PRESS RELEASE: WORLD SCHOOL AUTHORIZATION
March 24, 2014
Bringing an international education toToronto’s Downtown Core
St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary Schoolachieves International Baccalaureate World School status
St. Mary’s Catholic Secondary Schoolhasbecome one of the newest members of an ever growing global community of 3,521schools offering the International Baccalaureate in 144 different countries.
Students will be able to take the IB Diploma Programmeat the school, with the first cohort commencing their studies on September 3, 2014.
The IB has a positive impact on students, schools and their wider communities with learning going well beyond the classroom. Its unique and innovative approach to learning means both students and teachers are genuinely engaged with the programs and benefit from being a part of an unparalleled global network. Students are able to participate in international conferences and educators work with their peers internationally to ensure that the IB remains at the cutting edge of international education.
Principal Robert Merollesays:
“As we look forward to our ever changing world, we wanted to offer a diverse universal experience of education for our students, a holistic educational approach that would instil skills, knowledge and a global awareness for succeeding in the 21st century. As a professional community we wanted to give our teachers an opportunity to collaborate as part of an international network of experts in the field of education. It gives us great motivation as lifelong learners to become an IB World School and we look forward to being a part of the many benefits of belonging to this world community.”
Drew Deutsch, Director, IB America, International Baccalaureate says:
“The IB is recognized across the world for its innovative approach to education. We strongly believe that it is important to place an equal focus on academicsand other, transferrable skills,in order to best prepare students for success beyond highschool.
“That St. Mary’s Secondary Schoolhas now successfully completed the authorization process and can now start offering the IB marks an exciting time for St. Mary’sand more importantly, for the students who will benefit from an IB education.”
Marc Nunez, a student in St. Mary’s Grade 10 Enriched Learning Programme,who will be part of the very firstIB cohortsays: “I look forward to the many challenges I will face. I am ready to learn the skills that will help me, not only in university, but throughout the rest of my life.”Maria YsabelleMariscal, also a grade 10 ELP student, added “The entire St. Mary’s community will benefit from the changes that are coming to our schoolas a result of the IB Diploma programme. All students will benefit from more resources, an improved library, and updated technology.” Students in grade 9 are equally excited. Luis Pinto,expressed that “St. Mary’s will finally beseen as the school that supports students in taking the extra step in learning”. He added that “while some students are concerned with the more challenging workload, they have learned that, with careful time management and perseverance, everything is possible”.
ENDS