For immediate release
January 28, 2002

Public board announces new program

        Building on the successes of the current gifted and enrichment program for 150 elementary students and the International Baccalaureate Programme at Moira Secondary School, the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is taking steps to establish an IB program for Grades 7 and 8 students.
        An internal study committee is to investigate the opportunity of offering an enriched program alternative for elementary students that could lead to enhanced secondary studies such as the IB Programme. The new program could start as soon as this Fall.
        "The guiding principle under which we begin such a study is that we want to provide a choice of enrichment opportunities for the families of grade 7 and 8 students," said Les Jewell, Superintendent of Instruction and Special Education Services. "How we accomplish this goal is the challenge of the study committee."
        The "Destinations IB Program" study committee includes two current elementary principals, two elementary teachers, a secondary principal, the co-ordinator and a teacher in the IB Programme at Moira Secondary. This committee will look at the details of delivering the new program and how to link it to the existing IB Programme. Areas to be studied include where to locate the Grade 7 and 8 program, the offering of multiple programs at various elementary schools, that could lead to the IB Programme at Moira, timetables, specific training for teachers, and the administration of the new program.
 

For information contact:
 

Les Jewell,  Superintendent of Instruction and Special Education Services 966-1170 ext.2414

Bill Coombs, Superintendent of Instruction 966-1170 ext. 2413