I would like to say a huge thank you to all the families who donated traditional ethnic desserts for our Culture Day. So many students dressed in traditional attire there was a sea of color around the IB Campus. Student presentations were very thoughtful and informative. It was a truly international day. PSSA testing is now complete. Keystone testing for 9th and 10th grade begins next week. 11th and 12th grade students are in the middle of IB Diploma Program exams. One initiative this year has been to have students set specific, rubric based goals in each subject area. At this point in the year, all students are tracking their progress. As students develop awareness of strengths and areas for growth, they feel more in control of their performance. Whether you are training for the Olympics, preparing for the Tour De France, going to the Superbowl or simply bringing up your grades, research shows that setting goals and tracking progress is an essential part of success.

The Activity Festival was a great success. Students set up all over the building in the gym, the hallways and in classrooms. Students loved it. We will plan more of these evenings throughout the year next year.

Thank you to the families who helped us celebrate the 7th grade work presented at Tuesday's Exhibition. Students presented work from Language and Literature, Individuals and Societies, Science and Spanish.

Earlier in April 9th grade students in Design exhibited their work. They were charged with designing solutions to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

On Tuesday June 11 at 2pm in the library of 3350 we will host a celebration of the 10th grade accomplishments. In recognition of their work grades 7-10, the International Baccalaureate awards students the MYP certificate. This is an internationally recognized academic award, something which will help students as they apply for college and careers. Students around the world in IB schools will receive the same recognition. To be awarded this honor, students must complete their Service as Action requirements and the Personal Project. We will award certificates and enjoy student performances. Individual students will be recognized for excellence in exhibiting the traits of the Learner Profile. All our welcome.

Homework Club takes place every Wednesday. All students are welcome. Meet in the library 3:15-4:15. Email cweber@schoollane.org

Students in grades 7-10 are required to complete two Service as Action tasks a year. Here students worked together to clean the school. Over the course of 4 years, students have to achieve 7 learning outcomes: awareness of own strengths and areas for growth; new skills; initiative; commitment; collaboration; global value; ethics. Many of these learning outcomes are achieved by engaging in community service. Students have worked in their own communities picking up trash or mowing the lawn for a neighbor, visiting a care home, donating to a food pantry and so on.

Over the last two days, 47 seniors have taken the two exams for either Higher Level or Standard Level Language and Literature. This is the largest number of students taking a DP exam in the history of the school. We are very proud of these students who took on this challenge. The full Diploma Program is not the route which fits every student at School Lane but next year all students will be in the HL or SL classes for Language and Literature and Individuals and Societies. Students may then choose whether they want to sit for the exam and submit their work to IB. School Lane has been at the front of IB's own "DP for All" initiative around the world. Next year, all 11th and 12th grade students will complete the CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) project which is an integral part of the holistic approach of IB and School Lane.

Thanks to our hard working partners in the Bucks Country Conservation District and Friends of Poquessing Watershed and a team of IB Campus students we now have a fully planted Pollinator Garden. All the plants are native to this area. Once the garden is established it will prevent more water from disappearing into the creeks than all of the grass in the rest of the parking lot. Keeping water from overwhelming the creeks prevents flooding down stream and the spread of pollution into the water systems. IB Campus students worked very hard to prepare the ground; they are now experts in wielding shovels and rakes. They know how to create a compost mixture which will sustain the plants. They also planted over 100 plants and 2 trees.