Midlothian High School’s International Baccalaureate (IB) program enlightened prospective and current students by holding an informational session called IB Secrets Revealed on Thursday, October 22, 2020. The meeting, run by IB coordinator, Mr. Mark Spewak, took place via Google Meet from 7-8 pm. During the event, Spewak revealed information on the IB curriculum and the overall lifestyle of an IB student. Together, students and families had the opportunity to discover more about the IB Diploma Program at Midlo.

The evening opened as the IB Parent Council (IBPC) President, Ms. Annette Ruzicka, discussed details about IBPC dues that go towards scholarships. Ruzicka also explained the role of the parent council within the IB community. Following her introduction, Ms. Loretta Speller, IB school counselor, explained the importance of taking care of students’ mental health and the importance of “me time,” especially during this pandemic. Following, Spewak then presented a slideshow detailing what being in the IB program entails. He boasted that 89% of students from the class of 2020 achieved the IB Diploma, which is 13% above the world average of 76%. He also informed students with an update about Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS) hours due to the limitations of COVID-19 and reminded them of the rigorous requirements of the Diploma Programme. Along with the rigor, Spewak shared the benefits of the IB community, such as the IB lounge and the ability to receive instruction from internationally trained and certified teachers. 

Spewak closed the presentation by giving a brief overview of the differences between virtual and hybrid instruction, including a short announcement with updates from Dr. Shawn Abel. This meeting, while untraditional compared to the normal IB informational sessions, offered students insight to better understand the program. The Director of the Committee for Prospective Midlo IB Students, Anya Ruzika, shares, “Overall, the night was a success, giving lots of helpful information to IB students on many different levels, and it was so nice to see the IB Program back together.”