Mes Amis Spring 2011 - Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart

campuS update
The
FYI
on IB
at FR
Forest Ridge earns
IB World School
designation;
IB Programme
to be offered
beginning this fall
Peggy O’Connor
Director of Marketing
& Communications
6 Mes Amis Spring 2011
The school that prides itself on its tradition
of educating young women to be caring,
competent and successful leaders in a
global community is now officially an
IB World School.
In February, the IBO (International
Baccalaureate Organization) authorized
the high school at Forest ridge School
of the Sacred Heart as an International
Baccalaureate World School, culminating
more than a year’s worth of planning and
training toward earning that designation.
IB is a two-year educational program
for students aged 16-19. It provides an
internationally accepted qualification
for entry into higher education and is
recognized by universities worldwide.
The International Baccalaureate Diploma
Programme – which Forest ridge will also
offer – is a program for students who wish
to sit for the full diploma exam.
The program will begin this fall for
students beginning the 11th grade.
Students can choose from three options:
traditional Forest ridge curriculum, a
mix of traditional Fr curriculum and
IB courses, or the IB Diploma Programme.
to date, 81% of current Forest ridge
10th-graders are already registered for the
IB Diploma program next year; 19% have
committed either to taking IB courses or
traditional Forest ridge curriculum.
“We are thrilled and excited about the
fact that Forest ridge is only the 18th
school in the state of Washington and just
the fifth high school in the Puget Sound
area to be recognized as an IB World
School,” says Head of School mark Pierotti.
“Forest ridge is the only Catholic, private
school in the state to be designated an IB
World School,” he adds.
“We hope that the Forest ridge community
shares our excitement and pride with this
momentous step forward into the future
of our institution,” says Dr. Carola D.
Wittmann, Director of the High School.
“The International Baccalaureate Diploma
Programme supports the global initiative
for which Forest ridge School of the
Sacred Heart – and indeed, the Sacred
Heart Network of Schools – is widely
known,” she adds.
According to Dr. Wittmann, the IB
Programme further legitimizes the
curriculum already in place at Forest
ridge. “The IB curriculum framework
further supports the Forest ridge tradition
of educating global citizens who participate
in a rigorous college preparatory program
that is recognized worldwide.”
“Furthermore,” Dr. Wittmann says, “the IB
Programme supports the holistic approach
to education which is a hallmark for Sacred
Heart education through its emphasis on
service, extracurricular activities, and the
fine and performing arts.”
What makes IB special – and why did
Forest Ridge pursue this program?
The IB Programme is strongly committed
to the liberal arts tradition in education
– which is at the root of the work of St.
madeleine Sophie and the philosophical
basis for many of this country’s undergraduate
programs – while at the same
time, IB allows for more in-depth study
in math and the sciences. IB cultivates
global mindedness and respectful
appreciation for other cultures, while at
the same time helping students develop
valuable skills in many areas: action,
service, oral presentation, synthesis,
writing skills, higher level thinking, and
hands-on experience.