January  2012

Hilton Central School District in application process for Grades 5-10 IB Middle Years Programme; IB-MYP expected to be instituted in the 2013-14 school year

What is IB in the Hilton School District?

On Dec. 6, 2011 at their regular meeting, the Hilton Board of Education gave consensual approval for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme application process to go forward following the recommendation of the IB-MYP Task Force which had been examining the components of IB-MYP and the feasibility of bringing IB-MYP to the Hilton Central School District.  A member of the IB-MYP Task Force, Merton Williams Middle School Principal Tim Dobbertin, said, “The IB Middle Years Programme, which could be implemented in all Hilton schools, would provide consistency in best practice and provide access to instruction and teacher training that will prepare students for a rapidly globalizing world.”   

      IB-MYP Video from the International Baccalaureate Organization 

The International Baccalaureate is a challenging programme that demands the best from motivated students and teachers and provides benefits to participating school districts. Schools can access an extensive package of IB professional development for teachers and administrators. In addition, schools participate in an ongoing process of review and development, using standards and practices that apply to all IB World Schools. Since 2002, Hilton CSD has been involved in IB studies and in 2005 granted its first IB diplomas. 

A member of the IB-MYP Task Force, Merton Williams Middle School Principal Tim Dobbertin, said, “The IB Middle Years Programme, which is expected to be implemented in all Hilton schools, would provide consistency in best practice and provide access to instruction and teacher training that will prepare students for a rapidly globalizing world.”

“Currently, the IB-MYP Task Force and District Leadership Council are examining requirements for the application that include a language policy, assessment policy, academic honesty policy and a special education policy. We are also reviewing collaborative planning time for vertical [between grade levels], and horizontal [within grade levels] planning. Many of our district teachers and leaders have attended IB training at BOCES,” said IB Specialist Andrea Geglia. “By the end of March, most fifth through tenth grade teachers including special area teachers will have completed what's called ‘Category 1 MYP Training’.”

Merton Williams Middle School Seventh Graders, from left, Alex Noel and Danny Kiersbilck, solve the Pythagorean Theorem using the Geometer Sketchpad installed on an electronic whiteboard in teacher Alexandra Pink’s Pre-Algebra class. “Technology brings it alive,” Ms. Pink said. “Students can manipulate math concepts by moving points on a triangle, so to better understand it. It helps students make meaning in math and they are eager to come up to the whiteboard.”

“The IB-MYP curriculum is organized into eight subject areas each requiring a 50 hr. commitment throughout the school year. This includes both second language and technology requirements which will be integrated into the elementary level,” Mrs. Geglia said. Currently, the District has over 90 whiteboards installed in all five schools. The timeline for IB-MYP launch targets the 2013-14 school year following the required series of applications to the IB organization. “Applications for all five schools in the District will be submitted in March of this year,” Mrs. Geglia said. “The applications include school information, faculty qualifications, the District’s MYP Action Plan as well as an inventory of Hilton CSD’s school resources [library, technology and other criteria].” IB-MYP Task Force members are Andrea Geglia, District IB Specialist; Tim Ackroyd, High School IB Coordinator; Dave Dimbleby, Superintendent of Schools; Dr. Barbara Surash, Executive Director for Education; Brian Bartalo, Principal Hilton High School; Tim Dobbertin, Principal Merton Williams Middle School; Karen Spillman, Principal Quest Elementary School; Tracie Czebatol, Principal Village Elementary School; Kirk Ashton, Principal Northwood Elementary School; Laura Whitcomb, Director of Special Education; Kathleen Graupman, Director of K-12 Learning and Staff Development; and Maureen Thayer, Director of Student Services. For further information, District IB Specialist Andrea Geglia may be reached at 585-392-1000 ext. 6119.

"Many of our district teachers and leaders have attended level 1 MYP training at BOCES - 65 in December alone - and more will be trained this spring," said Hilton HS Principal Brian Bartalo. "It is the district’s goal to have at least 80% of the entire staff complete Level 1 training by June, 2012." 

      What is IB-MYP Middle Years Programme and curriculum?   l   What is IB?  

History  An  informal examination of IB-MYP by Board Members, teacher leaders and administrators began in 2009.  Why examine the possibility of bringing the IB-MYP program to the Hilton Central School District?  "Changes in our society and the economic and social forces occurring throughout the world provide real challenges for us and our students in the future," said Superintendent of Schools David Dimbleby.  "We are not a district driven by political forces; our growth and improvements have been largely locally driven.  As a District that has implemented the International Baccalaureate Diploma and Primary Years Programme, it was a natural next step to examine components of the IB - Middle Years Programme and consider the possibility of bringing this program to Hilton.  We have discovered that the IB-Middle Years Programme is aligned to our District’s Vision, Mission and Beliefs."

Alignment with District Instructional Framework and Standards  According to Hilton CSD Executive Director for Education Dr. Barbara Surash, "The components of the programme complement elements of Hilton CSD's Instructional Framework align with current initiatives. In addition, examining MYP at grades 5-10 forces us to look at our horizontal and vertical alignment at the elementary, middle and high schools. From our informal review, we believe that the IB –Middle Years Programme has the potential to take our children and District to the next level of learning and success.  If the District decides to apply for IB-Middle Years Programme status following the completion of the feasibility study, this will be a significant undertaking that will provide both new opportunities and challenges district wide."

Further Information  For further information, Merton Williams Middle School Principal is Tim Dobbertin and may be reached at 585-392-1000 ext. 3099; Districtwide IB Middle Years Programme [MYP] Coordinator is Diane Campbell; Executive Director for Education Dr. Barbara Surash may be reached at 585-392-1000 ext. 6062.