IB Parent Newsletter

Happy October to our IB Students and Families!

Can you believe we’re already halfway through the fall semester? Time is flying by, and I know everyone’s schedules are filling up with assignments and activities. With that in mind, this month’s newsletter is a quick one, with just a few important updates and reminders to keep students on track.

Thank you to our juniors and seniors for all your hard work so far, and keep pushing through — there is a lot to look forward to as we move ahead!

IB exam registration for the May 2025 session is officially open and will run through October 31st. This is a vital step for all full-diploma students, as well as those enrolled in individual IB courses who wish to take exams. Be sure to register on time to avoid late fees. For financial assistance and additional information on how to register, including links to the required forms and Total Registration payment portal, please visit our IB exam registration page [here].

On Tuesday, October 15th, our IB Juniors will have a fantastic opportunity to visit the Blanton Museum in Austin for a special guided tour centered on "Social Issues in Art." This trip will allow students to engage directly with a variety of artwork, ranging from contemporary pieces to classic works, all while honing their visual and textual analysis skills for the Paper 1 Practice Analysis Activity for IB English. This experience will also help prepare them for future assessments, like their Individual Oral (IO) presentations.

From powerful sculptures to thought-provoking paintings, students will explore how artists use their work to address significant social issues throughout history. It’s an invaluable chance to see art up close and make meaningful connections to what they've been studying in class.

Itinerary

9:50 AM: Students meet in the IB Café

10:15 AM: Departure for the Blanton via LISD bus

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Guided tour of "Social Issues in Art"

12:30 PM: Lunch in courtyard of the Blanton

1:00 PM: Return to campus

Please note that all IB Juniors will still attend their 5th and 8th period classes on the day of the field trip. And don’t forget—permission slips and lunch orders should be submitted as soon as possible through the links provided by their IB English teacher!

This month, all DP candidates will have a chance to reflect on their CAS journey so far during a required mid-semester check-in with our CAS Coordinator, Ms. Kafer, on October 22nd. These 1-on-1 meetings are a great opportunity for students to get personalized feedback, share their progress, and talk through any challenges or questions they may have about their CAS activities.

Students will soon receive a Google form to select their meeting timeslot, and passes will be sent out the day of the meeting. During the check-in, students should be ready to discuss plans for their CAS Project, any committee work they are pursuing, and how they plan to fulfill the remaining CAS requirements for the semester. This is a space to reflect on what they’ve achieved and explore what support they might need moving forward.

We encourage parents to ask their students about their CAS experiences—these moments of reflection and growth are key to making the most of this exciting aspect of the IB Diploma!

At this point in the project, students are working on building an annotated bibliography, a crucial part of the research process. They are tasked with finding six academic sources that directly support their research question.

The skills students are developing now—how to find, evaluate, and use academic sources—are the building blocks for success not only in their Extended Essay but also in their Internal Assessments (IAs) across their IB subjects. These foundational research techniques are critical for navigating the larger projects they’ll face as they continue through the Diploma Program. Keep up the excellent work, Juniors!