GUELPH 鈥�听 Some parents and students would like the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program to be offered in Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) schools in 色控传媒and Dufferin counties.听
If the board does decide to expand the program, it will take at least a couple years to bring it to the counties.听
The IB program, currently offered at Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute (GCVI), along with 5,000 other schools around the world, 鈥渁ims to develop well-rounded individuals by fostering academic excellence, personal growth and international mindedness,鈥� UGDSB officials state.听
Grade 12 students graduate from IB with two diplomas: an Ontario Secondary School Diploma and an internationally recognized IB diploma.听
An IB prep program used to be offered at GCVI for Grade 9 and 10 students, but trustees voted to cut the prep program late last year.听
During the discussions leading up to that decision, trustees directed staff to explore expanding the IB diploma program for Grades 11 and 12 to 色控传媒and Dufferin.听
Staff surveyed students and parents in 色控传媒and Dufferin to gauge interests and perspectives on the possible expansion.听
Of the 5,525 students currently attending high schools in 色控传媒and Dufferin, 435 provided feedback about the IB program expansion.听
Nearly 10,000 emails were sent to parents and guardians with junior kindergarten to Grade 10 students currently enrolled in UGDSB schools in 色控传媒and Dufferin, with links to a brief online survey, officials state.听
Of these emails, almost 8,000 were opened with 1,624 respondents clicking on the link and 1,204 submitting completed surveys.听
During a UGDSB policies and priorities committee meeting in May, UGDSB data analyst Blayne Primeau said this response rate is typical when compared with other surveys, 鈥渁nd one way we鈥檙e working on increasing that is by making sure we close the loop,鈥� by showing respondents how the information is used.听
He said the student senate will be given the results to share with students, and 鈥渉opefully through avenues like this parents will see that we are using this information 鈥� in a meaningful way to help make decisions and next steps in the board.鈥�听
鈥淭he survey included questions designed to assess future interest in the IB diploma program, perceived benefits or concerns and logistical considerations such as travel and program accessibility鈥� UGDSB officials state. 听
The majority of respondents live in Centre 色控传媒or Orangeville, with others responding from Erin, 色控传媒North, Minto, Mapleton and elsewhere within the two counties.听
Of the respondents with students set to attend (or already attending) Centre 色控传媒District High School (CWDHS), 267 said they were likely to register for the IB program.听
Of the families in Erin District High School鈥檚 (EDHS) catchment area, 198 said they were likely to register.听
For families connected to Norwell District Secondary School (NDSS) 153 said they were likely and for 色控传媒Heights Secondary School (WHSS) 62 expressed interest.听