Schools set for new IB program

When students walk through the doors of Northview and Mt. Mourne on Aug. 25, the first day of the 2009-10 school year, they will encounter a different environment.

Along with the excitement and mix of emotions that come with starting a new school, these students will be the first to experience the new International Baccalaureate program offered by Iredell-Statesville Schools at the two sites.

The program, which is being called the IB Middle Years program, will cater to students in grades six through nine for the first year.

The school will expand each year, eventually serving high school sophomores, juniors and seniors as well.

The program has become popular as one of the district’s choice programs.

Each site will serve 400 students and operate on a four-block schedule in which each class meets for 80 minutes a day.

The administrators set to lead these sites are former Ebenezer Principal Sheila Alston and former Troutman Middle Principal Jason Van Heukelum.

There will be no cost to parents to have their child attend, but families do have to commit to the intense work and course of studies their children will be taking on.

Superintendent Terry Holliday said the program is the most challenging curriculum public schools can offer.

Curriculum

The Middle Years Program will be defined by three fundamental concepts: holistic learning, intercultural awareness and communication.

The eight subjects are math; arts; English; physical education, a foreign language; social studies; technology; and science.

+ Math: Geometry and trigonometry, probability and statistics, numbers and discrete math.

+ Arts: choral, band, theatre, strings and visual.

+ Sciences: Aimed at providing students with knowledge of and an understanding of the scientific approach to problem solving.

+ Social Studies: Consists of history and geography.

Extra-curricular activities will include: Battle of the Books, Odyssey of the Mind, chess, robotics, Future Problem Solvers, Daughters of the American Revolution Essay contest and Woodmen of the World Essay and Oral Speech contest.

Brighton grad ignites kids’ passion for learning

Although Shelby Lewis said she had her share of “senioritis,” that feeling of apathy in one’s final year of high school, her grades certainly didn’t show it.

The 18-year-old Brighton Township resident earned straight-”A” grades in her senior year at Brighton High School, continuing her trend throughout high school where she only once had a lower grade — was a B-plus in AP chemistry.

Besides being a top academic student, the 2009 graduate participated in Odyssey of the Mind, National Honor Society, played softball and gave chemistry demonstrations to elementary school students. Lewis was named to the 2009 Press & Argus All-County Academic Team.