The International Baccalaureate (IB) program aims 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. Informed by these values, an IB education:
- centres on learners
- develops effective approaches to teaching and learning
- works within global contexts
- explores significant academic content
Working together, these four characteristics define an IB education.
The International Baccalaureate Program is offered at over 5400 schools in 159 different countries, including over 80 schools in Ontario.
The IB Learner Profile (see link below) identifies 10 key attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes can help individuals become responsible members of local, national and global communities.
Advantages of an IB Diploma
Students with an International Baccalaureate Diploma are highly valued by universities worldwide and are often eligible for early admission, university transfer credits and IB-specific scholarships. Of equal importance, they learn in an environment filled with willing, enthusiastic, global-minded critical thinkers who support one another in their learning.
LDSS Pre-IB and IB Diploma Programmes (DP) at Leamington DSS
An IB Diploma is recognized and valued at universities worldwide. Students who pursue an IB Diploma at Leamington District Secondary School will also earn credits toward their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
The Pre-IB Program, which is for Grade 9 & 10 students, is designed to prepare our students for the critical thinking, global mindedness and academic challenge offered by the IB Diploma Programme. Here is an outline of courses typically taken by students in our Pre-IB Program:
Grade 9 Pre-IB
Pre-IB Courses: English (ENG1DT), Math (MTH1WT), Science (SNC1WT) and French (FSF1DCT)
Other required Ontario courses: Geography (CGC1D), Phys Ed (PPL1OF or PPL1OM), an Arts course (Choose: Music: AMI1O, Visual Arts: AVI1O, Drama: ADA2O)
One other elective – examples: Business (BTT1O), Exploring Technologies (TIJ1O), Robotics (SNC21), Computer Science (ICU3U)
In Grade 9, our Pre-IB students also receive extra support in time management, organization, study skills, written communication, research skills and experience with the IB Learner Profile.
Grade 10 Pre-IB
Pre-IB Courses: English (ENG2DT), Math (MPM2DT), Science (SNC2DT) and French (FSF2DCT), Gr 11 Functions (MCR3UT)
Other required Ontario courses: History (CHC2D), Civics & Careers (CHV2OH & GLC2OH) – optional for IB students
Elective - Consider: Gr 11 Biology (SBI3U) if taking Physics in DP; Gr 11 Physics (SPH3U) if taking Biology in DP
Interested in joining Pre-IB after Grade 9?
Please note that students who did not begin in Pre-IB in Grade 9 may be able to join the program at some point before semester 2 of Grade 10. Contact IB Coordinator Lisa Jeffery (email: [email protected]) to facilitate this process.
The IB Diploma Diploma Programme (DP)
The IB Diploma Programme (DP), which is for Grade 11 & 12 students, includes the following components:
- One course from each Subject Group (unless 2 Sciences are selected, then an Arts course is not required). Note: 3 courses must be completed at the Higher Level (HL) and 3 at the Standard Level (SL). HL courses take place over 3 semesters, earn 3 OSSD credits and explore a subject in greater depth and breadth than SL courses, which take place over 2 semesters and earn 2 OSSD credits.
- 3 Core Elements: Extended Essay (EE), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) & Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
LDSS IB DP Course Offerings + Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) credits earned:
Subject Group |
Subject Group Name |
IB Subjects & Levels offered at LDSS |
OSSD credits earned |
1 |
Language & Literature |
Language & Literature - HL |
NBE3U, ENG4U, ETS4U |
2 |
Language Acquisition |
French B – SL (French ab initio may be available for students with no prior French experience) |
FSF3U, FSF4U |
3 |
Individuals & Societies |
Psychology – HL History - HL |
HSP3U, HSB4U, HHS4U CHA3U, CHI4U, CHY4U |
4 |
Experimental Sciences |
Biology – SL Physics – SL Chemistry - HL |
SBI3U, SBI4U SPH3U, SPH4U SCH3U, SCH4U, SNC4M |
5 |
Mathematics
|
Analysis & Approaches - SL Application & Interpretation - SL |
MHF4U, MCV4U MCF3M, MDM4U |
6 |
The Arts (IB Arts courses are split with mainstream classes) |
Theatre – HL Visual Arts - HL |
ADA3M, ADA4M, ADD4M AVI3M, AVI4M, TBD |
Core |
Theory of Knowledge |
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) |
HZT4U |
The IB Core
Extended Essay (EE)
The Extended Essay (EE) is an opportunity for students to develop essential research and writing skills with the support of an EE Coordinator and a teacher mentor to guide them through the process. Students are encouraged to select a topic of interest to them that also aligns with the course work they are studying in the Diploma Programme. Teacher supervisors with background in the chosen area of research assist students as they work over the course of 18 months to develop an essay of up to 4000 words. Class time is available for much of the process. The EE is a source of pride for our IB graduates.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS)
CAS is known as the “Heart of IB” for good reason: these are the activities that provide balance in your life. Over the course of the two-year Diploma Programme, students are supported by their CAS Coordinator as they work with classmates and community partners to complete projects and activities in the three areas: Creativity (drama, music, dance, painting, web design), Activity (workout program, sports teams, yoga) and Service (volunteering with a community partner). Students reflect on their experiences and set goals for improvement using ManageBac, an online platform. CAS is not assessed for marks but is required in order to earn an IB Diploma. In our experience, CAS reflections often make excellent additions to university and scholarship applications.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
This course takes place within students’ timetables and serves to explore the many ways of knowing. In this course, there is less emphasis on assessment and more on developing critical thinking skills, forming valid and persuasive arguments, considering issues from other perspectives, and learning about different types and sources of knowledge. There are only two IB assessments for this course: the TOK Exhibition and the TOK Essay. Students earn an Ontario Philosophy credit for this course (HZT4U).
Fees
To ensure that access to the IB Programme is fair, equitable and available to all interested students, the Greater Essex County District School Board is not imposing a fee to participate.
Boundaries & Transportation
Due to the specialized nature of the IB Diploma Programme, it is only offered at two secondary schools within the GECDSB: Riverside Secondary School (RSS) and Leamington District Secondary School (LDSS). Bus transportation is provided to students attending the Pre-IB programs and the IB Diploma Programs offered at these two schools as follows:
- If the student is residing outside the school’s regular attendance boundary; or
- If the student is residing inside the school’s regular attendance boundary and if the distance from their primary address to the school , as determined by Windsor-Essex Student Transportation Services, is in excess of 3.2 km.
New students applying for entry must be taking the full complement of courses offered at the Grade 9 or 10 Preparatory Program level (Math, English, Science and French) or a full IB Diploma Programme schedule to be eligible for transportation, as noted above.
Students who live in the area shown in white would attend the RSS IB in Windsor.
Applying to the Pre-IB Program at Leamington DSS
A link to our online application for the 2024-2025 school year will become available here on Wednesday November 22nd, 2023, and is due on Friday December 15th, 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by email before January 1, 2024.
Late applicants will be placed on a waiting list and are not guaranteed admission to the program. They will be admitted as spaces become available. Contact the IB Coordinator if you require access to a late application.
For further information about the Leamington District Secondary School Preparatory and IB Diploma Programmes, contact IB Coordinator Lisa Jeffery at [email protected].
For further information about the IB and its programmes visit this link: IB Information