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letter sent to parents of all first
year IB students
Dear Parents
Reports and Information - IB1-
June 2004
The Summer Term
We have had a successful and busy summer term for all students.
Second year students had their exams, their Graduation, and then left.
We were pleased that they took this last part of the course very seriously,
and left in good spirits, setting a good example to the first year and
Pre-IB students. First year students have had the Field Trips, which went
very well, Theory of Knowledge projects, various portfolio tasks, a week
of Year Exams, and the first World Literature Essays. On Tuesday 8 June,
they took part in a conference on 'From Personal Change to Social Action'
organised by St Clare's for IB schools in Britain. These annual meetings
are now becoming an important event which St Clare's is proud to host.
It has been an exhausting term, and your son or daughter will return
to you ready for a holiday. However, after they have had a rest they need
to start to plan for next year. They should be using the summer to work
on their Extended Essay, and other tasks that they have been given by
their teachers. Because of the final exams, Internal Assessment and similar,
the second year is a tough one for students. They need to return in the
Autumn ready to work hard from the start. In addition, the university
application process will start for many soon after they return. Students
should already have seen Paul Lennon and/or Jay Bosworth, our Careers
and Higher Education Advisors, in order to discuss their plans.
Reports and transcripts
We enclose a full report and a two-page transcript for your son or daughter
for the Summer term. Please read them through and reply using the enclosed
acknowledgement slip.
If you did not receive the transcript for the Spring Term, please let
us know on the acknowledgement slip. We can send you a copy.
A look at the transcript will show your son or daughter's scores during
the year, and their reports will give their subject teachers' and their
Personal Tutor's opinions of how they have done. We use the IB scale of
grades 1 - 7 for each subject, with 7 as the top grade.
As a rough guide:
- Total scores in the high thirties are excellent.
- In the thirties, they are good.
- Between 24 and 30 - the student is passing the
course.
- Below 24 - they are failing the course.
Some students have received awards for academic excellence, involvement
in activities or all round consistent effort throughout each term.
After the Interim Exams in the Spring term, we looked in detail at all
students, and wrote to the parents of those whose programmes needed a
major rethink. Shortly, letters will be sent to parents of students who
are still a concern, with suggestions of what should be done.
Some students may have done well academically, but may not have completed
sufficient CAS hours. Letters about this will be sent separately to their
parents. On the other hand, as will be apparent from the reports, many
other students have excelled themselves and put in an amazing number of
hours as part of the activities programme.
Looking ahead
A list of the dates for next year is given below.
Please note in particular the dates for next term, starting on Sunday
6 September for first year students returning for the second year. (Some
students have volunteered to help with Orientation. They return on Wednesday
1 September.) We are grateful if parents book flights as soon as possible
for their son or daughter for the start of term, for half term, and for
the end of term. They are all at busy times, and bookings have to be made
well in advance. In addition, please note Sunday 9 January 2005, when
we set aside time from 14.00 to 16.00 for parents to meet teachers and
Personal Tutors. It is a good opportunity for you to discuss your son
or daughter's progress directly with St Clare's staff.
We enclose a Personal Information Update (green). Please fill it in and
return it with the report acknowledgement. You should also have received
an invoice under separate cover.
We are extremely pleased with the present group of students, who include
some very able and committed individuals. We wish them, and you, an enjoyable
summer, and look forward to seeing everyone again in September.
Yours sincerely,
Nick Lee, Director of Studies and Maureen Guy, Dean of Students
Dates ahead for your diary
2004 - 2005
| Autumn Term 2004 |
| (Wednesday 1 September) |
(by 17:00) |
(Student helpers for Orientation
return) |
| Thursday 2 September |
by 14:00 |
New students
arrive. This includes present Pre-IB and EC16+ students who are returning. |
| Sunday 5 September |
10:00 - 20:00 |
Students who were in IB1
this year return for IB2 |
| Friday 22 October |
16:15 |
Students are free to leave
for half term |
| Sunday 31 October |
10:00 - 20:00 |
Students return from half
term |
| Friday 17 December |
13:15 |
Autumn Term ends - lessons
finish at 13.15 - Students may leave after they have seen their Personal
Tutors |
| Spring Term 2005 |
| Sunday 9 January |
14:00 - 16:00
10:00 - 20:00 |
Parent - Teacher
/ Personal Tutor Meetings
Students return for the Spring term |
| Thursday 17 Feb |
16:15 |
Lessons finish - students
can leave for half term |
| Sunday 20 February |
10:00 - 20:00 |
Students return from half
term |
| Wednesday 23 March |
13.15 |
Spring Term ends
- lessons finish at 13.15
Students may leave after they have seen their Personal Tutors |
| Summer Term 2005 |
| Sunday 10 April |
10:00 - 20:00 |
Students return for the Summer
term |
| Tuesday 3 May |
|
Final IB exams start |
| Tuesday 24 May |
|
Final IB exams finish |
| Saturday 28 May |
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Graduation |
| By Sunday 29 May |
|
Second year students leave |
| Friday 17 June |
|
Parents' Day (for IB1, Pre-IB
and EC16+). Term ends. Students may leave from 13.15 |
Enclosed
- Full report
- 2-page transcript with grades and CAS record
- Letter
- Dates & Information
- Personal Information Update form for IB1 to IB2
(green)
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