International Baccalaureate (IB)

Middle Years Programme (MYP) Update

Great News!
We received great news from the IB Organization this week!  Our Application for Candidacy which was submitted in March has been accepted.  This means that we can proceed with the second phase of the application process.  We will continue to send teachers to MYP training (including levels 2 and 3), experiment with implementation of interesting units of study, and spread the word about the programme throughout the community.

Additional great news is that we have been invited to join the Idaho Network of IB Schools.  The five schools have received $7,500 in funding to put towards teacher training and collaboration.  Our first meeting is June 3 in Boise.

Coming up...
During the 2011-2012 school year, we will host an IB consultant who will work with staff and administration over the course of three days.  We look forward to working with them on ways to develop our program and include such elements as digital portfolios and personal projects in our curriculum.

In September of the 2012-2013 school year, we will submit our second application, the Application for Authorization, which will include documentation of MYP curriculum, school policies, and work samples.  After our application is accepted, we will host a verification visit in which representatives from the IB Organization will review our curriculum and teaching practices to ensure that we are meeting MYP goals and expectations.

Please note:

Wood River High School is a candidate school* in partnership with Wood River Middle School for the Middle Years Programme.  This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School.  These are schools that share a common philosophy - a commitment to high quality, challenging, international education that Wood River High School and Wood River Middle School partnership believes is important for our students.

*Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its three academic programmes:  the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), or the Diploma Programme (and in addition the IB Career-Related Certificate).  Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted.

For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org.

I hope you find this information useful.  I will continue to provide updates on the school website and through PTSA meetings and presentations.  In the meantime, if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at jwalther@blaineschools.org.

Thank you!

Jane Walther
IB Coordinator

Hello!  Buenos dias!  Bonjour!

My name is Jane Walther and I am pleased to introduce myself as the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme (MYP) Coordinator.  I moved to Ketchum in 1995 and recently moved back to the Wood River Valley after 12 years in Boise.  I am delighted to be back and working as part of the Wood River Middle and High School teams!

While in Boise, I earned my teaching credential in Secondary French and K-12 ESL.  I taught both subjects at an IB school for 11 years.  During that time, I also earned my master's degree in Curriculum and Instruction, as well as my doctoral degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with a focus on international education.  I am excited to put my teaching experience and degrees to use in this new position.

The MYP is an innovative educational program for students in Grades 6-10 that encourages Project-based Learning, 21st Century Skills, and critical thinking.  As an international program, the MYP is known all over the world for rigorous curriculum and fostering a positive attitude toward learning.  As displayed in the graphic below, the MYP includes eight subject areas: