It’s official: Valley Regional High School (VRHS) is an authorized International Baccalaureate (IB) High School, the first public high school in Middlesex County to achieve this prestigious designation. VRHS joined the ranks of seven other public high schools in the state accredited to offer college-level courses and provide successful graduates with an IB diploma along with their high school diploma.

At VRHS, the program will be offered to students who will be starting their junior years in the 2019-’20 school year.

“We have all worked very hard to make this happen,” said VRHS Principal Mike Barile. “This authorization is a tremendous compliment to our faculty and staff.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ruth Levy agreed.

“IB is an extension of what we do here pre-K-12. We strive to make our students more globally aware and we want them to think about real-world problems and solutions and understand one another,” she said. “From a community aspect, this authorization puts Valley on the map. We are very proud and we hope this program will not only help our current students, but possibly bring more families into the area who are looking for academic excellence.”

A three-plus year endeavor, the first seed planted for this program began in 2015 with the formation of a committee charged with researching all there was to know about the IB program, as well as create a roadmap to get Valley to the finish line of authorization.

What It Means

Developed in Switzerland during the 1960s, the IB program began as a way of giving students around the world the opportunity to take college-level courses while in high school and to earn an internationally recognized diploma respected by universities globally.

Officials said that at VRHS, the IB program will give students an opportunity to gain a mastery of a multi-disciplinary program with a focus on international mindfulness and personal growth, ultimately fostering the education of well-rounded students who think deeply and have engaged in intensive studies.

The program is a two-year program that starts at the beginning of junior year of high school. If students complete the program successfully, they not only achieve a high school diploma at graduation, but also an IB diploma, which may result in an advanced admission standing, course credit, scholarships, and other college admission-related benefits for students seeking to further their education.

The IB program at Valley will be available to all students who wish to take it. Students must meet a minimum requirement, as well as work on core subjects, electives, and an extended essay component. Students will work with a teacher/mentor and will also complete a creative, action, service (CAS) project (which will replace the CAPSTONE project).

“This program is designed to allow students to delve into areas that interest them specifically,” explained Maria Ehrhardt, the IB coordinator for VRHS. “The academic rigor of the program, along with the international mindfulness of it, helps to set students up for success at college as well as within their chosen careers.”

Part of Valley’s authorization process involved IB professional development intended to improve pedagogy and leadership. Teachers at Valley who volunteered to be part of the program are eager to start.

“This will enhance what we already do and allow us to take it to the next level,” said VRHS history teacher Don Perreault.

VRHS English teacher Jessica Dwyer agreed.

“The IB program will give the students more opportunity to initiate control over their own learning and study in the topics that they are most interested in,” she said.

“I think this is such a positive for all of us, the students, the school, and the teachers,” said history teacher Allison Liftig. “There is a lot of depth and critical thinking involved in these classes that will challenge kids and make them think about what and how they are learning.”

“This program impacts not just the students and teachers who are involved in the program. It is a shift in the pedagogy of teaching and takes it to the next level of global and international connections. This teaching and learning will permeate throughout all the classroom instruction in the entire school,” said Assistant Superintendent of Schools Kristina Martineau.

Levy explained that the goal of the Region 4 School district is to expand the IB program to be able to offer it at the elementary and middle school levels in the future.