WELCOME, PROSPECTIVE FAMILIES!
UAIS Information Night Extravaganza
February 9, 2016
WHAT IS THE UAIS?
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Certified International Baccalaureate World School
Recognized by the Washington Post as the #1 most-challenging
high school in Michigan, #2 in the Midwest and #56 in the
nation
The district’s only 4-year full-day immersion program
Emphasizes mastery across all disciplines
11th/12th grade: IB Diploma Programme
All students commit as IB full diploma candidates
THE IBO PROGRAMME WHEEL
IB FULL DIPLOMA CANDIDATE
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Curriculum:
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Group 1: English
Group 2: Acquired Language
Group 3: Individuals & Societies
Group 4: Sciences
Group 5: Mathematics
Group 6: Arts*
Theory of Knowledge
Creativity, Activity, Service: 150 hours
Extended Essay
Externally assessed exams
*Arts (visual arts, theatre, instrumental music,
vocal music) can be opted out for
additional 2 credits in group 3, 4, or 5.
UAIS SCHOOL DAY EXPERIENCE
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Block schedule of 8 classes (4x4 format)
32 total credits upon high school graduation
5-9 full year courses of sciences (physics, biology, chemistry)
IB Further Mathematics: Most rigorous math curriculum
available in UCS (two-year study of advanced Euclidean
geometry, discrete math, inferential statistics, and group theory)
UAIS schedule is focused, in-depth, and somewhat limited
THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE READINESS
100
69
For every 100
9th graders in
the U.S.…
…graduate
from high
school…
42
…enter
college…
28
…return to
college for
their
sophomore
year…
13
…earn a
bachelor’s
degree within
four years.
Source: The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems Progress and
Comparison Data, 2008.
IB= COLLEGE READINESS
88% of IB Diploma Programme graduates achieve
a bachelor’s degree within six years of entering
university, compared with 58% of all students.*
Close to 71% of IB students enroll directly in a 4year institution. For UAIS, this number is 99%.
*Caspary, Kyra. (2011).
Research Brief: Postsecondary Enrollment Patterns in IB Certificate and
Diploma Candidates from U.S. High Schools. International Baccalaureate Organization. (May
2011). IB World Magazine.
IB= COLLEGE READINESS
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UM Acceptance: Average 50%
(23% nationally)
Oakland: 28-32 credits for IB
Diploma
Class of 2015: $7.4 million in
offered scholarships
ACT average: 27.9 (Macomb
County: 19.7; UCS: 21.3)
Acceptances: Harvard, MIT,
Duke, Univ. of Chicago,
American Univ. of Paris, Johns
Hopkins, Penn, Brown,
Columbia, Cornell, Emory,
NYU, Berkley, Warsaw Univ.
GREAT, I’M INTERESTED! TELL ME SPECIFICS!
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How do the logistics work?
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What does a day at UAIS look like?
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How is the UAIS experience different from my home school?
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What about extracurricular activities and athletics?
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How do I apply?
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What happens after tonight?
TRANSPORTATION TO UAIS
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Regional stops throughout the district direct to UAIS/Heritage in A.M.
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Regional drop-offs at some junior high/elementary schools in P.M.
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UAIS students can ride junior high buses back into neighborhoods
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Buses to each of the high schools for home school sports
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Home school athletic directors will coordinate early release
transportation for our students
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Please visit UCS website’s Transportation link for more details
AM PICK-UP LOCATIONS 2015-16*
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
Eisenhower @ 6:45am
Wiley Elementary @ 6:45am
Shelby @ 6:57am
Beacon Tree Elementary @ 6:37am
Beck Elementary @ 6:43am
Bemis @ 7:01am
Ford @ 7:06am
Milonas & Patterson @ 6:54am
PM Drop Offs: Malow, Shelby, Ford, Bemis, Utica, Eppler, Beacon Tree, and Beck
*Subject to change annually
UAIS Family Transportation Forms: Due in May/June for non-Stevenson students.
SAMPLE
TH
9
GRADE SCHEDULE
A Day Schedule
B Day Schedule
1A: Spanish 1 (7:20-8:50am)
1B: US Gov’t/Economics
2A: Theatre 1 (8:56-10:59am)
2B: Speech/Production Team 9
3A: Physics (11:03-12:34pm)
3B: Honors English 9
4A: Geometry* (12:40pm-2:11pm) 4B: AP US History
*Or Acc. Algebra II or AP Statistics (track dependent)
HOW DOES UAIS AND MY HOME SCHOOL DIFFER?
UAIS REQUIRES…
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32 credits to graduate
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Group 1 ELA: 4 credits
Group 2 World Language: 4 credits
Group 3 Social Studies: 5 credits
Group 4 Exp. Sciences: 5 credits
Group 5 Mathematics: 4 credits
Group 6 Arts: 4 credits*
UCS REQUIRES…
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IB curriculum supersedes Michigan
Merit Requirements
No requirements for: physical
education, health, online
experience
*Arts can be opted out for additional 2
credits in group 3, 4, or 5.
24 credits to graduate
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ELA: 4 credits
World Language: 2 credits
Social Studies: 3 credits
Exp. Sciences: 3 credits
Mathematics: 4 credits
Fine Arts/Electives: 1 credit
Physical Education: 1 credit
Online experience
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2 credits of World Language
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AP options (non-externally
assessed)
CHALLENGES OF ASSESSMENT
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How many of you have ever felt the frustration of performing
poorly on a high-stakes assessment due to a “bad day”?
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How many of you have ever felt that the structure or design of
a test left you unable to truly show your understanding of
concepts and material, leading to a lower grade than you
believed you were capable of?
IB COURSES VS. AP COURSES?
AP COURSES/TESTS
IB COURSES/TESTS
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Offer potential college credit
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Offer potential college credit
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.5 GPA boost on UCS transcript
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.5 GPA boost on UCS transcript
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IB candidates must embrace a full
program of rigorous testing
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AP students can focus on one or two
subjects only
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Offered at UAIS only
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Offered at UAIS and home schools
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2 years in length
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1 year in length
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Class enrollment required
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Anyone can test, enrolled or not
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Multiple assessments determine final
score (two-year compilation)
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Assessment types: presentations,
projects, portfolios, tests, performances,
essays, lab reports
One-time test determines final score
(single day test)
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Assessment types: multiple-choice
tests paired with free response
IB CORE: EXTENDED ESSAY
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A diploma candidate must complete and submit an Extended
Essay, which is a substantial piece of independent research of
up to 4,000 words. Work on the extended essay is expected to
occupy approximately 40 hours. The work for an extended
essay must be done under the direct supervision of an
appropriate teacher at the IB World School that is registering
the candidate for the examination session.
IB CORE: CREATIVITY, ACTIVITY, SERVICE
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A diploma candidate must engage in a programme of extracurricular activities known as Creativity, Activity, Service
(CAS). Schools entering candidates for the diploma undertake
to ensure that two to three hours each week are available to all
candidates for CAS activities. A minimum of 150 hours during
the two years of the Diploma Programme is required.
IB CORE: THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
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A diploma candidate must follow a Theory of Knowledge
(TOK) course. The IB recommends that TOK is an
independent course of at least 100 teaching hours evenly
distributed over the two-year period of study, and the course
must meet the theory of knowledge assessment requirements
that include giving a presentation and submitting an essay on
one of the six prescribed titles for the examination session.
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
WAYS OF KNOWING
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Emotion
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Faith
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Imagination
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Intuition
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Language
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Memory
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Reason
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Sense Perception
SAMPLE T.O.K. PAPER TOPICS
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There is no such thing as a neutral question. Evaluate this statement with
references to two areas of knowledge.
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“The whole point of knowledge is to produce both meaning and purpose in
our personal lives.” To what extent do you agree with this statement?
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Ethical judgments limit the methods available in the production of knowledge
in both the arts and the natural sciences. Discuss.
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“When the only tool you have is a hammer, all problems begin to resemble
nails.” How much does this apply to the ways of knowing, as tools, in the
pursuit of knowledge?
IB VS. TRADITIONAL ASSESSMENT
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Differentiated and flexible
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Multiple components
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Allows for student growth over 2-year period
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Externally assessed and moderated
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Required measures for reliability and validity
UAIS IS SERIOUS ABOUT FUN!
UAIS EXTRACURRICULARS
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Roughly 30 clubs, committees,
and student groups at UAIS
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Greater opportunities for
leadership experiences
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Access to home school sports,
graduation, dances—see athlete
table!
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Many travel experiences around
the world
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Meaningful student-lead projects
and fundraisers
UAIS Key Club
Volunteers
At Hard Rock Café
Dr. Nandi Charity
Coat Drive
#1 Debate
Team in State
of Michigan
I’M TORN! HOW DO I CHOOSE?
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Gather as much information
tonight as possible.
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Meet students and teachers.
Ask them questions!
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Think about shadowing at
UAIS for a day.
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Don’t listen to your friends
(Insert parent applause here).
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Consider the following
questions…
IS UAIS A GOOD FIT FOR ME?
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Do you find value in studying all subjects/courses?
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Do you want greater consistency in classroom and program
philosophy?
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Are you looking to improve your speaking and presentation
skills on a daily basis?
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Do you want an internationally-minded curriculum?
IS UAIS A GOOD FIT FOR ME?
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Do you consider development of the person as important as
mastery of curriculum?
Do you like collaboration with classmates?
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Do you want greater interaction between grade levels?
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Do you prefer a smaller school environment?
IS UAIS A GOOD FIT FOR ME?
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Are you comfortable with fewer elective choices in your
schedule?
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As a family, are we committed to the roughly $900 in IB
assessment fees to become an IB Full Diploma candidate?
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Am I committed to excellent attendance at school?
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Is the district’s transportation schedule conducive to my needs?
ENTERING THE UAIS FAMILY
Application Process
Admission Process
Application deadline: 3pm on 2/12
Completed Application: 2/12
Available online & at home schools
Entrance Testing: 2/27 & 3/5
Must currently be in 8th grade
Application Review Committee: March
No minimum GPA requirement
Student Notification: 3/31
Commitment Deadline: 4/22
Schedule Form Due: 5/6*
Freshmen Roundup: 6/9 @ UAIS*
Proof of Completion of Algebra I: 8/25*
*Emails sent to matriculating students
See your program for Curriculum in
Action
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Cafeteria: IB Curriculum Info w/ Staff and
Students
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Classrooms: Displays, Academic
Showcases, UAIS Clubs, Mock Classroom
Activities
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Media Center: IB College Advantage (must
see!)
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Don’t blink!
There’s a lot to see!
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Yellow (7:20-7:40pm)
Blue (7:45-8:05pm)
Red (8:10-8:30pm)
Pick and choose…see what you’re interested in!
UAIS CONTACT INFORMATION
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School Website: http://uais.uticak12.org
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UAIS Shadowing Opportunity
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Jennifer Ackerman, Counselor
(jennifer.ackerman@uticak12.org)
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Justin Spear, Program Director (justin.spear@uticak12.org)
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Christopher Layson, DP/Recruitment Coordinator
(christopher.layson@uticak12.org)