Power Pack and International Baccalaureate Programme

What is the International Baccalaureate?

International Baccalaureate logoThe International Baccalaureate (IB) is a global leader in international education—developing inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, and caring young people. Our programmes empower school-aged students to take ownership in their own learning and help them develop future-ready skills to make a difference and thrive in a world that changes fast.

Mission statement

The IB aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the organization works with schools, governments, and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

The learner profile

The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationally minded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world.

IB learners strive to be:

Inquirers: they develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.

Knowledgeable: they explore concepts, ideas, and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.

Thinkers: they exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.

Communicators: they understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.

Principled: they act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.

Open-minded: they understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.

Caring: They show empathy, compassion, and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.

Risk-takers: they approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.

Balanced: they understand the importance of intellectual, physical, and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.

Reflective: they give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.

IB at a glance

Entrance into the IB Programme begins in Grade 10. During the Grade 10 year, students will be introduced to the values associated with the IB Programme by participating in the Power Pack Pathway. The core courses that make up the Power Pack program focus on providing learning opportunities centred around the IB Learner Profile and the academic requirements that will help students make a smooth transition to the IB Diploma Programme, beginning in Grade 11 and concluding with international examinations in May of the Grade 12 year.

Program components

The IB Diploma Programme provides a holistic educational experience that heightens critical thinking skills and the joy of learning. Students flourish intellectually, physically, emotionally, and ethically, and graduates continue on to post-secondary learning feeling prepared and confident in their ability to succeed. In addition to rigorous academic preparation, the IB Programme also offers unique learning experiences to ensure student success. These experiences are at the core of the IB Diploma Programme and include: theory of knowledge, an extended essay, and the completion of a student designed personal growth portfolio that focuses on creativity, activity, and service.

Theory of knowledge is designed to explore and inquire into the different ways of knowing and different kinds of knowledge. This subject is scheduled to receive 100 hours of instruction over the two years of the programme.

The extended essay is a 4,000-word research paper that is started in the first year of the programme and completed in September/October of the second year. It is expected that students will complete a significant portion of the extended essay during the summer between year one and two. Students will receive instruction to support the development of their research questions, researching, and developing the skills necessary to complete the writing process. They will also have the opportunity to work one on one with a teacher advisor to develop their essay from beginning to end.

The creativity, activity, and service requirements of the programme are designed to provide a balanced approach to education and support the development of global mindedness and support for others less fortunate than ourselves. Students are supported in the planning and documentation of these activities and will be required to provide evidence of completion.

The IB advantage

The IB programme offers an academic approach with an emphasis on personal development, equipping students with the skills and knowledge that they need to succeed in post-secondary education and in life beyond I.E. Weldon Secondary School.

Self directed learning: students learn how to focus on the process of learning and are taught to better understand their own needs as learners, ensuring future success when pursuing future academic challenges.

Respect for other cultures: with a focus on diverse perspectives and resources from around the world, students will be encouraged to view the world through a culturally inclusive lens.

Stress management skills: students will be prepared to navigate the strenuous academic requirements of university with advanced planning, time-management and study skills.

University credits: in accordance with policies shaped by Canadian and international universities, subjects completed at the IB level may be eligible for first year university transfer credits, saving students as much as one full year of university tuition.

Focus on personal growth: IB students are given opportunities to develop academic, social, and emotional skills, focused on personal development and goal setting for the future.

Joy of learning: with a focus on developing both independent and collaborative learning skills, as well as embracing an engaging, interactive and supportive learning environment, IB seeks to ensure students graduate with a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.

Power Pack and IB Programme course offerings

Subject area Grade 10 Power Pack Grade 11 - year 1 IB Grade 12 - year 2 IB
Language and literature
English: ENG 2DB
English: ENG 3UB
English: ENG 4UB
Language acquisition
FSF 2DB (Core French) FIF 2DR (French Immersion)
FSF 3UB (Core French) FIF 3UR (French Immersion)
FSF 4UB (Core French) FIF 4UB (French Immersion)
Individuals and society
CHC 2DB (English history) CHC 2DI (French Immersion history)
CHA 3UB (History) CGU 4UB (Geography)
CHI 4UB, CHY 4UB (History) CGW 4UB (Geography)
Experimental sciences
SNC 2DB (Science)
SVN 3MB (Chemistry) SBI 3UB, SNC 4MB (Biology) SPH 3UB, SES 4UB (Physics)
CHC 2DB (English history) CHC 2DI (French Immersion history)
Mathematics
MPM 2DB (Mathematics)
MHF 4UB (Math AA) MCF 3MB (Math AI)
MCV 4UB (Math AA) MDM 4UB (Math AI)
The arts
Elective option, not required
AVI 3MB (Visual art) ADA 3MB (Theatre)
AVI 3MB (Visual art) ADA 4MB (Theatre)
Other curriculum components
MCR 3UB is also required if students intend to complete the full IB Diploma or are interested in taking IB Math. SCH 3UB is also required if students intend to enrol in IB chemistry in Grade 11 and 12. CHV/GLC 2OR is required for all students. Students may choose to take CHV/GLC 2OR online in the summer between Grade 9 and 10.
Theory of knowledge: ETS 4UB course of study tied to English programming. Creativity, activity, service: supported by coordinator. Extended essay: supported instruction during ENG 3UB and work with EE mentor.
Theory of knowledge: HZT 4UB course of study tied to English programming. Creativity, activity, service: supported by coordinator. Extended essay: supported instruction during ENG 3UB ans work with EE mentor.

IEWSS IB Handbook

For more information about the Power Pack and IB Programme, please see our IB Handbook.

Note – if you require this information in an accessible format, contact Communications Services at [email protected].

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School Schedule
Period 1
8:10 – 9:25 a.m.
Break
9:25 – 9:35 a.m.
Period 2
9:35 – 10:50 a.m.
Lunch
10:50 – 11:45 a.m.
Period 3
11:45 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Break
1 – 1:10 p.m.
Period 4
1:10 – 2:25 p.m.
Final bell
2:25 p.m.
Bus departure
First wave: 2:34 p.m. Second wave: 2:38 p.m.

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