After several years of working to become an official International Baccalaureate World school, the St. Louis Park Middle School has finally achieved this, according to middle school International Baccalaureate coordinator Mia Waldera.

Waldera said after the school made gradual changes over multiple years, students easily transitioned to the International Baccalaureate (IB) World system Jan. 19.

“Students didn’t see a radical change in anything because we’d been working so hard to become an IB school that our classes were using the units and policies already,” Waldera said.

Waldera said teachers remade their grading policy and curriculum to align with IB’s philosophy.  

“Our curriculum had to show significant progress in redevelopment,” Waldera said. “We had to have all the teachers agree on common assessment practices. That was really big because teachers tend to have their own way of grading things, but we’re all moving in the same directions and have consistent practices now.”

Seventh grader Zoe Frank said she feels the IB rubrics will benefit her learning.

“Since the rubrics don’t tell you exactly what to do, it leaves space for your own style and creativity,” Frank said.

Waldera said the middle school first expressed interest in the IB program in 2002 and received a federal grant in 2007 to hold more trainings.

“Back in 2002, a team of our staff went to an IB workshop with some high school teachers in Florida and came back very interested in IB,” Waldera said. “We got a federal grant in 2007 and got more training.”

Seventh grader Isaac Scott said he feels happy about the switch to an IB World school.

“I personally am excited about it because I think it’s a good way for us to become more knowledgeable,” Scott said. “It’s a good way to spread ourselves out and learn more than just math and reading.”

Once the school received the official certification letter, Waldera said the staff and students celebrated the achievement.

Sixth grader Allan Kivel said his class cheered when it heard the announcement.

“They put it all over the boards. When they said we were an IB school my class was happy and clapping,” Kivel said.

According to Waldera, one of the focuses of the IB program includes having a world perspective where students learn about global events. She said teachers now design curriculum with a more international focus.

Eighth grader Patrick Djerf said he enjoys the global focus of the new curriculum.

“IB is great because it helps you focus on every part of the world and not just where you live in the world,” Djerf said.  “It helps you become more internationally minded and open minded.”

Waldera said becoming an IB World school substantially helped the middle school grow toward becoming a school of excellence.

“IB’s mission is to create a more peaceful world through education and I think we have done so,” Waldera said. “We are better today and closer to that vision than we were five years ago.”