Continue reading »]]> We are excited to report some great progress.  Inderkum High School is officially a candidate to offer an IB Diploma and Certificate program, slated for 2014.  Our IB coordinator designate, Jessica Downing Forsell, reported that 81 incoming 2012 9th graders have submitted applications of interest to participate in the IB program.  Inderkum’s French & Math teachers and admins have returned from training with several more scheduled for training this summer.  Exciting times!

Continue reading »]]> Please join us on Monday, January 23rd, 2012 as we hold an informational community meeting to highlight what Natomas is doing to bring an International Baccalaureate (IB) Program to Inderkum High School. The one-hour meeting will be held at 6:30pm at Natomas Park Elementary School in the multi-purpose room. We will have speakers, including Inderkum Principal George Tapanes, discuss where we are with this project, why an IB Diploma Program is ideal at Inderkum and what you can do to support. Refreshments will be sold with 100% of proceeds benefiting the program.

We hope to see you there!

Continue reading »]]> Thank you for supporting our first annual Father Daughter Ball! With your help, we were able to raise enough money to send administrators to IB training this fall! We appreciate everyone who donated, purchased tickets, volunteered their time and came out. Hope you all had a great time. Click here to see photos from the event.

Click here to see photos from the event

Continue reading »]]> Inderkum IB Program, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization established by parents in the Natomas community to bring to Inderkum High School an academically recognized program. The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is a two-year comprehensive and rigorous pre-university curriculum leading to an IB Diploma. Successful IB candidates are typically granted advance placement credit at the finest universities and colleges in the nation. This program is administered by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) based in Geneva Switzerland and has been implemented in more than 140 countries and 600 public schools in the US, 84 of those in California.  

When Inderkum High School opened in the fall of 2004, its first principal envisioned a time when the school’s curriculum would be enriched with the IB Diploma Program offered to eleventh and twelfth graders.  Many community members, familiar with the IB’s prestigious program, were excited by the prospect of IB as one of the school’s small learning communities. However, by the time Inderkum graduated its first class in 2007, and was therefore eligible to apply, new administration, both onsite and at the central office, had made commitments to different programs and populations.  It seemed practical for enrichment and acceleration to offer the first eleventh and twelfth graders the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) courses, which have only recently implemented some standardization by asking teachers to submit and have their syllabi approved.

Rather than beginning the two year application process in the fall of 2007 for an IB Diploma Program, when the school had finally became eligible, the consensus was to continue offering and strengthening College Board classes for the present and to explore IB later. The school has now graduated four classes,  gone through a WASC accreditation process, has a talented faculty, has established extra-curricular activities, a National Honor Society, California Scholars Program, participates in Academic Decathlon, has a growing arts and music program and has a library. Inderkum is more than ready to distinguish itself by providing a program to prepare local students a challenging opportunity to achieve an IB Diploma.

Please continue to explore our website to learn more about how you can help bring an IB Diploma Program to Inderkum High School.

Continue reading »]]> The International Baccalaureate 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 organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

•IB programmes are recognized around the world and ensure an increased adaptability and mobility for IB students.

•The curriculum and pedagogy of IB programmes focus on international perspectives of learning and teaching, while insisting that students fully explore their home culture and language.

•IB World Schools must undergo an exhaustive authorization process in order to offer one or more of the programmes, which includes a study of the school’s resources and commitment to the IB mission and philosophy.

•IB teachers participate in a wide variety of professional development opportunities to constantly update their knowledge and share their expertise with colleagues around the world.

•Many students graduating from the Diploma Programme find that it enhances their opportunities at tertiary institutions. The IB works closely with universities around the world to gain recognition for IB programmes.

•The core components of IB programmes encourage students to participate in creative and service-oriented activities, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of reflection on a personal and academic level.
•The IB produces publications for schools to inform and support them as they offer IB courses. It is now beginning to produce material for use directly with students and to work closely with selected publishers and providers to offer material for students. These materials only will carry an IB logo.