For the past couple of years, IB schools worldwide have shared a common “community theme” in which we have united to address various crises around the globe. IB has now launched a Community Theme Platform on its website. The site has sections specifically designed for teachers, students, and a site called “For Everyone”, including parents and other members of the community. I encourage you to check the site out – there are various postings on there, including blogs, forums, galleries, videos, lesson ideas and networking opportunities. It is a great way to see what is going on with our students and throughout the IB community.

Consistent with building our IB community, we had a very successful 9th grade retreat up to the YMCA camp at Snow Mountain Ranch – see Ms Frazier’s comments and pictures of the retreat later on in the newsletter. We added workshops this year on community service, and the students engaged in teambuilding activities. Several upperclassmen and teachers accompanied us on the field trip, which reinforced the IB community here at Thornton High School.

I am very excited about this trend of our upperclassmen getting involved with helping out younger students. A group of seniors met with current 10th grade students recently to lend guidance and encouragement on the personal project. Many other students are engaged in tutoring others in various subjects, and the IB Student Union does frequent projects which strengthen the IB community.

A group of IB graduates joined me in a recent parent information night for prospective IB students. One of the most positive aspects they stressed about the IB here at THS is the sense of family that is built in the program. The graduates shared how they still keep in touch with their classmates after several years away from high school, and how the program not only prepared them for college academically, but also taught them the importance of building a strong network of support. As an IB World School, we also have the opportunity to spread that family and network throughout the planet. The IB is indeed a global community.

Roger Dowd
IB Coordinator

Link to April/May 2009 Newsletter

Link to the Interactive MYP Model

IBO official website:

Diploma Programme Information
Middle Years Programme Information

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