IB Connected

Welcome back! I hope you all had an amazing summer! I'm looking forward to working with all of you, and I'm excited for a great year! With the first couple of weeks now behind us, we're ready for September and Homecoming festivities! Be sure to check Dakota's website and "Community Connections" for information regarding all the Homecoming week activities.

As the year gets underway, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome all of our new Pre-IB and IB students and families! We're so excited that you're all here and that you've joined this amazing community! I would also like to welcome and introduce our new IB teachers:

• Mrs. Russell - IB Spanish (year 1)
• Mrs. Sullivan - IB English (IB seniors - year 2)
• Mr. Zeman - IB History (IB juniors - year 1)

I am so excited to welcome Mrs. Russell, Mrs. Sullivan, and Mr. Zeman to our IB community! They are all incredible teachers that bring with them a love of learning, a passion for their subject area, and an excitement to work in the DRHS IB programme! On top of their incredible talent, Mr. Zeman is also an IB diploma holder himself, and taught in an IB school in China for many years.

IB Connected is my main form of communication with IB families. The newsletters will go out at the beginning of each month and will contain important information regarding upcoming dates and important happenings in the Pre-IB/IB programme. Please read through them carefully and reach out if you ever have any questions!

I am so excited to be working with your kids this year! This is my 24th year in education, and I still love my job as much as I did when I started back in 1999 (man, does that make me sound old!)! I hope you all have a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend and a fantastic year!

Attached here is a list of the important dates for the 2023-2024 school year. Please be sure to mark you calendars for these important dates. Specific information will be sent directly to students and families regarding various events throughout the year.

September

• 26 - IB Diploma Requirements and Exam Information Night (Potluck and meeting) - 6:00pm DRHS Library (current IB diploma juniors, seniors, and their families)

October

• 24 - IB Pinning Ceremony - 8:30am - DRHS Library (IB diploma juniors and their families)
• 27 - IB exam registration due (juniors and seniors only)

November

• 15 - IB Information Night - 6:00-7:30pm - DRHS Library - For all current 8th, 9th, and 10th graders and their families interested in learning more about IB

December

• 6 - Dakota Ridge Information Night for prospective families - 6:00pm
• 12 - EE Silver Tray Ceremony - 8:45am (IB seniors and their families)
• 13 - IB Finals Study Night - for all Pre-IB/IB students - DRHS Library 6:00-8:00pm

January

• 11 - IB Pathways and Alumni Night - 6:00pm - DRHS Library (for current Pre-IB 10th graders and their families)
• 26 - Exam fees due (juniors and seniors only)

February

• Registration for the 2024-2025 school year

April

• IB Senior Dinner - Date TBD
• AP/IB Exam Session begins - Exams will go from April 25-May 17

May

• 16 - Dakota Ridge High School Graduation - Red Rocks Amphitheatre 7:00pm
• 20 - IB Finals Study Night - for all Pre-IB/IB students - DRHS Library 6:00-8:00pm

In early August, Mr. Sherman hosted the annual, "TOK Summer Session" for our current IB senior diploma candidates. Students this year had the choice of reading either, Weapons of Math Destruction or The Universe and the Tea Cup. They then engaged in wonderful conversations regarding the world of mathematics and TOK.

Along with TOK, seniors are also hard at work on their CAS projects and their EEs. Some upcoming dates to be aware of for EE include:

• November 9 - EE Rough Draft due
• December 12 - EE Final Draft due

If you haven't done so already, be sure to ask your seniors about TOK, CAS, and EE!

Our brand new IB diploma candidates are off and running for the year. They met briefly with Mr. B and Mrs. Davis (CAS and EE) at the beginning of the year, and are now with Mr. Sherman for an introduction to TOK. The first week of school we were lucky enough to take the juniors outside to the enjoy the summer weather before they headed off to Mr. Sherman to learn all about the incredible world of TOK!

The start of the year can bring excitement, nerves, exhaustion, new activities, and so much more. It is important to find a solid routine and start the school year off with strong habits in order to remain successful throughout the semester and year. Below are some tips that you might find helpful, and remember, try to eat healthy foods, get exercise, get outside, and try to maintain a balanced lifestyle. Healthy students are happier/more successful students!

10 HABITS OF SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS

1. Get Organized. Making a plan for what you're going to do and when you're going to do it will make sure you're always ahead of the curve - literally.
   
2. Don't multitask. Studies have shown that multitasking is physically impossible.
   
3. Divide it up. Studying isn't fun to begin with, and forcing yourself through a study marathon will only make it worse. Dividing your work into manageable chunks and rewarding yourself when you finish each chunk will make studying (more) fun.
   
4. Sleep. Don't underestimate the importance of those eight hours of zzz's every night! Getting a good night's rest will sharpen your focus and improve your working memory.
   
5. Set a schedule. Do you work better right after school or after you've eaten dinner? Are you more productive in 90-minute blocks or half-hour spurts? Find a schedule that works for you, and stick to it.
   
6. Take notes. Taking notes will not only keep you more engaged during class, but will also help you narrow down what you need to study when exam time rolls around. It's much easier to reread your notes than to reread your entire textbook!
   
7. Study. This one might be obvious, but did you know that there's a right and a wrong way to study? Review your material several days ahead of time, in small chunks, and in different manners (for example, write flashcards one day and take practice tests the next). In other words, don't cram.
   
8. Manage your study space. Find a place that will maximize your productivity. Look for places away from the television and other distractions. Whether it's your local library or just the desk in your bedroom, set aside a study space that you'll want to spend time in.
   
9. Find a study group. Sitting down with a group of people who are learning the same things as you is a great way to go over confusing class material or prepare for a big test. You can quiz each other, reteach material, and make sure that everyone is on the same page. After all, teaching someone else is the best way to learn.
   
10. Ask questions. You're in school to learn, so don't be afraid to do just that! Asking for help - from a teacher, a tutor or your friends - is a surefire way to make sure you truly understand the material.

*Tips provided by OpportunityInternational.org

The DRHS IB Parent Group is looking for volunteers! This is an easy way to support the DRHS IB community, and it's not a big time commitment. The Parent Group hosts a couple events each year, and typically needs help with food and setup/clean up. We will also hold a couple meetings each year, just to plan and coordinate. If you are interested, please reach out to: DRIBPG@gmail.com or Holly Davis at: holly.davis@jeffco.k12.co.us.

Email: holly.davis@jeffco.k12.co.us
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/jeffcoschools.us/drhs-ib/home
Location: 13399 West Coal Mine Avenue, Littleton, CO, USA
Phone: 303-982-8956