WELLINGTON CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Board Votes Yes to Expand IB And Develop More Globally-Minded Youth

The Trustees of the Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) have given the green light for the board to open an International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme at Sacred Heart, Guelph as a Global Learning and Innovation Centre, K-8, for September 2017. This will make WCDSB only the second Catholic board in the province to offer IB at both the primary and secondary levels.

Already accredited for the Diploma Programme level at Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School, the IB Primary Years Programme will prepare students aged 3 to 12 to become active, caring, lifelong learners who use inquiry learning to grow respect for others and have the capacity to actively participate in the world around them.

"This decision to add IB programming for primary students is one of the first we can link back to our new strategic plan and our focus on innovating for student success. We are excited about what this will mean for families in Guelph looking for this innovative approach to education," said board chair Marino Gazzola. "This is a unique opportunity for our board to take a significant step forward with another programme of excellence."

"IB programming strives to develop students who want to build a better world through intercultural understanding and respect," said board director of education Tamara Nugent. "This methodology is a great fit for our inclusive approach to education at WCDSB. The Sacred Heart Guelph Global Learning and Innovation Centre will be the perfect location for us to build innovative programming that nurtures students' natural curiousity in service to our local and global communities."

The board will begin immediate work in collaboration with the IB World Schools Organization to apply for candidacy at the primary level to ensure a successful program launch in September 2017 and to complete the accreditation process that follows during the first year of implementation. Details about the programme at WCDSB, including how to register will be available in early 2017.

More information about the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Primary Years Programme can be found at http://www.ibo.org/programmes/primary-years-programme/.