MYP Programme Evaluation

It seems only yesterday that I was reading the official letter from the International Baccalaureate Organization granting us IB World School Status. That was 2009! Since then, our teachers have been hard at work collaborating with their colleagues, creating IB units and lessons, overseeing class field trips and guiding our grade 10’s through their personal projects. Not forgetting that our students have also been hard at work demonstrating their understanding, originality and imagination on IB tasks, volunteering their time in the school, our local community and globally, and growing as both learners and citizens.

As time passes though, a new milestone approaches. In the fall of 2013 we will one again be visited by the IB, this time for an evaluation visit. The International Baccalaureate Organization requires International Baccalaureate World Schools to have an evaluation visit after the first four years after their successful authorization. Consequently, Carson Graham will be engaging in an 18 month process beginning in January 2012.  

Programme evaluation is both a requirement and a service provided by the International Baccalaureate Organization to IB world schools. The purpose and the aim of the visit is to ensure that the standards and practices of the IB MYP programme are maintainedand to provide the school with feedback to guide improvement in our Middle Years Programme.

To prepare for this visit, Carson Graham will undergo a significant reflection on our practices. As a school community, past and present staff, students, parents and district personnel will evaluate our progress as an Middle Years Programme World School. To do this we complete an MYP self-study. This comprehensive document will be sent to the International Baccalaureate Organization and is used to provide background information to the visiting evaluation team.

Leading up to the 2013 fall evaluation visit there are numerous steps to be taken such as:

• submitting samples of student work in all curricular areas and the personal project to IB moderators across the world to ensure our assessment process is accurate. These IB moderators will provide us with feedback to guide our future assessment practices.
• our current five year growth plan will be examined and we will reflect on our practices and outcomes to identify new goals for our next five years
• the MYP self study will be completed by our school community and used to guide our evaluation preparations

I know it seems the journey may never end – we finish one IB visit and jump right into preparing for the next, but the process is purposeful. All the while we are reflecting on our development, growing as educators and learners, and bettering our programme.

 Toby MacDonald - MYP Coordinator