Annandale Community:

We recently welcomed visitors from the International Baccalaureate (IBO) Evaluation Team as part of our five-year IB review. This visit allowed us to reflect on our progress, celebrate our successes, and identify areas for growth as we continue to strengthen our IB programs. Throughout the week, the team observed classrooms, met with students, staff, and families, and provided valuable insights into our work.

Key Strengths Identified: The IB team highlighted several strengths that make our schools a thriving IB community. They recognized our strong alignment with the IB mission, with a clear commitment to diversity, lifelong learning, and student success. They also praised our collaborative learning environment, noting the dedication of our coordinators, teachers, and staff in delivering high-quality instruction and providing extensive support systems for all students, including Multilingual Learners and Special Education students. Our inclusive culture was another standout feature, as academic barriers have been removed, ensuring that IB courses reflect the diverse demographics of our student body. Additionally, they noted the engaging and student-centered teaching practices that foster positive relationships, create supportive learning environments, and utilize effective instructional strategies. Most importantly, our students themselves shared powerful reflections on their IB experience, describing it as diverse, supportive, reflective, collaborative, and both challenging and rewarding.

Opportunities for Growth: While the IB team highlighted many areas of success, they also provided valuable recommendations for continued growth. One key area is the deeper integration of the IB Learner Profile, ensuring that IB values are consistently embedded across all aspects of learning. They also emphasized the importance of expanding student reflection and inquiry-based learning to deepen conceptual understanding across all subjects. Finally, the team encouraged us to enhance community engagement by creating more structured opportunities for staff, students, and families to share feedback and actively participate in shaping the future of our IB programs.

We are incredibly proud of the work happening in our schools and grateful for our students, families, and staff who make our IB programs so successful. As we move forward, we invite our community to continue partnering with us in this journey of growth. Together, we will ensure that our IB programs remain dynamic, inclusive, and enriching for all students.

Shawn DeRose, Principal