Section I. H. Affiliation Plans
During Morgan Park High School's affiliation year, the faculty will teach Pre-IB classes as indicated in the four year sequence of courses. Pre-IB class teachers will prepare their students to do the kind of work that will provide them with the tools to do IB level work and to perform the necessary internal and external assessments during the 11th and 12th grades. The skills concentrated upon will be research skills, writing skills, oral communication skills, critical thinking skills and subject-specific skills.
Pre-IB and IB staff will continue IB training to pursue the in-depth development of all IB curricula.
Recruitment efforts will continue as previously described, with an emphasis upon the student/parent understanding of the demands and benefits of the IB Program.
The Extended Essay coordinator will become more familiar with the requirements of the essay as well as begin to work with possible essay supervisors to acquaint them with essay requirements and their supervisory responsibilities.
The CAS supervisor will encourage Pre-IB students to become involved in CAS activities and continue to develop the 11th and 12th grade program.
Students in the Pre-IB Program and their parents will be invited to evening meetings to disseminate information, to address issues and concerns regarding the program and for interpersonal support. Because parents and students will be asked to sign yearly agreements to commit to the Pre-IB Program and then, prior to the 11th grade, an agreement to commit to the Diploma Program, we want to be sure that all involved have a clear understanding of program requirements as well as an adherence to the underlying philosophy of the International Baccalaureate.
The local school administration as well as the Chicago Public Schools Central Office have provided financial and philosophical support in the 1997-98 school year and have committed to future support at a level equal to what has already been supplied. The following is a summary of this support:
1) Financial support
The Chicago Public Schools through the Gifted Program is allocating funds for IB training and for equipment, supplies and postage for the program as well as for the summer school programs in algebra and French. There will also be science laboratory rehabilitation in the spring of 1998 at Morgan Park High School provided through the Central Office. Teacher substitute service is provided through the Region Office for conferences and to provide time for IB teachers to write curriculum. Continued funding will allow maintenance of efforts in these areas as well as in the payment of IB Organization fees.
2) Philosophical support
A) The Chicago Public Schools Central and Region Office Gifted Departments work with Prospective IB coordinators and teachers in acquainting them with the IB Program through the expertise of Lincoln Park High School, meetings and in-services with teachers and coordinators and general support services to the program.
B) The local school administration provides released-time for teachers to work on IB curriculum and is supportive of all efforts regarding recruitment, additional clerical support, special student programming and general positive support for the students, parents, teachers and coordinator of the program. The school administration, as well as its Local School Council, are committed to continuous financial support of this program.