The IB Diploma Programme is a comprehensive two-year international college-preparatory curriculum.
The IB Diploma Programme and IB certificate studies take place during a student’s junior and senior years and mark the completion of MacDowell Montessori School’s K3-12 program.
Download MacDowell’s IB Policies and Procedures:
IB Courses at MacDowell
Full IB Diploma Programme candidates and IB certificate candidates can choose from these IB certified courses:
- English A1 (Higher Level/Group 1)
- Spanish Ab Initio (Standard Level/Group 2)
- History of Americas (Higher Level/Group 3)
- IB Biology (Standard Level/Group 4)
- Math Studies (Standard Level/Group 5)
- Visual Art (Higher Level/Group 6)
- Theory of Knowledge (TOK).
IB Diploma Programme Core
Earning the IB Diploma is an accomplishment that requires commitment, dedication, and organization from junior and senior students as they successfully complete IB courses in six subject areas and the DP core. The core encompasses three components that challenge students to apply new content knowledge, critical thinking and communication skills, and evaluate their personal and academic growth as IB scholars.
Below are details about DP core components: Theory of Knowledge (TOK); Extended Essay (EE); and Creativity, Activity, & Service (CAS).
Extended Essay (EE)
Students investigate a topic of personal interest to them, which relates to an IB subject. Students receive advice and guidance from a teacher or essay “advisor” with expertise or experience on the EE topic/DP subject. Three mandatory reflection sessions take place to help guide the topic and provide feedback on ideas. Students research and write this 4,000-word essay from January of junior year to January of senior year.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
In this core class, students research and discuss real-world topics, asking themselves, “How do I know that?” Students see where their knowledge comes from, how it is created, and try to become active participants in learning rather than passively accepting what they are told. TOK curriculum and class discussions emphasize asking good questions, using language carefully and precisely, supporting ideas with evidence, arguing coherently, and making sound judgements.
Creativity, Activity, and Service Program (CAS)
The Creativity, Activity, Service or “CAS” program asks students to demonstrate attributes of the IB Learner Profile in real and practical ways, to grow as unique individuals, and to recognize their role in relation to others. Students will develop skills, attitudes, and dispositions through a variety of individual and group experiences that provide students with opportunities to explore their interests and express their passions.
CAS is organized around three strands.
- Creativity: Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance.
- Activity: Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle.
- Service: Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need.
CAS + Occupations
All adolescents at MacDowell participate in occupations. Every semester, students select from a host of non-academic activities to participate in twice a week. Occupations engage the adolescent in enrichment activities that support their emotional, physical, and spiritual needs. They range from physical activities like working on stage crew or in the school greenhouse to running for student government and applying to and joining the National Honor Society. Occupations naturally support IB’s CAS program. Most MacDowell students’ CAS experience comes from the occupations they engage in during junior and senior years.
CAS Project
A CAS project is a collaborative, well-considered series of experiences that work toward a larger goal. The purpose of this project is to ensure participation in sustained collaboration. A CAS project involves collaboration between a group of students or with members of the wider community. The project offers students the opportunity to be responsible for/initiate part of the entire project.
At MacDowell Montessori School, the CAS project is typically done in collaboration with the National Honor Society service project of one to two months’ duration, which requires that students:
- Design with a purpose,
- Set specific goals and collaborate extensively with peers,
- Reflect on and deliver a presentation about their project.
CAS Portfolio
The CAS Portfolio is a digital folder of CAS Material. This folder is created in Google Drive and shared with the CAS Coordinator. Students are responsible for filing reflective assignments, presentations, and videos into the folder.