Recently, I was given an opportunity to speak with Mr. Peterson (Park Center's IB Coordinator) about the new IB program that is starting this year in Park Center. For those of you who do not know, IB is the abbreviation for "International Baccalaureate". The IB program is what is known as a magnet program; this is to say that is meant to attract students to come here.

As the IB Coordinator, it is Mr. Peterson's job to implement and oversee the execution of the program. In its current state, Park Center is considered an "International Baccalaureate Candidate School". This means that to become official, the school must apply, be visited by the IB organization, and be accepted. Once this is complete, Mr. Peterson will be applying for a second grant to receive an additional three years of funding.

In the 2006-2007 school year, Park Center is running what is known as the Middle Years Program, or MYP for short. This program runs up from 7th to 10th grade and affects virtually every Sophomore at Park Center. PC sophomores are included in this year's MYP program whether they attended the Northview IB magnet or not. This year's Junior and Senior classes are unchanged. In the years following the 2006-2007 school year, Park Center is planning to run what is called the Diploma Program for grades 11 and 12. The Diploma Program is optional and provides extra challenge for students. Over the next few years when the IB integration is complete, traditional classes will still be offered at Park Center for those who choose not to participate in the Diploma Program.

This year the MYP program is based on what is called a "Student Center Inquiry Approach". In other words, the program stresses Intercultural Awareness, Communication, and focuses on five areas of interaction. These areas are Homofaber('man the maker'), Environment, Health and Social Education, Community and Service, and Approaches to Learning. These areas are taught in all IB classes and serve as a link to better connect all subjects that are taught.

It is the overall goal of the school to eventually turn the school into 100% magnet students by adding a Global Studies Program, but this will not be possible for at least 3 to 5 years as it takes time for the magnet program to "take hold".

Currently, the school is on a 3 year government grant that provides funding for the IB program. This grant is designed so that funding is not taken from other areas of the school to make way for the new program. Once this 3 year period is up, Park Center will be applying for an additional 3 year grant known as a "Global Studies Grant" to turn the school into "all-school magnet".

If you require any additional information, you may email the program coordinator Jon Peterson or visit the official IB website at http://www.ibo.org.

-Brad Erickson