Apr 11th, 2012

LAKE WALES – The long-awaited authorization letter arrived Wednesday (April 11) designating Lake Wales High School as an official International Baccalaureate site.

“We are excited to begin this next phase for our students and our community,” said Principal Donna Dunson. “This is a remarkable time of transformation for our school, and the IB Program will give our students some amazing opportunities.”

Lake Wales High will host an informational meeting about the IB Program at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26. Applications will be available for students who will be in grades 9-11 in 2012-2013.

The International Baccalaureate Organization is a non-profit educational foundation that offers high quality programs to a worldwide community of schools. Currently, more than 900,000 students are enrolled in IB programs in more than 140 countries.

“We are grateful to our students and parents for believing in us, and supporting us during the year-long authorization process,” said Anuj Saran, the school’s IB Director.

A team of Lake Wales administrators and teachers worked on the IB application process for about a year. During that time, about 65 ninth graders and 30 sophomores have been taking “Baccalaureate Prep” classes in anticipation of IB approval for the 2012-2013 school year.

Many of the students left their home schools and transferred to Lake Wales because of the lure of the IB program.

“Higher expectations,” is how student Katt Dudamel described the Baccalaureate Prep classes.

“Our school incorporates the best technology, like iPads, into the program to make it the highest possible standard,” said student Joshua Collier.

“The IB program will prepare our student to confidently follow their dreams,” Saran said. “Our students are committed to be the architects of their lives, and LWHS is now positioned to help them build a solid foundation.”

The IB program is designed to be an academically challenging and balanced program of education with final examinations that prepares students for success at university and life beyond. The program is normally taught over two years (grades 11-12 in the United States).

PHOTO: Tenth graders enrolled in the Baccalaureate Prep program at Lake Wales High give a big “thumbs up” to news that they will have an official IB program for grades 11-12, starting in 2012-2013. (The students were out of uniform when this photo was taken, because it was “water awareness day” and they donated $1 for the privilege of wearing blue.)