NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release
Contact: Doug Fleischli, Marketing Director
7 Pursuit Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Ph: (949) 448-9027, ext. 328 Cell: (949) 233-5993
Email: doug.fleischli@smaa.org Web: www.smaa.org
St. Mary’s Middle School Academic Program Achieves
International Baccalaureate (IB) World School Status
ALISO VIEJO, CA –May 30, 2008—St. Mary and All Angels School achieved the prestigious recognition of becoming an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) World School. St. Mary’s received final IB authorization for its middle school (grades 6-8) this month. This recent milestone follows the IB authorization for St. Mary’s preschool and elementary school achieved in July 2007.
“St. Mary’s is to be applauded for embracing the International Baccalaureate program. Being the first PYP (Primary Years Program) and MYP (Middle Years Program) School in Orange Country speaks to St. Mary’s commitment to providing the finest educational program for preparing students for the 21st century,” said Dr. Mary Beth Dougherty, St. Mary’s Board of Trustees Member and Assistant Principal, Santa Margarita Catholic High School.
Currently, there are only nine schools in the North America and the Caribbean that have IB World School authorization in both its primary years program (preschool-grade five) and its middle years program (grades six-eight). In California, there are 30 schools that are authorized IB World Schools in either their primary years programs or middle years programs.
"St. Mary's now joins an elite group of schools in California who offer this world class curriculum to both the elementary and intermediate levels. The opportunity for students to make this transition on the same school grounds is unprecedented in this area. Parents should definitely appreciate the advantages of eight years of student oriented, inquiry based learning," said Dr. Jerry Chris, IB Coordinator, Mission Viejo High School.
St. Mary’s used IB’s rigorous standards to measure the effectiveness of the school’s academic programs. The authorization confirms that the school’s best teaching practices meet the highest standards of the International Baccalaureate, a respected body of international educators (www.ibo.org).
The purpose of being an IB School is to provide a learning environment where curriculum is engaging and challenging. St. Mary’s students gain experience in critical thinking and applying academic disciplines such as math, science, humanities and language to solve real-world problems. This unique, inquiry-based learning environment also offers a foundation of good study habits necessary for success in high school and beyond.
The process of obtaining IB authorization for grades six, seven and eight involved meticulous review of St. Mary’s curriculum and programs, leading up to the school visit by the IB authorization team in November 2007. The authorizing team reported to IBNA (International Baccalaureate North America) who then forwarded the report to the organization’s international headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
For more information about our IB authorization, please feel free to contact Sharon Taylor, St. Mary’s Assistant Principal and IB Coordinator at (949) 448-9027, ext. 332 or sharon.taylor@smaa.org.
Founded in 1994 by Father Ernest D. Sillers, St. Mary and All Angels School is a non-denominational Christian school serving preschool through grade 8. Students are equipped to be life-long learners, have faith-based principles, and proceed as global-minded citizens.
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