IB Enrichment Program

This course will provide rising Grade 10 students with a foundation to succeed in English 10 and to better understand the IB DP English program and assessments. During the week-long course, students will go over organizational skills, executive functioning practices, and delve into English content to hone analytical skills having to do with reading, writing, and speaking. Classes will be broken up into discussions, short lectures, group work, individual work, short presentations, and share outs. Students will also have one-on-one time with the teacher to ask questions, go over work, and receive feedback about their progress.

The French IB enrichment course will give students a better understanding of the IB expectations in French, namely:

• Understanding of links between texts and different perspectives, cultural contexts, and the importance of local and global issues; and
• Analyzing how the language shapes identities and how identities shape the language.

This course is designed for the rising Grade 10 or 11 student seeking to reinforce their fundamental math skills prior to beginning their IB Mathematics course in the Fall. During this week-long course, students will investigate key mathematical concepts necessary for success in the IB DP Mathematics program through direct instruction, small group problem-solving activities, and individual feedback on a daily basis. KEY TOPICS: algebra skills, functions (linear, quadratic, exponential, logarithmic) and their inverses and transformations, right and non right triangle trigonometry, statistics, and probability.

This summer class introduces basic economic principles that will serve as a foundation for success in both the standard and higher-level IB economics course, with an emphasis on both microeconomics and macroeconomics. The class will be interactive. Students will participate in different microeconomic game simulations designed to engage student learning in various economic concepts, including how markets work. For example, students will learn how current COVID-19 related events have impacted markets, influenced prices, and affected business and consumer incentives. As part of their introduction to macroeconomics, students will analyze the economic and political impact of different fiscal policy strategies by playing “The Fiscal Ship,” an interactive and engaging simulation that challenges students to put the federal budget on a sustainable course. Topics that are not the main focus of IB economics, such as personal finance and investing, will also be covered.

This week-long class will focus on conducting biotechnology experiments and activity-based learning to explore inheritance of genes following predictable patterns. We will explore single gene patterns of inheritance, be able to differentiate between a gene, allele, and trait, and how to use a punnett square and pedigree charts to deduce information about genetics. Students will receive on loan state-of-the-art biotechnology equipment in order to complete hands-on lab experiments for the purposes of diagnosing disease, determining paternity, and solving forensic scenarios using gel electrophoresis.

Ever wonder how they train animals at the zoo? Or why you hate some foods? This course is designed to introduce you to the scientific study of human behavior. You will be exposed to the psychological facts, principles, and phenomena associated with learning theory. By the end of the course, you will have developed, executed, and presented a scientific study using the principles of classical and operant conditioning. This course emphasizes how to read peer-reviewed literature, statistical analysis techniques, and the development of critical thinking skills associated with conducting scientific research.

Pitch Perfect: Dynamic Speaking and Presentation Skills  

Peyton Head, Greta Thunburg, Emma Gonzalez, Joshua Wong, Yara Shahidi, Mohamad Al Jounde: exceptional young people whose charisma and intellect are changing the world. Learn to express yourself with confidence by finding your voice and channeling your inner performer in this public speaking and oral presentation course. Each day will cover a type of public speaking (extemporaneous, persuasive, storytelling, informative) and essential presentation skill (speech writing, diction and tone, body language, visual aids.) The week will culminate in a limited preparation challenge where students' new skills will be put to the ultimate test.

There are many challenges that come along with writing the Extended Essay. Deciding the research topic and question, completing the research, and writing 4,000 words on one topic are a few of the challenges that students face during the process. This course will allow for more individualized conversations, which in turn will help the students grasp a better understanding of the process behind writing the EE.