WESTDALE SECONDARY SCHOOL

IB WORLD SCHOOL, DIPLOMA

PROGRAM 700 Main Street West-Hamilton, Ontario-L8S 1A5

(p) 905-522-1387 (f) 905-521-0542 Website- www.hwdsb.on.ca/westdale

International Baccalaureate

Diploma Program

Information Guide

IB Diploma Programme: Vision Statement

At Westdale Secondary School our students will focus on becoming

Global Citizens. This will be the defining feature of their

international education within the Diploma Programme. Global

Citizenship includes the promotion of intercultural understanding,

environmental stewardship and the nurturing of positive attitudes

towards well-being and peace.

Intercultural understanding begins with a sense of understanding

and pride in one’s own culture and concurrently develops a sense

of respect and pride in being a part of a global community of many

cultures.

Environmental stewardship is a responsibility of Global Citizens.

The air we breathe, the land we cultivate and the water we drink

are of equal, life-giving, value to all citizens of the world to be

protected and shared equitably.

Global well-being demands the eradication of poverty. The

complexity of this issue is not lost in the simplicity of this

statement. The health and well being of all citizens of the world as

a fundamental right is a value to which our students will adhere

and a concept they will promote.

The pursuit of peace is perhaps the most noble of endeavours. We

believe it can be achieved through education. In particular we

believe an education emphasizing Global Citizenship as we have

defined it has the best chance of achieving this end.

The IB Program at Westdale

The International Baccalaureate Diploma at Westdale Secondary

School is a two year program beginning in grade 11 which is

designed to prepare students for success at University. Students

will receive a rigorous and thorough curriculum that involves

teaching students the importance of being a ‘Global Citizen’.

Upon completion of the Diploma in their grade 12 year, students

will receive both the IB Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School

Diploma (OSSD).

The typical IB learner has a commitment to learning, strong study

and work habits, and has a natural curiosity to inquire and ask

questions of the world around them. The Westdale IB program is

rooted in high academic standards and strives 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. In this regard, Westdale is seen

as a World School.

Universities will also offer Westdale students transfer credits

based on their results in Higher Level classes taken at Westdale.

The IB Diploma Programme Model

The diploma consists of the six academic areas that include the IB

Learner in the middle, with the curriculum surrounding the core

components of Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and

Creativity, Action and Service.

At Westdale, the IB Diploma can consist of the following subjects: Group 1 – Language: English A Language and Literature

Group 2 - Language Acquisition: French B, Spanish Ab Initio (beginner),

Latin

Group 3 - Individuals and Societies: History Route 1(Europe), Integrated

Technology in a Global Society, Psychology, Economics

Group 4 - Experimental Sciences: Physics, Chemistry, Biology

Group 5 - Mathematics: Mathematics HL, SL and Math Studies

Group 6 - The Arts: Visual Arts, Music, OR a second subject from Group

3 or 4

Students can select six subjects, one from each group. At least 3

and not more than 4 of the six subjects must be taken at the Higher

Level (HL), the remaining subjects are taken at the Standard Level

(SL). HL courses represent a recommended 240 teaching hours, SL

courses 150 hours.

The Diploma Programme Core Requirements

The program offers 3 core components which are required for

Diploma completion; Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay

(EE) and Creativity, Action and Service (CAS).

TOK- is a required course which is intended to have students

critically reflect on their knowledge and experiences gained in

both classroom and personal settings. This course is a key

component of the IB Diploma, and it encourages students to use

this style of critical reflection within all of their academic areas.

(100 hours)

EE- is a requirement of all IB students to undertake an original

research and extended essay comprising of 4000 words. Students

are allowed to choose a topic of personal interest to them while

building the independent and research skills that are needed for

success at university.

CAS- CAS is an acronym for Creativity, Action, and Service. Each

Diploma student must complete at least 150 hours, spread out over

at least one and a half years, engaging in creative activity,

participating in sport or other physical activities, and doing

community service or social work. At Westdale, students must

complete approximately 50 hours in each of the areas, and

students will receive a student guide describing appropriate

activities for each. The ultimate goal of CAS is to create

compassionate and caring citizens in our community and for

students to reach beyond the classroom in their learning.

IB Diploma Requirements

The assessment of each student's work in each of the chosen 6 subjects

includes a comprehensive final examination, written in May of the student's

final year. TOK is assessed on a paper written by each student, and the

Extended Essay submitted for external assessment as well.

In addition, each subject has a course work component which is assessed

internally by the subject teacher. There is an emphasis throughout the IB

program on oral and written communication, extensive reading and the

nurturing of critical thinking.

Each examined subject is graded on a scale of 1 - 7. While the TOK and the

Extended Essay contribute up to 3 bonus points, the Diploma is awarded to a

student who has achieved a total point score of 24 out of a possible 45 points,

and who completes the CAS requirements.

Example:

Subject Grade

Group 1 – Language 6

Group 2 - Second Language B 5

Group 3 - Individuals and Societies 7

Group 4 - Experimental Sciences 6

Group 5 - Mathematics 6

Group 6 - The Arts 5

Bonus TOK and EE (maximum 3) 3

IB Diploma Score 38 ** maximum score 45**

Students must also successfully complete and submit their CAS to

receive their diploma.

Further information regarding University and Admissions for IB

Diploma holders can be found at:

http://www.ibo.org/diploma/recognition/index.cfm

IB Grade Conversion Scale

Once an IB Diploma candidate’s teachers have determined his or her predicted grades, specific percentages are selected from the appropriate ranges shown below. These percentage grades are then reported to the Ontario Universities Application Centre for the OSSD credits that are considered equivalent to the applicant’s IB subjects.

As shown in the right-hand column, both IB and percentage grades reflect Ontario Ministry of Education assessment levels. Specifically, IB grades of 5, 6 and 7 are considered to be at Level 4, which is defined as “A very high level of achievement that is above the provincial standard.” A grade of 4 (the median on the IB’s seven-point scale) is linked to Level 3, which is defined as “A high level of achievement that is at the provincial standard.” Level 2 (equivalent to an IB grade of 3) is defined as “A moderate level of achievement that is below, but approaching the provincial standard.”

IB SEVEN-POINT

SCALE

OSSD PERCENTAGE

RANGES

MoE FOUR LEVEL

SCALE 7 97 to 100 4 + +

6 91 to 96 4 + 85 to 90 4 5 81 to 84 4 - 77 to 80 3 + 4 74 to 76 3 71 to 73 3 - 67 to 70 2 + 3 64 to 66 2 60 to 63 2 -

The IB Diploma Years: Grade 11 and 12

TOK = Theory of Knowledge

SL = Standard Level

HL = Higher Level

*subject to change based on Individual Course Selection and enrollment

IB Year 1 IB Year 2

Semester I Semester II Semester I Semester II

HL 1 SL1 HL 1 HL 1 (exam in May)

HL 2 HL 3 HL 2 HL 2 (exam in May)

SL 2 SL 2 (exam in May) HL 3 HL 3 (exam in May)

SL 3 SL3 (exam in May) Open SL 1 (exam in May)

*TOK is taking concurrently starting in Grade 11 Year

How do IB courses appear on the OSSD Transcript?

Standard Level courses usually equate to two equivalent Ontario

Curriculum Courses, while Higher Level Courses equate to three

Ontario Courses. The table below can be used as a guide.

*French immersion students will receive FIF3UI & FIF4UI & EAC4U1I

SL Course OSSD English ENG3U

ENG4U

French FSF3U/FSF4U*

History CHW3M

CHY4U

Geography CGW4U

CGR4M

Math MHF4U

MCV4U

Chemistry SCH3U

SCH4U

Biology SBI3U

SBI4U

Physics SPH3U

SPH4U

Visual Arts AVI3M

AVI4M

Economics

CIE3M

CIA4U

HL Course OSSD English ENG3U

ENG4U

ETS4U

History CHU3U

CHY4U

IDC4U

Geography CGR4M

CGW4U

Math MHF4U

MCV4U

MDM4U

Chemistry SCH3U

SCH4U

SNC4M

Biology SBI3U

SCH4U

PSE4U

Visual Arts AVI3M

AVI4M

AWK4M

Economics CIE3M

CIA4U

BBB4M

** students also receive HZT4U for the TOK

French Immersion

French Immersion students will have the opportunity to complete

both the Immersion Certificate and the IB Diploma. Students must

complete 10 credits in French Instruction, 7 of them must be done

before entering the IB Diploma program in Grade 11. Students will

receive the final three Immersion credits while studying the

French Language in IB.

Student Fees

Fees are subject to change based on the International

Baccalaureate Organization and the billing of Membership and

Examination fees to the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board.

Grade 11 Semester I - $550

Semester II - $550

Grade 12 Semester I - $550

Semester II - $550

Program Summary

The IB Diploma Program at Westdale will provide a balanced and

academically challenging education for students preparing for

University. It will emphasize the development of the whole

student, and encourages them to think globally. The IB Diploma

will also give students a truly International Diploma, with the

opportunity to study abroad as over 145 countries understand and

accept IB as a rigorous and respected diploma. For students who

attain high achievement in the program, Universities are also

allowing for advanced placement and in some cases direct entry

into year two courses of study. Two years, Two Diplomas and an

opportunity to change the world!