Welcome to the IB Programme

Luther Burbank High School is an authorized Middle Years Programme IB school for grades 9-10 and an authorized Diploma Programme for students in grades 11-12.
In general, IB programs are based on a 3 fundamental principles:

Holistic learning: Treating the student as a lifelong learner (Learner Profile) and assessing students' mastery based on standards.
Communication: Teaching students in their native language as well as giving access to other languages in order to help them understand themselves, others, and the world
Intercultural connections: Sharing the importance of international-mindedness so that students may see similarities and differences without fearing the unknown.

Our rigorous curriculum and extensive focus on accountability and critical thinking, paired with a drive for public service, create global citizens who are culturally conscience that continually seek to learn and help others.

The Luther Burbank High School International Baccalaureate Programs ready students for college, higher educational success and an infinite life of continued learning!

The tabs at the top of the page contain helpful information in regards to the IB Programmes offered here at Luther Burbank High School.

If you have any questions, please reach out to IB Coordinators at our school.

Barbara Perez
IB Diploma Program Coordinator (11-12)
Luther Burbank High School an IB World School
bperez6@saisd.net
210-228-1210 x 32064

Gabriela Gonzalez
IB Middle Years Program Coordinator (9-10)
Luther Burbank High School an IB World School
Ggonzalez5@saisd.net
210-228-1210 x 32267

Helpful Links

IB Program Links

International Baccalaureate Organization

IB Recognition by Universities/Colleges

IB Policies

Academic Integrity Policy

Additional Links

SAISD Choice Links

SAISD Online Application

Overview

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP), the culminating program in the IB curriculum here at Burbank, is one of the most challenging academic programs available and recognized by university admission directors around the world as the "gold standard" in college preparation based on the breadth and depth of the curriculum.

Over the two-year program during 11th and 12th grade, students take six classes concurrently, while also taking core curriculum courses (TOK, EE, & CAS). The core is the bedrock of the program--all classes foster critical thinking, community engagement, and research. These skills help students to not only thrive within the DP, but also in their personal lives where they are encouraged to pursue curiosity.

The DP is unique in that it is designed to be a program, which means that there are common curricular assessment threads across all courses, so that students are approaching their learning in similar ways regardless of their individual class selections. All faculty utilize similar pedagogies allowing for best practices and maximum student engagement. We work as a community to help foster student growth and establish a strong preparedness for college-level work and other ventures that students choose to pursue after high school graduation.

IB Diploma Programme Brochure

10th to 11th grade Transition (DP)

11th to 12th grade Transition (DP)

DP Success Information

Frequently Asked Questions about DP

To earn the IB Diploma at the end of year 2 in the Diploma Programme:

You must earn 24 out of 45 possible points.
Students earn a score from 1-7 for each course.
Each course is worth up to 7 points (7 points x 6 courses is 42 points).
TOK and the EE are graded A-E, with A being the highest grade. These two grades are then combined in the diploma points matrix to contribute between 0 and 3 bonus points to the total. An N means you failed to submit the required component. (42 points for courses + 3 possible bonus points for TOK and EE is 45 total possible points).
You must earn at least 9 points from your 3 SL classes (aka average 3 points per course). If you only have 2 SLs (meaning you're taking 4 HLs), you must earn 5 points from those 2 courses.
You must earn at least 12 points from your 3 HL classes (average 4 points per course). If you have registered for 4 HLs, the highest 3 scores count towards the 12 points.

For more information about the DP, please contact the DP Coordinator at your school.

Diploma Programme Academics

Burbank High School offers a variety of IBDP courses in the Higher Level (HL) and the Standard Level (SL).

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme is a challenging two-year curriculum, primarily aimed at students aged 16 to 18. It leads to a qualification that is widely recognized by the world’s leading universities. The Diploma Programme prepares students for university and beyond. It encourages them to:

Ask challenging questions.
Learn how to learn.
Develop a strong sense of their own identity and culture.
Develop the ability to communicate with and understand people from other cultures.

For the Full IB Diploma Candidate, this describes the course requirements:

6 IB classes over two years
- 3 at the Higher Level
- 3 at the Standard Level (Optional: 2 at the SL and 4 at the HL)

One course in each of the 6 groups is required with the exception of Group 6: Visual Arts.
- *Group 6 can be replaced with an additional course from Group 3 or 4.
Additionally, they will take a 7th course, TOK

Group	BHS Higher Level Courses	BHS Standard Level Courses
1	Language A: Language & Literature (HL)	X
2	Language Aquisition: Spanish (HL)	Language Aquisition: Spanish (SL) Language Aquisition: Spanish (Ab Initio)
3	History of the Americas (HL)	Psychology (SL)
4	Biology (HL)	Biology (SL) Environmental System & Societies (SL)
5	X	Mathematics: Applications & Interpretations (SL)
6	Visual Arts* (HL) Film* (HL)	Visual Arts* (SL) Film* (SL) Music* (SL)
TOK, EE, CAS	Only for Full Diploma Candidates	Only for Full Diploma Candidates

Note: Contact your IB DP Programme Coordinator to draft or discuss your two-year IB DP academic plan.

TOK
Extended Essay
CAS
Advice for Parents from Teachers

Extended Essay (EE)

The Extended Essay, or the EE, is one of the three required components of the IB Diploma Core. Every student attempting to earn an IB Diploma must submit an Extended Essay for external examination by December of their senior year.

The IB Extended Essay Guide can be found here.

The BHS Extended Essay Student Guide can be found here.

The following is taken directly from the Extended Essay subject guide, published by the International Baccalaureate Organization.

The extended essay is an in-depth study of a focused topic chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme subjects - normally one of the student's six chosen subjects for the IB diploma. It provides students with an opportunity to engage in personal research in a topic of their own choice, under the guidance of a supervisor (a teacher in the school). This leads to a major piece of formally presented, structured writing, in which ideas and findings are communicated in a reasoned and coherent manner, appropriate to the subject chosen.
The extended essay is:
compulsory for all Diploma Programme students.

externally assessed and, in combination with the grade for theory of knowledge, contributes up to three points to the total score for the IB diploma.

a piece of independent research/investigation on a topic chosen by the student in cooperation with a supervisor in the school.

chosen from the list of approved Diploma Programme subjects.

presented as a formal piece of scholarship containing no more than 4,000 words.

the result of approximately 40 hours of work by the student.

concluded with a short interview, or viva voce, with the supervising teacher.

Creativity, action, service (CAS)

Creativity, Action, Service (CAS) is one of three required elements of the Diploma Programme Core and must be completed in order to receive an IB Diploma.

The IB CAS Handbook can be found here.

The BHS CAS Student Handbook can be found here.

A successful CAS program involves approximately 150 hours of extracurricular activity divided evenly between its three components.

Creativity- includes activities centered on the arts and/or creative thinking.

Action - includes activities that involve physical exertion and lead to a healthy lifestyle.

Service - includes activities that are unpaid and voluntary and provide a learning benefit to the student.

All CAS activities should meet at least one of the eight learning outcomes and a complete CAS program should show evidence that students have:
- increased their awareness of their own strengths and areas for growth.
- undertaken new challenges.
- planned and initiated activities
- worked collaboratively with others.
- shown perseverance and commitment to their activities.
- engaged with issues of global importance.
- considered the ethical implications of their actions.
- developed new skills.

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Keep instilling in your children the respect, need to explore and inquire, what happens in our world, practice your traditions and culture.

Remind students to enjoy themselves while learning instead of focusing on grades.

The key to success in IB class is to be present in class and participate to the fullest to get the best experience. The class is rigorous but we work in groups collaborating, learning from each other, and nurturing students' curiosity.

This programme is good for students who love learning!

The IB program is stressful for students. Do not put additional stress on your student by expecting them to produce perfect grades on everything.

IB curriculum is very rigorous and your child may feel bad when they face pressure they haven't faced before. I fully believe every student can succeed in the IB program but each student's path might look a little different.

Some heritage students have the mindset as they speak the language with their parents at home, therefore Spanish is easy. However IB-SL and HL requires the language proficiency reach the academic or formal language level. Vocab used in Listening reading, speaking and writing are all in higher level then they realized.

Encourage your student to complete IB assessments not only on time, but early.

Your student(s) is/are going to be challenged. Be their cheerleader at home and motivate them when they are having a difficult time. Help them stay on top of their deadlines and let them know that communication with their teacher(s) is key.

Know that your child is receiving a solid educational experience. Your child is being prepared to thrive at college and beyond. Regardless of the university your child goes to or what they decide to do after high school, they are being prepared to hit the ground running. Grades are not the end all be all of their educational experience. Preparation is the key...and that is what IB at Burbank is focused on...preparing them for their college experience and beyond.

Encourage creativity, perseverance and honor.

Your child has made an excellent life decision. The IB program is rigorous yet rewarding.

IB will challenge students in many different ways, but the program can help students become strong and critical thinkers.

To always encourage thinking deeper about texts instead of trying to find the "right" interpretation or analysis - accepting that there's almost never a "right" answer as long as it can be supported by the text.

Encourage your student to think critically, learn about other cultures, read about different perspectives and come up with their own ideas and conclusions.

IB is an amazing program that helps students to become well rounded individuals and learners that seek to benefit society. It is very different from AP College Board, which focuses solely on content and not the impact that their learning has on the world around them. It is not ideal in my mind to have students try to take both IB and AP courses. In their junior and senior years they are dealing with IAs, EEs, CAS projects, and prepping for their exams. Double dipping only causes stress and takes away from what we are trying to teach the kids.

Help your student set reasonable goals for themselves, especially if they need support in time management.

IB Learners will be challenged in this course, and success often requires good study habits and/or attending regular tutoring. Please help your student prepare those skills. That said, the grading scheme provides room for students to make mistakes and be challenged.

The advice I would give to IB parents is let go of the notion that IB should look like an AP class, or that IB classes fully prepare their student to take AP exams. IB is about so much more than getting a correct answer on a test, it is about building a better individual self and a better community through learning. It is completely separate from AP. Also, my advice would be to be aware of the major deadlines for their student (i.e. IA/EE/TOK/etc. deadlines)

Encourage your child to take courses that align with their long term goals. Even if they don't get the college credit for the courses, they are learning how to reason, collaborate, explore in topics that will benefit them longer term. Even just getting exposure to this type of course work will make the transition to college much more productive.

Keep kids in their performing arts classes! Balance is an IB trait - providing a creative/performing opportunity balances the academic with the artistic.

Talk to your child about their classes and experiences. They are surrounded by engaged students and teachers and should have plenty to share. At times the courses can be challenging and they'll need your support. We have such a wonderful, involved community of parents and students, so just keep doing what you've done to get them here.

This program is full of tremendous and diverse opportunities for our students. It is a challenging program, but the faculty is enthusiastically focused on student success. That may sound a little corny, but it has always been my experience that the students, parents, and faculty are all dedicated to that goal.

Overview

The Middle Years Programme (MYP), developed by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), is a five-year program that spans from 6th grade (Year 1) to 10th grade (Year 5). SAISD provides students with the full IB continuum from PYP (elementary school) to DP (last 2 years of high school). Here at Burbank High School, we offer the last two years of the MYP before students transition to the Diploma Programme.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) MYP is a curriculum framework that encourages students to make practical connections between their studies and the real world. The MYP generates a stimulating, challenging learning environment which nurtures inquiry, action, and reflection. The program prepares students for the Diploma Programme or other rigorous, advanced academic pathways. Therefore, it provides academic challenge and develops life skills in order to motivate students and help them achieve success in school and in life beyond the classroom.

The MYP is designed to be inclusive and here at Burbank we firmly believe that every student can benefit from participation in the program. That is why all students in both 9th and 10th grade are a part of MYP. While this program is difficult, it does not mean more work. Rather, it means students delve deeper to gain a greater and lasting grasp of the content. The MYP allows students the opportunity to both do work that facilitates the retention of information and gain a deeper understanding of the content. This results in students that are on track to be more success in advanced courses such as the Diploma Programme but also on state testing as well.

MYP Brochure

Impact of the IB Middle Years Programme

MYP Around the World

Frequently Asked Questions

To earn the certificate at the end of Year 5 (10th grade), students must complete:

Two years of World Language
All MYP assessments in 10th grade.
Service learning reflections.
The Personal Project.

Action (Service Learning) is an essential part of the Middle Years Programme. MYP students are required to complete community service each year; they document their hours and reflect upon their experiences.

The Personal Project is the culminating experience for students in MYP. It is a student's unique response to the challenge to identify and pursue a personal goal to its conclusion. It includes a process, a product, and a report. Students determine their own criteria for success and demonstrate their development of Approaches to Learning (ATL) Skills through evidence. The Personal Project is an opportunity for students to inquire, act, and reflect.

For more information about the MYP, please contact the MYP Coordinator at your school.

MYP Subject Briefs

Arts

Design

Individuals and Societies (Social Studies)

Interdisciplinary Learning

Language Aquisition (Spanish)

Language and Literature (ELA)

Mathematics

Personal Project

Physical and Health Education (PE and Health)

Sciences

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Teachers: Click here to access the assessment appointments.

Student Resources:

Extended Essay Student Guide

Exam Info
Diploma Info
Teacher Advice for Students

All students enrolled in the Diploma Programme classes, including all SL (standard level) and/or HL (higher level) are registered to take their IB exams in May. The exams usually take around 3 weeks to be fully completed, if a students is a full Diploma Candidate. If they are a Course student, the exam window will vary depending on the exams they are registered to take.

Things to keep in mind for testing!

Notice to candidates from the IB
Items not permitted by the IB
Academic honesty for Exams
Exam Schedule for the current year (TBD for 2024)

Exam results will be posted in May. You can use your personal candidate code and pin to access the results. Follow the directions given to you before the start of your exams. If you have lost the paper with the directions or you have questions, please contact the DP Coordinator at your school.

To earn the IB Diploma at the end of year 2 in the Diploma Programme:

You must earn 24 out of 45 possible points.
Students earn a score from 1-7 for each course.
Each course is worth up to 7 points (7 points x 6 courses is 42 points).
TOK and the EE are graded A-E, with A being the highest grade. These two grades are then combined in the diploma points matrix to contribute between 0 and 3 bonus points to the total. An N means you failed to submit the required component. (42 points for courses + 3 possible bonus points for TOK and EE is 45 total possible points).
You must earn at least 9 points from your 3 SL classes (aka average 3 points per course). If you only have 2 SLs (meaning you're taking 4 HLs), you must earn 5 points from those 2 courses.
You must earn at least 12 points from your 3 HL classes (average 4 points per course). If you have registered for 4 HLs, the highest 3 scores count towards the 12 points.

The following are failing conditions:

Not submitting an IA in any IB course will disqualify you (this will give you an N in that course).
Not submitting your TOK assessments or EE will disqualify you (this will give you an N for that component).
Submitting plagiarized work will disqualify you and will not be submitted to IB. All IB Assessments (IAs, EE, & TOK) will be submitted through Turn It In as we have to verify that the work submitted is authentic student work. We cannot submit work to IB that has not been verified to be free of plagiarism.
An E in TOK or on your EE will disqualify you.
Not completing CAS will disqualify you.
Earning a 1 in any IB course.
More than 2 2's awarded.
More than 3 3's awarded.
Total points fewer than 24.

The IB Diploma is widely recognized by many of the leading universities and colleges, both nationally and internationally. Additionally, the Texas State Legislature passed SB 111 granting IB Diploma holders a minimum of 24 hours of college credit or placement at Texas state colleges and universities. That is the equivalent to a minimum of 1 year of college credit.

Be open to learn and share with mutual respect to different perspectives, express your opinion and be ready to collaborate.

Find a good balance as a student, don't leave you passions behind.

Language B SL is designed for students with previous experience in the target language. The class is taught completely in Spanish and students are expected to do the same. However, do not be intimidated by that since we are all learning or expanding our knowledge, and we all make mistakes. You will develop the ability to communicate in the target language through the study of themes and texts. Just come with an open mind and you will learn that this class is more fun than previous Spanish classes.

You must learn to manage your time.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

The worst thing you can do is procrastinate. The rigor of the IB program is real and by procrastinating you only make it hard on yourself. I say this as a routine procrastinator. What helps me the most is setting short-term objectives that can finish in a reasonable time-frame. Checking off these objectives helps me feel better and more motivated to do more of my tasks.

Keep an open mind, know that you are going to be challenged, and finding a balance between your academics and extracurricular activities will be the key to your success.

Sit up, lean forward and seek understanding. Also, be critical. Question the assumptions. Ask why. And seek to apply what you are learning.

Understand Effort, Perseverance and Curiosity creates a better student than one that relies only on Talent.

Learn to love reading! There's something for everyone.

Stop looking for what's "right" and let yourself have authentic ideas and opinions about the concepts. There isn't always going to be a "right" answer and sometimes you just need to explore your own ideas, find evidence to support them, and present that information. Don't get caught up in the cookie cutter methods of doing things, keep your eyes wide and figure out your own method to success.

Take risks, ask questions, be open-minded to new ideas and perspectives, inquire about what interests you and have fun doing all of it! Practice speaking, listening, reading and writing in Spanish every day. Consistency and daily practice makes language acquisition easier.

Be willing to take risks. Things will not always come easy in life. It is the perseverance and grit that you have when trying to succeed that will get you far in your academic pursuits.

Don't try to be perfect, just better than yesterday. And remember, be ready and eager to ask for help! Form a good study group that you can turn to when you need help understanding the different concepts in your courses. Dedicate some time out of class to regularly study and be ready to attend tutoring, if questions arise or you just need that extra help. In class, you will often be challenged to solve problems requiring creativity and initiative, so don’t get discouraged.

My advice would be to START EARLY on all things (IA/TOK/etc.). The deadlines sneak up fast. Use the time given to you by your teachers wisely. My advice would also be to write about topics that you genuinely care about, not topics that you simply think will get you a higher score. If you really care about the topic you're writing about, that shows through in your writing.

Same advice as I gave for parents. Take courses that align with your long term goals. Even if you don't get the college credit for the courses, you are learning how to reason, collaborate, explore in topics that will benefit you longer term. Even just getting exposure to this type of course work will make the transition to college much more productive. Use the skills and connections you gain here and keep up that work in college. Study groups are priceless, networking is everything.

BALANCE!

Don't be afraid to participate. The IB environment encourages and rewards risk takers. Be involved and be engaged. Also, stay on top of your work. Westwood never stops so playing catch up can be difficult. And enjoy it! It's a special program.

Burbank's IB program provides a wonderful range of classes and opportunities. Please know that our focus is on you and your success.

IB Core
Name	Position	Email	Teacher Webpage
Mrs. Perez	TOK, EE, CAS	bperez6@saisd.net
Individuals and Societies
Name	Position	Email	Teacher Webpage
Ms. Beltran	Psychology	nbeltran1@saisd.net	schools.saisd.net/page/nbeltran1-Home
Vacancy	History of the Americas
Langauge Acquisition
Name	Position	Email	Teacher Webpage
Mr. Mendez	Spanish	cmendez6@saisd.net	schools.saisd.net/page/cmendez6-Home
Mathematics
Name	Position	Email	Teacher Webpage
Vacancy	Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations
Science
Name	Position	Email	Teacher Webpage
Ms. Mena Ramon	Environmental Systems and Societies	smena1@saisd.net	schools.saisd.net/page/smena1-Home
The Arts
Name	Position	Email	Teacher Webpage
Ms. Wisniewski	Film	mwisniewski1@saisd.net	schools.saisd.net/page/mwisniewski1-Home
Mrs. Lindsay	Visual Art	mlindsay1@saisd.net	schools.saisd.net/page/ggonzalez5-Home

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Personal Project Hub.pptx

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Extended Essay Supervisor Role & Responsibilities

Supervisors will:

Undertake three mandatory reflection sessions with each student that they are supervising.
Initial and date each reflection summarized on the Managebac RPPF and provide comments at the end of the process.
Encourage and support students throughout the research and writing of the extended essay.
Discuss the choice of topic with each student and, in particular, help to formulate a well-focused research question which is suitable to the subject of registration and ensure that they chosen research question satisfies appropriate legal and ethical standards with regard to health and safety, confidentiality, human rights, animal welfare, and environmental issues.
Is familiar with the regulations governing the extended essay and the assessment criteria and gives copies of these to the students.
Monitor the progress of the extended essay to offer guidance and to ensure that they essay is the student's own work (this may include presenting a section of the essay for supervisor comment).
Read and comment on one draft only of the extended essay (but do not edit the draft); this should take place after the interim reflection session, but before the final reflection session (viva voce).
Ensure that the final version of the essay is handed in to Managebac before the final reflection session (viva voce) takes place, and that no changes are made to it subsequently.
Read the final version and in conjunction with the viva voce, confirm it is authentically the student's own work.

Source: IBO.org

Additional guidance for supporting the extended essay.

Viva Voce Prompts

The following should take place during the final reflection session. These questions are just a guide and are not in any way a conclusive list of questions. Make sure that the student's extended essay is complete and uploaded to Managebac before this meeting takes place. Once the meeting has been completed, both you (the supervisor) and the student should make sure that all the reflection session comments are completed in Managebac in the RPPF section.

Here are some sample questions to help engage the student in a rich dialogue about the learning process:

What have been the high and low points of the research and writing process?
What would you have done differently in the research process?
What is the most important thing that you learned during this process?
What was your greatest challenge and how did you overcome it?
What would you change in your research if you did another EE?
How rewarding did you find the experience? Why?
What was the most valuable experience tat you took away from the process?
What advice would you give to the next year's group?
What IB learner profile attribute would you say helped you through the process?
Would you like to continue learning about this topic?
What questions did this process raise?
What conclusions have you drawn about the topic?
What ATL skills did you develop the most through this process?
What skills did you develop new or build upon during this process? How will you continue to use those skills in the future?
What was the most exciting thing you learned about your topic?