Summer Greetings to Our IB Family,

Is it that time again?  How quickly the lazy days of summer move!  While students are enjoying their last few days to sleep in, I am preparing to meet all of our new freshmen and looking forward to welcoming all of our returning International Baccalaureate students to the 2011-2012 school year on August 22nd. 

This school year is finally settling in with the same traditions of excellence as our past 16 PHUHS IB school openings.  With a lot of effort by many administrators, teachers, parents, and students, IB at PHUHS will maintain Freshmen IB Summer Orientation, an A,B,C day block schedule, and Academic Coaching.  Additionally, the Academic Research course, IB Planners, Questia & Turnitin software programs, and our prestigious faculty are back to assure another successful year.

I will miss our graduates of the Class of 2011 who have now joined the illustrious alumni of the PHUHS IB program.  This class excelled in so many areas: academics, athletics, music, visual arts, theatre, various clubs, and volunteerism.  I hope these graduates keep in touch as they continue to take advantage of life’s many opportunities. 

While replacing these graduates will not be easy, I have always been inspired by our rising seniors, the Class of 2012, who I have watched matriculate through three years of IB coursework in grand style.  These students have so many talents that support various efforts of the program, school, and community.  It is a great joy to watch them develop in knowledge, skills, and understanding.

Our Junior class is embarking on the full IB Diploma curriculum.  No longer in Pre IB, students are entering Higher Level (HL) and Standard Level (SL) classes of their choice from the six subject areas that make-up the IB curriculum.  Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) begins too so our IB Juniors will be making the best use of their time during their high school years.

Rising Sophomores, congratulations!  You have completed your inaugural year of the most rigorous high school education recognized internationally for its standardization of high level content and assessed knowledge of its graduates.  Your 10^th grade year will not be easier in content but it should be easier for you to manage now that you understand the requirements and the support of your fellow IB students and our IB faculty.  Your class is performing at high levels and it is the largest 10^th grade class in the history of PHUHS IB program (and there is still a waiting list).  I look forward to your return and your next year of PHUHS Pre IB.