts Assessment noted the need for a greater coherence and leadership in the delivery of the Language Arts curriculum; designing curriculum more tightly aligned to the New Jersey core standards; and providing greater professional development and mentorship for our teachers. Most telling was the conclusion that in grades 6-12, our current curriculum emphasizes knowledge and absorption, but is weak on complexity, with very little analysis, synthesis and rigor. In addition, the report found that the instructional delivery in grades 6-12 was limited in scope with fewer opportunities for collaborative learning and other features that make for a truly rigorous curriculum that encourages critical thinking.
We continue to believe that the IB Middle Years and Diploma Programs, which not only require a design of curriculum to high standards that often exceed state standards, but train and offer consistent support to teachers in a broader range of teaching methods, fits well with our need to reinvigorate and move our district more firmly into the 21st century.
We’re also pleased to report on student interest in the IB program. In the June issue of The Columbian, the student newspaper at Columbia High School, student Katie Torpey wrote in an editorial, The Benefits of IB: Why CHS Should Adopt the International Bacclaureate Program: “Many students here at CHS take as many AP classes as their schedules (or the guidance office) will allow but don’t find themselves ready for college. Also, colleges have been denying people who have taken and done well in record numbers of AP classes. With over 700 schools in the United States administering the IB program, CHS should hop aboard.”
So what is ahead for the fall? We plan to create a new round of community outreach and meetings with parents in schools and we hope you will be involved. In addition, Brian Osborne and staff visited an IB school in Rockville Center, New York this past spring, and we are aiming to set up another visit for the fall.
This process is slow – slower than many of us would like. But a good part of the reason for that pace is that the SOMA Board and Mr. Osborne are carefully and systematically identifying the key issues that are crucial to the health and growth of our district. Our job is to make sure that IB continues to be a part of this promising improvement in our district and stays front and center in the minds of all of the key players as they move toward the best solutions for our children.
Have a Great Summer,
SOMA Parents for IB
Spring 2008 - The Dialogue Continues
Did you know that IB North America now has more than 1,000 authorized IB schools in North America, and 500 more are in process? The most striking trend is that more districts are looking to do district-wide implementations or multiple IB programs or the full K-12. This dovetails with our own thinking-- that the linked MYP-Diploma programs address the most critical needs in our district in preparing students for higher level coursework, and is well aligned with the District Goals and tackling the achievement gap.
Are you interested in touring an IB school in action? Join us for a tours in May to the Baccalaureate School for Global Studies in Astoria, Queens.
For more information: Contact Ellen Kahaner at kahaner{at}speakeasy{dot}net
In continuing our community outreach and dialogue, we are planning spring presentations at the Hilton Neighborhood Association on April 17th, South Mountain School PTA, and for those parents who may have opted out of the district but are intrigued by the prospect of the program. If you are a member of a group or would like SOMA Parents for IB to present to a constituency in your school, please contact Amy at amygarysamlily{at}aol{dot}com. .
Fall 2007 - The Year of IB Dialogue
We've pulled together a fantastic public program for October 18th at SOMS! Educators and students who have worked with the IB will be sharing with us their experiences and thoughts about the program. Bill Stroud, the former principal at an IB school in Astoria will headline the night. Mark your calendars now!
Join our grassroots email campaign!
Write to the Superintendent and the members of the SOMA Board of Education in support of bringing the IB to South Orange and Maplewood!
Click to send e-mail to the Superintendent's executive confidential secretary, requesting her to forward your e-mail to the Superintendent and BOE members.
Please feel free to compose your own letter of support or simply copy-and-paste the sample below:
Please forward to the Superintendent and the members of the Board of Education.
I am writing in support of the International Baccalaureate Program in the South Orange-Maplewood district. I believe it is an excellent fit for our community and is a cost-effective way to deliver thoughtful, quality education for our children that prepares them for the 21st century.
Sincerely,
(your name)
(address)
Summer 2007
We are launching The Year of IB Dialogue, which will kick off in October with a major public event featuring Bill Stroud, the driving force behind the truly amazing Baccalaureate School for Global Education, an IB public middle-high school in Astoria, Queens. The event will include IB teachers and students, and Mr. Stroud will conduct a special workshop through SOMEA, the teachers’ union, just for our local teachers. Throughout The Year of IB Dialogue, we will host public events, meet with administrators, and arrange visits to model IB schools. If we are successful, our proposal suggests that the IB authorization process begin in June 2008.
If you'd like to help support this effort financially, please consider joining our IB Leadership Circle by visiting our Support page.
Spring 2007
Throughout this past spring, we hosted IB parties and cocktail hours in different venues around our neighborhoods to further the discussion and help to raise funds to continue our efforts.
We are also hosted a table at the Springfield Avenue Partnership's May Fest celebration on May 19th. It was great to talk to so many new people and wonderful to hear the continued support.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
SOMA parents visit an IB school
What started as a whisper has become real buzz: the International Baccalaureate Program, known as IB. For the past year, a group of Maplewood/South Orange parents with school-age children have researched IB. We’ve learned that this program could help address the academic achievement gap, while offering all students a rigorous, creative academic experience.
We’d heard that 92 percent of the nation’s IB schools are public, and that schools with excellent reputations like Newark Academy, West Morris Mendham High School, Cherry Hill, the Dwight School, and The United Nations International School all have IB.
Our research told us that in so many ways, we already were an IB community in temperament, philosophy and community, but our curiosity was piqued. So we decided to see for ourselves what an IB School and classroom actually looked like. On December 1,2006, January 5, 2007, and February 2, 2007, a group of us drove out to the Baccalaureate School for Global Education, a public middle/high school in Astoria, Queens, to see for ourselves. The school, founded in 2002, services a diverse population, including 35% free/reduced lunch. The school runs both an MYP (Middle Years) and a Diploma Program.
This is what parents had to say after the visit:
“…my visit to the public IB school was many things. Inspiring. Energizing. Hopeful. Promising. .. High expectations are the norm for all and not a place set aside for some students. Teachers have set those expectations and kids are living up to them… If you didn’t know where you were, you’d guess an elite private school. Now more than ever I want to see an IB school in our district. How could I not?”- Lisa Basile- Seth Boyden parent
“…our visit to the Baccalaureate School for Global Education showed that children from all backgrounds can commit enthusiastically to a rigorous academic program when they are given respect. The combination of academic challenge and progressive teaching methods is a perfect fit for the Maplewood/South Orange school district.” -Laura Pangallozzi- Marshall, Jefferson, and Maplewood Middle School parent
“…I thought it was a highly impressive school - almost what the picture should be in the dictionary next to the word “school”. The students were remarkable. The staff that we met seemed committed and to be making space for student learning …by that I mean it was great to see students actively learning…”-Peter Nelson- Clinton, South Orange Middle, and Columbia High parent
“…You have to see it to believe it. From my perspective as a teacher, I thought, wow, what a great place to teach. The structure supports deep investigation into the subject areas in a great variety of ways and, wow, what a great place to learn. The degree of real listening and responding that I observed between students and teachers and students and students was truly amazing. The students clearly do a lot of self reflection as evidenced by the insights into their experience that they shared with us while the teachers pull out the focus to include their relationship with the larger community. And because the student body is so diverse ethnically, academically, and economically, all told, the lessons that they are learning will make them responsible caring citizens of the world…”- Ellen Kahaner- Marshall School parent
“For a whiIe now, I've supported the idea of getting an IB program into our school district. But visiting an actual school and seeing its principles put into practice--and the effect it had on the students--was an unforgettable experience. As a teacher, I was astonished at the level of group cooperation among students, the spirit of inquiry and discovery being fostered, the sophistication of classroom discussions, and the commitment to truly understanding a subject, rather than simply passing a test. As a parent, I was moved by the honesty and maturity of their responses to our hard questions and the pride they clearly took in what they were accomplishing. Perhaps most inspiring was the consistency of their positive feelings toward the program, regardless of their individual backgrounds; they seemed to know how lucky they were. 'At my old school, I was just another kid in the back of the room,' said one young woman, barely containing a smile. ‘Now I'm in the front.’" - Theresa Burns, Marshall School parent
For more information: Contact Ellen Kahaner at kahaner{at}speakeasy{dot}net
Fall 2006
With the start of the new school year, we held a general IB (International Baccalaureate) meeting, to keep the proposal to bring IB Middle Years and Diploma alive in our district.
As many of you know, we are a tiny committee of four people and we now need to marshall the incredible enthusiasm and expertise of those who have expressed interest, so we can really take concrete steps forward.
Spring 2006
Spring 2006 brings the next Board of Education elections on April 18th. In general, we feel this is a very important election and urge everyone to learn about the candidates and vote. In terms of IB we believe this is a crucial moment to make IB part of the broader discussion of improving academic excellence in our district. To this end, we have asked each B.O.E. incumbent and candidate to answer the following questions on the IB:
We assume you are aware of our efforts to introduce the IB curriculum to the SOMA school district. Given the challenges facing SOMA—budget pressures, the achievement gap, and parental expectations--does IB fit in with the overall outlook and plans for the district?
Do you support the introduction of the IB Middle Years and Diploma programs to our district? If not, what is your vision for achieving the goal of academic excellence for all students?
If you support IB, what steps would you take, as an individual BOE member, for ensuring that this program is seriously considered in the district?
If IB is approved, what actions would you take, as an individual BOE member, to ensure the successful implementation of the Middle Years and Diploma Programs?
In general, what role do you think the BOE should play with respect to IB?
What are your concerns about IB?
Click on each name to read their individual responses (in alphabetical order):
Wayne Eastman
Mark Gleason
Jennifer Payne-Parrish
[Edited 4/15/07 to remove statements of candidates not on current BOE.]
Fall 2005
In fall 2005, we presented our plan to the Administration, the President's Council of the PTA, the Board of Education, and Columbia High School teachers. It is our understanding that the Administration is currently considering both the MYP and Diploma programs. This was the proposed implementation timeline we presented to the Administration.