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NKCHS IB Happenings

November 2024

NKCHS IBHappeningsNovember 2024

A Season of Gratitude

November is often a month when we turn our focus to those things for which we are grateful. It's also a time in the life of an IB student that things amp up a notch. Seniors are in the throes of post-secondary planning and applications. Juniors are feeling the "heaviness" of IB coursework with some IA due dates looming, and the first round of service learning and CAS check-ins taking place.

This all said, we encourage you to help your student slow down and take time to focus on the positive!

  • Where are they seeing growth in themselves?
  • What courses are they truly enjoying?
  • Where are their talents shining?
  • Who are the people that make their days brighter?
  • What are the highlights in their day?

It's easy to focus on the difficult things and tough times. We hope you'll help them see the good and those things they are grateful for at this time of year! We will encourage them to write a note to a teacher(s) later this month letting them know just how grateful they are!

College Admissions - Some Legend and Some Truths

Just the other day, I was having a conversation with a student about the college admissions "game." The student was working so hard to join as many clubs as they could, try all the sports, carry a job, and rack up the volunteer hours. As a result, the student was EXHAUSTED, running on little sleep, and falling quickly behind in their coursework. We chatted about the need to "find a focus" for their time. Schools aren't looking for kids who "do it all." Instead, they put their sights on students who have strong academic records accompanied by an extracurriular record that represents passion and purpose. It could not have been more fitting to come across this article the night before meeting with that student. As a parent or student preparing for the college admissions process, this article is a GREAT read. And, although it focuses on the Ivy League, it's fair to extend this philosophy to most post-secondary institutions.

Fall Musical

Many IBDP, IBCP, and pre-IB students are a part of the cast and crew of the fall musical. We hope you'll make plans to attend November 14, 15, or 16!

Group 6 - The Electives Teachers

With the fall musical, The Music Man, just around the corner, we thought it was a perfect time to introduce you to the Group 6 - IB Electives teachers. You may recognize Mrs. Cunningham, our IB Theater teacher, and Mrs. Ferrantelle, our IB Visual Art teacher. However, Mr. Hasek is a new face around NKCHS. After 16 years of teaching IB Music and leading our band, Mrs. Epperson took her skills to the middle school. Replacing her in those roles is Mr. Tony Hasek.

Mrs. Lacy Cunningham

Mrs. Cunningham has been teaching for 13 years with three years here at NKCHS. As the lone teacher in the theatre department, she teaches all things theatre, including Pre-IB Theatre 1 & 2, IB Theatre HL1 and HL2, Theatre 3 and 4, and Stagecraft (whew!). Not surprisingly, communication is her strongest IB Learner Profile strength because each aspect of theatre, from acting to directing, to set-building, to lighting, requires working together as a team. Without effective communication, there is not effective collaboration.

Mrs. Ferrantelle

Twenty years ago, Ms. Ferrantelle began her teaching career right here at Northtown. Over the years, she has taught many classes in our Visual Arts department. She is currently teaching Art 1, Pre-IB Art 1 & 2, and AP and IB Art (SL and HL). Because she tends to “over-analyze everything,” she says being reflective is her top IB Learner Profile characteristic. Additionally, being reflective allows her students to work at their pieces and consider what to do differently on the next project and how to improve their skills

Mr. Tony Hasek

Mr. Hasek is starting his 8th year of teaching, but just his first year here at Northtown. He joins our staff as the new band director – which means he teaches Symphonic Band, Concert Band, Marching Auxilary, and 8th Grade Band at Northgate. Additionally, he co-teaches IB Music SL with Ms. Yoder. His strongest IB Learner Profile trait is open-minded. Musicians are constantly exploring new music from all around the world.

Mrs. Sheree Yoder

Mrs. Yoder, our beloved school orchestra director, is co-teaching IB Music behind the scenes this year with Mr. Hasek. She has been a teacher for nine years, five of those here at NKCHS. Her strongest IB Learner Profile characteristic is no shock to anyone who knows her: Caring. Anyone who has spent any time in one of her classes recognizes that she cares deeply about her students and supports them so they can grow and succeed, not just as students, but also as human beings.

Career-related Study Teachers: Business

Now, it's time to turn our attention to one of our newer career-related studies. With the onset of Pathways four years ago, we have an increasing number of IBCP students who are studying Business. We have only one IBCP senior, but the juniors number eleven! Mr. Kreiling, a baseball coach, Mr. Brown and Mr. Titus, both basketball coaches, run our Business Department and are to be credited for a good jump in numbers of students enrolled in the IBCP Business career-related study! While we are talking "business," remember that our annual Market Day is December 11. Our Entrepreneurship students will be selling some great wares!

Mr. Andrew Kreiling

Mr.Kreiling has been teaching for 4 years and is currently in year 2 at NKCHS. He is in the Business, Leadership, and Entrepreneurship pathway where he teaches Marketing Principles, Entrepreneurship, and Business Management. His top Learner Profile characteristic is reflective. “I sense my reflective mindset through my consistent iteration of systems that help me manage my life. These systems allow me to expand my cognitive load and take on more responsibility beyond what I thought was possible.”

Mr. Xavielle Brown

Although he’s been at Northtown longer serving in different roles, Mr. Brown is in his second year as a teacher here. He teaches Foundations of Business, Marketing Principles, and Advanced College Marketing in our BLE pathway. His IB Learner Profile trait is thinker. He is very curious. He shared, “I spend a lot of time in my head.” He’s always looking for ways to be innovative – whether he is looking at different processes of doing thing or just getting to know others.

Mr. Lane Titus

Mr. Titus joined NKCHS this year and is in his third year of teaching. He teaches multiple classes in the BLE pathway, including Introduction to Media Marketing, Sports Marketing 1 & 2, and Business Communications. Like his colleague Mr. Kreiling, Mr. Titus feels being reflective is his strongest IB Profile character trait. What he works hardest to instill in his students is communication as it is essential in every aspect of business.

Amnesty Weekend!

It's here ... IB's annual Amnesty Weekend. No new homework was assigned on Thursday or Friday. This is intended to give students who are caught up a chance to relax a bit. It also is designed for students who have fallen behind a bit some time to play a little catch-up. Enjoy and take advantage of Amnesty Weekend!

Repeat: IB Helping Hands Club

IB Helping Hands is a new student-led club with the goal of connecting IB CP and DP students to various service opportunities in our community. Seniors Dhanna Zubia Chavez and Alissa Ruano founded the club with the hopes helping students help others.

Students who are interested in participating in service-learning opportunities with the group should join our SportsYou team using the code EHHRAF68 and watch Enriching Students for meetings during MTSS.

The first big project is hosting a trunk for Trunk or Treat. Now is the time to join and get some service hours completed during the month of October.

Repeat: Service Opportunity for IB Students

This year, our after school tutoring has been revised a bit. It will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:50-4:30pm in M107/M109. Below is a document that outlines the details and provides a QR to sign up to tutor.

Serving as a tutor in the Success Center would be a great way to meet CAS (DP) or Service Learning (CP) requirements. It can also count toward your A+ and/or community service hours! Our AVID students will provide a training on strategies you can use with students while tutoring.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Ms. Klein (PAH Counselor).

Repeat: New Research - Acceptance Rates for IB DP Students

Take a look at this document which highlights the credit policies of some of the most selective universities in the U.S. as well as their IB credit policies. I think you'll see pursuing an IB Diploma pays off!

Crimson Education Document

Keep Updated Through Canvas!

Please remember that you have access to "all things IB" in our International Baccalaureate Canvas course. As a parent observer, you also have access to all of your student's classes, as well as this course. We keep meeting presentations, important dates, exam information, course syllabi, program policies, and so much more in this course. Please take a moment to take a look.

IB Program Policies

As a program, we regularly visit our program's policies to revise and update them to ensure they are current and relevant. These policies are housed in the International Baccalaureate Canvas course; however, we also wanted to share them in this newsletter for easier access.



Who's Here to Help You?

IB Career-related Progam Coordinator

Dr. Martha DeVries is joining us in her first year as the IBCP Coordinator. She can be reached at 816.321.6584 or martha.devries@nkcschools.org.

IB Program Administrative Assistant

Ms. Cymantha Beason is joining us for a third year as the IB Program Administrative Assistant. This NKCHS alumnus can be reached at 816.321.6179 or cymantha.beason@nkcschools.org.

IB Diploma Program Coordinator

Mrs. Mitsi Nessa is serving in her fourth year as the IBDP Coordinator. She can be reached at 816.321.5805 or mitsi.nessa@nkcschools.org.

Important Dates

Newsletter Feedback

Do you have topics you'd like to see covered or questions you'd like to have answered in an upcoming edition of the "IB Happenings" newsletter? If so, please take a moment to share those with us here: https://forms.gle/3gJM6DLqJTj5NAXf8
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