September 2, 2009

The North Vancouver School District is pleased to announce that Balmoral Jr. Secondary has been authorized to teach the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (MYP). The authorization was provided to the school this summer from the International Baccalaureate Organization, and establishes Balmoral as the second school in the North Vancouver School District, following Carson Graham Secondary, to achieve authorization as an IB World School. Fewer than 10 schools offer the IB MYP in the Lower Mainland, and Balmoral is the only public school on the North Shore to offer the MYP programme.

“This authorization allows us to offer the full continuum of IB programmes from Grade 8 through 12 in the North Vancouver School District,” says Board of Education chairperson Susan Skinner. “IB helps prepare students for life in our increasingly globalized world. We are proud to see Balmoral join more than 2,700 schools, worldwide, that are part of the IB community encouraging students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners.”

The IB Middle Years Programme is a school-wide programme of international education designed to help all students develop the knowledge, understanding, attitudes and skills necessary to participate actively and responsibly in a changing world.

In granting the authorization, the IBO confirmed that Carson Graham Secondary may assume the certification to offer the MYP following the closure of Balmoral in 2012. Offering the MYP program at Carson will expand IB learning to all students in Grades 8, 9 and 10, allowing a greater number of students in the North Vancouver School District to share in the IB philosophy and curriculum.

“We continue to make excellent progress in bringing IB to the North Vancouver School District,” says John Lewis, superintendent of schools for the North Vancouver School District. “The staff and parent community at Balmoral have made an outstanding effort towards this achievement, and we appreciate their commitment to expanding our program offerings.”

The North Vancouver School District is comprised of 28 elementary, 7 secondary and 2 alternate schools as well as a residential outdoor education centre. Approximately 16,800 students were enrolled in the School District for the 2008/09 school year.

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a not-for-profit educational foundation, founded in Geneva, Switzerland. The IBO currently works with over 2,700 schools in 138 countries.

For further information:
IB@nvsd44.bc.ca

www.ibo.org

Victoria Miles, Communications Manager
North Vancouver School District 604.903.1254  vmiles@nvsd44.bc.ca

Balmoral Media Release (PDF)