ETELÄ-TAPIOLAN LUKIO
INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
DIPLOMA PROGRAMME
STUDY GUIDE
ACADEMIC YEAR 2013 - 2014
CONTACT INFORMATION
ADMINISTRATION
Street address: Ahertajantie 5, 02100 Espoo
Postal address: PL 3234, 02070 Espoo
Tel. 816 39101
Webpage: www.etela-tapiola.fi
Fax. 816 39108
Principal Harri Rinta-aho T. 816 39100
harri.rinta-aho@espoo.fi
Vice-Principal Marja Voipio T. 816 3902 marja.voipio@espoo.fi
IB Coordinator David Crawford T.816 39109
Secretary Irja Asikainen T. 816 39101
david.crawford@espoo.fi
irja.asikainen@espoo.fi
Caretaker Anu Juslin T. 816 39104 puh. 043 825 1300
STUDENT WELFARE
School nurse Mari Lähde Tel. 046 877 3790
mari.lahde@espoo.fi
Psychologist Jenni Keltanen Tel. 050 389 4100 or 09 816 23619 jenni.keltanen@espoo.fi
Special needs teacher Inka Saajoranta-Kurvinen T. 050 360 3974
inka.saajoranta-kurvinen@espoo.fi
Social worker:
IB Study guidance counsellor Kati Rasanen kati.rasanen@espoo.fi Tel 043 824 6623
THE SCHOOL YEAR
Autumn term : Tuesday 13.8 - Friday 20.12.2013
Autumn break
Independence Day
Christmas holiday
14 - 18 October 2013
6 December 2013
21 December 2013 - 6 January 2014
Spring term : Tuesday 7.1 - Saturday 31.5 2014
Winter holiday
Easter holiday
May Day
Ascension Day
17 - 23 February 2014
18 - 21 April 2014
Thursday 1 May 2014
Thursday 29 May 2014
IB TEACHING STAFF
Allen, David
DAI
Biology, CAS Coordinator, Chemistry,
Geography. Site based coordinator for online courses
12 IB class tutor
Björklund-Vuojala, Jaana
JBj
French B
Chatterjee, Ira
ICh
Business and Management
Crawford, David
DCr
IB Coordinator, History. Extended Essay Supervisor
Hänninen, Jyrki
JHä
Physics
Jatkola, Kristiina
KJä
Physical Education (girls)
Jokela Johanna
JJo
Swedish
Koponen, Ruut
RKo
Librarian, Extended Essay advisor
Leena Kleemola
LKl
Visual Arts
Matooq, Mohammed
MMa
HL Mathematics, Physics 13 IB class tutor
Matikäinen, Milla
MEM
Visual Arts
Peltomaa Aino
Ape
Music
Pohja, Juha
JPo
Swedish
Rasanen, Kati
KRa
Study Guidance
Ruokonen, Riikka
RRu
Äidinkieli, Finnish As A Second Language schoolsupported self-taught language supervisor
Rosa Vedenpää
RVe
SL Mathematics 11 IB class tutor
Sadeharju, Marjut
MSa
English Language and Literature
Väänänen, Antti
AVä
Physical Education (boys)
Student tutors:
Juhani Ahokas
Dani Auvinen
Julia Mäkinen
Hanna Torseke
Tutors are there to help. Please make use of them!
THE INTERNATIONAL BACCALAUREATE
Mission statement
A mission statement defines the goals of the IB and informs the entire curriculum, guided by its
principles. Ultimately, this is something we are all striving to achieve.
The International Baccalaureate aims to develop enquiring, knowledgeable and caring young
people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through inter-cultural understanding
and respect.
The IB encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong
learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.
Learner profile
The learner profile articulates the values at the core of the IB philosophy. IB programmes promote
education of the whole person, emphasizing intellectual, personal, emotional and social growth
through all domains of knowledge. Learning is perceived as a life-long journey underpinned by the
pursuit of international-mindedness. There are ten values shared by the school community and
underpinned by the programme, as students aim to become inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers,
communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective.
THE DIPLOMA PROGRAMME (DP)
The main elements in the Diploma Programme can be neatly summarized in the following model:
Diploma students are required to select one subject from each of the six groups. At least three and
not more than four are taken at higher level (HL), the others at standard level (SL). HL courses
represent some 240 hours of teaching; SL courses comprise 150 hours. By arranging work in this
fashion, students are able to explore some subjects in depth and others more broadly over a twoyear period: this is a deliberate compromise between the early specialization preferred in some
national systems (such as in the UK) and the breadth found in others (such as Finland).
Internationally mobile students are, potentially, able to transfer from one IB school to another,
whilst students who remain closer to home benefit from a highly respected international curriculum.
The programme equips students with the skills and attitudes necessary for success in higher
education and the world of employment. The DP has the strengths of a traditional liberal arts
curriculum, but with three important additional features, shown at the heart of the curriculum
model. These are unique to the IB and outlined below.
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE (TOK)
This mandatory component is designed to stimulate critical reflection on knowledge and experience
gained inside and outside the classroom. TOK involves at least 100 hours of teaching time. Students
are encouraged to reflect on different ways of knowing in an attempt to foster clarity of thought and
good judgment. As part of the assessment of TOK each student is required to submit an essay of
1200-1600 words and make a brief presentation to the class. A revised TOK syllabus comes into
effect in 2013.
EXTENDED ESSAY (EE)
IB Diploma students are required to undertake a piece of independent research over 40 hours
culminating in an essay of 4000 words. This is regarded as an essential preparation for academic
research and writing skills required in higher education. Topics for research should be taken from
subjects within the IB Diploma.
To prepare for the Extended Essay, the Coordinator runs a series of sessions in the spring of IB1 on
the following topics:
1.
2.
3.
4.
An introduction to the EE: choosing a research question
You´ve got a research question - what next?
Assessment criteria A-E
Assessment criteria F-K
Date: ______________
Date: ______________
Date: ______________
Date: ______________
That´s not all. Ruut Koponen leads four hands-on library sessions dealing with the following
themes. Note the initial two sessions are held already in the pre-DP.
1. Date: ______________
3. Date: ______________
Attendance is compulsory
2. Date: ______________
4. Date: ______________
CREATIVITY, ACTION AND SERVICE (CAS)
CAS is a fundamental part of the Diploma experience. The CAS requirement takes seriously the
importance of life outside the world of scholarship, providing a refreshing counter-balance to the
academic focus of much school work. Creativity embraces a broad range of arts activities; action
includes sports, projects and expeditions; whilst service encompasses a host of community and
social activities. CAS activities will take up at least three to four hours per week, and each student
has his/her own supervisor. Where the teacher is also a supervisor, please note that regular progress
reports are required as you go along. It is insufficient to simply inform teachers afterwards of what
has been completed earlier!
SUBJECTS
Whilst all IB World Schools share the core curriculum in common, the precise range of subjects on
offer will differ from one school to the next. Even within a school the subject choices may vary
from one year to another depending on the staffing situation and the preferences among students. In
general, subjects require the registration of at least seven students in order to run.
All Diploma students must take at least one subject from each group 1 - 5. Thereafter students can
choose either Visual Arts in group 6 or another subject from groups 1- 4. In practice this means that
one third of the Diploma is language-orientated. Keen linguists can opt for a third language,
resulting in a 50% language component. Bilingual diplomas are issued to graduates examined in a
language other than their selected mother tongue in group 1. Similarly, everyone studies
mathematics, at least one science and a humanities subject as part of the Diploma. The breadth of
study is a real strength and one reason why the Diploma is so widely regarded in the world of
higher education.
PAMOJA EDUCATION
A fast developing set of online courses is offered by Pamoja Education. Here is an opportunity to
sign up - at cost - for subjects unavailable with Etis, such as ab initio (beginner level) Mandarin
Chinese or Spanish. Courses are taught using the latest technological applications by teachers
specially trained in online pedagogy. If you are interested in exploring this option in the DP visit
www.pamojaeducation.com. It should be stressed that students and their families are responsible in
full for payment of the fees over a two year period. The school will provide a site-based
coordinator, currently David Allen.
SCHEMES OF WORK
The DP is taught continuously without division into periods. Typically, IB students at SL meet their
teachers twice a week for 75 minute lessons. Students at HL meet for an extra 75 minute lesson
each week. The scheme of work, available from your teacher, shows how the workload in any given
subject is spread over a two-year period. It is important for you to know how the subject matter will
be distributed throughout this time-frame and equally to know when internal assessments,
portfolios, Extended Essays - and such like - are slotted into the calendar.
ASSESSMENT
The grading of pre-DP and IB Diploma students is different. Pre-DP students are assessed at the end
of each period with a numerical grade (4-10). The pre-DP is based on the Finnish lukio system: its
content and assessment are determined by standard lukio requirements applicable throughout the
country. The DP students switch immediately to an IB grading scale: 1 (minimum) to 7 (maximum).
Award of a diploma requires students to attain at least 24 points and satisfactorily complete the
Extended Essay, TOK component and CAS activities. The maximum score of 45 points is
achievable by students who gain top grades in all groups as well as gain maximum points in the
core curriculum activities.
More specifically, the Diploma will be awarded to a candidate with 24 - 27 points if the following
conditions are met:

Numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjects; all CAS requirements have been met;
at least a grade D has been awarded for both the EE and TOK; there is no grade 1 in any
subject; there is no grade 2 at HL; there is no more than one grade 2 at SL; overall there are
no more than three grades 3 or below; at least 12 points have been gained in HL subjects (or
at least 16 points for those registered for four HL subjects); at least 9 points have been
gained on SL subjects (or 6 points for those registered for just two SL subjects); the
candidate has not been found guilty of malpractice.
The Diploma will be awarded to candidates with a score of 28 or more points where:

Numeric grades have been awarded in all six subjects; all CAS requirements have been met;
at least a grade D has been awarded for either the EE or TOK; there is no grade 1 in any
subject; there is no more than one grade 2 at HL; there is no more than three grades 2 at SL;
there are no more than three grades 3 or below overall; at least 11 points have been gained
on HL subjects (or 14 points for those registered for four HL subjects); at least 8 points have
been gained on SL subjects (or at least 5 points for students registered for two SL subjects);
the candidate has not been found guilty of malpractice.
A maximum of three examination sessions is allowed to satisfy the requirements for award of the
Diploma.
GRADE DESCRIPTORS FOR THE DP
GRADE
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
DESCRIPTOR
A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills,
and the ability to apply them almost faultlessly in a wide variety of situations.
Consistent evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation is shown where
appropriate. The student consistently demonstrates originality and insight and
always produces work of high quality.
A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills,
and the ability to apply them in a wide variety of situations. Consistent evidence
of analysis, synthesis and evaluation is shown where appropriate. The student
generally demonstrates originality and insight.
A consistent and thorough understanding of the required knowledge and skills,
and the ability to apply them in a variety of situations. The student generally
shows evidence of analysis, synthesis and evaluation where appropriate and
occasionally demonstrates originality and insight.
A good understanding of the required knowledge and skills, and the ability to
apply them in normal situations. There is occasional evidence of analysis,
synthesis and evaluation.
Limited achievement against most of the objectives, or clear difficulties in some
areas. The student shows a limited understanding of the required knowledge and
skills and is only able to apply them fully in normal situations with support.
Very limited achievement against all the objectives. The student has difficulty in
understanding the required knowledge and skills and is unable to apply them
fully in normal situations, even with support.
Minimal achievement in terms of the objectives
POINTS MATRIX FOR THE CORE CURRICULUM
EXTENDED A
ESSAY
THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE
C
D
A
B
E
+3
+3
+2
+2
+1/F*
+3
+2
+1
+1
F*
+2
+1
+1
0
F*
+2
+1
0
0
F*
+1/F*
F*
F*
F*
F
B
C
D
E
28 points are required overall are required to be eligible for the Diploma if a student scores an E in
either the extended essay or the theory of knowledge.
A grade E in both the extended essay and the theory of knowledge represents an automatic failure.
ETELÄ-TAPIOLAN LUKIO ASSESSMENT POLICY
Etelä-Tapiolan Lukio will support and encourage all students accepted onto the challenging IB
programme.
The assessment policy, approved by the School Board on 24.09.2012, is outlined below.
How does this differ from the earlier policy? Earlier the policy spoke of the right to retake tests
where students failed to make the grade. The new policy obliges students to attend the retake. The
aim is to ensure that no candidate enters for the final diploma without adequate preparation.
PRE-DP
1. A Pre-DP student failing to attain a minimum average of 7 on any IB-related subject is
required to take the retest at the earliest opportunity.
2. A student who still fails to achieve grade 7 after a re-test will have progress put under
review.
3. An upgrade test in June, at the end of the pre-DP year will allow students to attempt to
improve their performance from any single course, irrespective of the grade received.
4. Students failing to make the grade, in spite of the opportunities for re-tests, will be obliged
to withdraw from the programme.
IB1
1. A first year IB student (IB1) failing to achieve a minimum grade of 3 at Higher Level or a
minimum grade of 2 at Standard Level, in one or more subjects, during the end of period II
and period V tests, will be required to take the re-test at the earliest opportunity.
2. A student who still fails to achieve the required grade will have progress put under review.
3. The Principal will either require a student to repeat the first year of IB studies or withdraw
from the programme.
1B2
1. A final year student (IB2) failing to achieve a minimum grade of 3 at Higher Level or a
minimum grade of 2 at Standard Level, in one or more subjects, during the end of period II
tests, will be required to take the retest at the earliest opportunity.
2. A student who still fails to achieve the required grade will have progress put under review.
3. The Principal will either require a student to repeat the second year of IB studies or
withdraw from the programme.
While stress is placed on performance in test conditions, continuous assessment in class on an
ongoing basis is fundamental to the learning experience and will play its part in the end of course
assessment.
Each case will be taken on its merits and discussed by the IB coordinator, teachers, and Principal.
The actual decision will be taken by the Principal and his decision is final.
Where students are required to leave the school, in a last resort, every effort will be made to assist
these students in finding an appropriate alternative.
SCALE OF FEES (1 September 2013 to 31 August 2014)
Fees are shown in pounds sterling. Actual payments will be made in euros.
Registration fee (per candidate)
before November deadline
Subject fee (per candidate) for each subject
Registration amendment (per candidate)
after the first deadline
Registration amendment (per candidate)
after the second deadline
Courier service charges (per candidate)
£88
£61
£21
£79
Approx. £20
Please speak with the coordinator to discuss the costs of late entries and amendments, enquiries
upon results, appeals, etc.
POLICY ON RE-TAKES
The school is under no obligation to enter candidates for re-takes in the event of failing one or more
DP subjects.
Each case will be taken on its merits.
Where a candidate is less than three points short of the 24 points required to pass, an opportunity to
re-take examinations will normally be provided in November, six months after the main
examination session in May.
Where a candidate is three or more points short of the 24 points required to pass, s/he will normally
be required to repeat the entire second year of the DP programme.
The question of resubmission of Internal Assessments (IAs) must be discussed with the coordinator.
The subject teacher may also be a party in this discussion.
The coordinator has the right to insist on the resubmission of IAs if this is perceived to enhance the
chances of success of a retake candidate. Candidates repeating the second year of the programme
will normally be expected to resubmit IAs in all subjects.
Retakes may be processed with IBO from 6 July onwards. The coordinator reserves the right to
delay registrations until August, giving an opportunity to discuss retakes with subject teachers.
Thus, the coordinator is under no obligation to register retakes before 29 July, when the first
deadline for registration passes.
November re-take candidates are normally expected to attend relevant classes from August to
October. Candidates resubmitting IAs must attend all relevant classes in this period.
Students repeating the entire year are required to study full-time. Those failing to honour this
obligation will be withdrawn from the programme and the right to retake will be revoked.
DEADLINES
There are many deadlines, both internal (set by the school) and external (submission dates to IBO).
All such deadlines are absolute. Failure to meet deadlines will jeopardize your progress and could
result in dismissal from the school. Students are urged to work ahead of deadlines, as leaving
submissions to the very last moment is to court disaster. Data bases can be lost, printers break
down, etc. Leave nothing to chance. If you are aware that you are going to be absent (on holiday,
for example) when a deadline is approaching you are bound to submit your work before departure.
There can be no exceptions. Deadlines are deadlines.
Anyone missing a deadline is required to sign a declaration (also counter-signed by a parent of
minors) that in the event of a second deadline being missed the work will not be submitted to IB for
assessment.
It is worth stating that we are not seeking to punish students. Far from it, our intention is to avoid
getting into situations that require drastic action. The point is to be fair to everyone and it is
demonstrably unfair if one student works hard to submit work on time whilst another takes more
time to do the same job and the work is accepted without penalties being imposed.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
Academic honesty requires students to ensure that their expression, language and ideas are
authentic. Integrity is paramount. Plagiarism, duplication and collusion are serious academic
offenses. To this end, the school possesses a clearly articulated policy on Good Academic Practice.
Students are required to sign a declaration that all work submitted for assessment is authentic. Any
infringements become matters for the immediate attention of the coordinator and Principal. Parents
will invariably be informed.
The main points are these:
Sources of all ideas, information, photos, diagrams, illustrations, maps must be acknowledged.
Substituting a few words in someone else´s text (and regarding this as one's own) is unacceptable
Inadvertently copying a sentence or two is generally regarded as a lack of awareness on the part of
candidates - an academic infringement- rather than wilful mal-practice. But don´t open yourself to
the charge!
Collaboration (between two or more students) for research purposes may be permitted. In such
cases the resultant work must be independently produced - with the abstract, introduction, content,
conclusion and summary written in each candidate's own words. Where this is neglected the
outcome is collusion rather than collaboration.
IBO routinely scrutinizes a random sample of candidates´ work with a plagiarising tracking system.
Within the school, all teachers and the librarian will be on guard for evidence of plagiarism. Please
don't let this happen.
PRE-DIPLOMA YEAR (Pre-DP)
Vital academic groundwork is laid during the pre-DP year. Students complete an average of 30
courses (or six courses per period) in order to be eligible to progress to the IB. Students completing
fewer than 28 courses may be refused permission to join the DP in the following year. Similarly,
students performing weakly in prospective DP subjects will have their progress placed under
serious review. Courses available in 2013 - 2014 are shown below.
SUBJECT
ÄIDINKIELI JA
KIRJALLISUUS
B1-SWEDISH
A-ENGLISH
B3-FRENCH
MATHS
BIOLOGY
GEOGRAPHY
PHYSICS
CHEMISTRY
SCIENCE
HISTORY
ECONOMICS
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
MUSIC
ART
FINNISH AS A SECOND
LANGUAGE
STUDY GUIDANCE
COURSES AVAILABLE
ÄI1 ÄI2 ÄI3 ÄI4
RUB1 RUB2 RUB3
ENA1 ENA2 ENA3 ENA4
RAB1 RAB2 RAB3
MAA1 MAA2 MAA3 MAA4
MAA5
BI1
GE1
FY1 FY2 FY3
KE1
SC1
HI1 HI2 HI4
YH2
LI1
MU1
KU1 KU2
S21 S22 S23
OP1
Compulsory courses are marked in bold. Everyone completes these courses. Moreover, the optional
courses ought to be regarded as compulsory for those intending to study these same (or closely
related) subjects as part of the DP. For example, students of Physics will inevitably take the optional
courses as well as the first compulsory one.
At the end of each period students are issued with certificates showing numbers gained in different
subjects. At the end of the first year students are normally required to gain at least an average
of grade 7 in future SL subjects and grade 8 in HL subjects in order to proceed with these
subjects at DP level. Students intending to study Business and Management are expected to make
the requisite grade in Economics.
Students failing to gain a grade 7 or more on any pre-DP course have the right to retake the test with
the permission of the teacher. Re-tests are available at the end of each period.
Students have the right to re-sit any test irrespective of the grade at the end of the fifth period. Thus,
students have a possibility to increase their average in a subject where they may be struggling to
make the critical grade for the IB proper.
Hard work and strong organisational skills are needed to cope with the demands of the pre-DP.
Students who are struggling will meet with the coordinator and/or principal to decide what action to
take. Our primary aim is to support and encourage. If you are experiencing problems, come and
speak about these sooner rather than later.
PRE-DP COURSE TRAY
The following courses are on offer during the pre-DP year.
MATHEMATICS
ÄIDINKIELI
MA1ib
MA2ib
MA3ib
MA4ib
MA5.ib
ÄI1ib
ÄI2ib
ÄI3ib
ÄI4ib
Equations and Functions
Polynominal Functions
Geometry
Analytical geometry
Vectors
ENGLISH
ENA1ib
ENA2ib
ENA3ib
ENA4ib
SWEDISH
Young people and their World
Communication and Leisure
Study and Work
Society and the World Around
ART
KU1ib
KU2ib
Kieli, tekstit ja vuoronvaikutus
Tekstien rakenteita ja merkityksiä
Kirjallisuuden keinoja ja tulkintaa
Tekstit ja vaikuttaminen
RUB1ib
RUB2ib
School and Leisure
Everyday Living in Nordic
Countries
Finland, Scandinavia and Europe
RUB3ib
GEOGRAPHY
Visual Images, Culture and I
Environment, Place and Space
GEO1ib
The Blue Planet
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
HISTORY
LI1ib
HI1ib
HI2ib
HI4ib
PHYSICS
Skill and Condition
FRENCH
Stone to Steel
European Culture and Society
Turning Points in Finnish History
FY1ib
FY2ib
FY3ib
Physics as a Natural Science
Laws of Motion
Waves
FR1ib
FR2ib
FR3ib
Good Day. Nice to meet you!
How to Handle Matters
Free time and hobbies
ECONOMICS
BIOLOGY
YH2ib
BI1ib
Economics
The Organic World
CHEMISTRY
STUDY GUIDANCE
KE1ib
OP1ib
The Chemistry of Man and the
Living Environment
SCIENCE
MUSIC
SCib
Combined Science
FINNISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
MU1ib
S21
S22
Effective and Successful Study
Music and Me
S23
Pre-DP students are required to sign up for courses on Wilma. Deadlines will be made clear at the
beginning of the school year. If you require help in signing up, turn to a tutor or OPO for guidance.
THE PERIOD SYSTEM
The Finnish lukio year is divided into 5 periods. These divisions will apply to pre-DP students only.
Diploma students will have regular lessons through the course of the year without regard to the
period system except in two cases. Test week will be observed for IB1 students at the end of period
2 and 5. Test week for IB2 students will be observed at the end of the second period. Mock
examinations for IB2 will be held in early March.
The periods are as follows:
Period 1
Period 2
Period 3
Period 4
Period 5
Tuesday 13 August - Wednesday 2 October
Thursday 3 October - Wednesday 27 November
Thursday 28 November 2013 - Wednesday 5
February 2014
Thursday 6 February - Friday 4 April
Monday 7 April - Saturday 31 May 2014
187 school days.
WORKING SATURDAYS
Please note there are three working Saturdays (to compensate for a full week long Autumn break) and
these are: 28.9.2013, 23.11.2013 and 29.3.2014. These are test days for pre-DP students. IB1 and IB2
students may have tests but if not will have lessons as usual and/or core curricular activities.
THE DAILY SCHEDULE
First lesson
Second lesson
Third lesson
Fourth lesson
Fifth lesson
8.15 - 9.30
9.45 - 11.00
11.45 - 13.00
11.15 - 11.55 + 12.25 - 13.00
11.15 - 12.30
13.15 - 14.30
14.45 - 16.00
Lunch Rota periods 1 -3:
I 11.00 - 11.45
II 11.55 - 12.25
III 12.30 - 13.15
During periods 4 and 5 there are just two lunch sessions as the third sitting (III) no longer applies
once "abit" leave the school.
Specific lunch sessions for each class are clearly marked in the downstairs foyer.
Compulsory weekly tutorials are held for pre-DP students on Tuesday afternoons 13.00 - 13.15.
Thereafter, lessons begin and end ten minutes behind the above schedule for the remainder of the
day. DP students have fewer (and longer) tutorial sessions.
A "morning word" will be delivered on Mondays (students and staff) and Wednesdays (parish)
Snacks are provided, at a cost, from Monday to Thursday at these times: 9.30 - 9.45 and 14.30 14.45
Sports lessons (LI1 and LI2) will commence at 8.00 for morning classes and 14.35 for afternoon
classes, ending 90 minutes later in each instance. Sports lessons are generally held during codes 7
and 8.
INDEPENDENT STUDY
It is possible for pre-DP students to study certain courses independently without participating
in classroom instruction. Indeed you are encouraged to study at least one course in this way to
foster study skills. You should note that certain restrictions apply:
-
The first course in each subject must be studied in class
Two consecutive courses in the same subject may not be studied independently
The grade awarded on the previous course in a given subject must be at least a grade 7
A course may not be taken independently for the reason that studies have been interrupted
through repeated absence
Teachers may specifically require classroom participation on certain courses
Be prepared for a reasonably heavy workload. Independent study is never an easy option. There will
be regular coursework assignments and a final test to complete. If the timetable for submitting
coursework is neglected, independent study will be terminated. Please note that it is the
responsibility of the student to register for the independent study test on the date noted in the
calendar section of this guide.
Generally it is not recommended that you study more than one course independently at a time.
Application forms for independent study are available online or from outside the secretary's office.
You are advised to always consult with the teacher before signing up for independent study.
Registration must occur within the first week of any new period. Late requests will not
normally be considered.
TESTS AND ASSESSMENT
Pre-DP students will be tested at the end of each period and will be given a numerical grade to chart
progress. Test week will be observed for IB1 students at the end of period 2 and 5. Test week for
IB2 students will be observed at the end of the second period. Written feedback will be provided in
all subjects at least once a year during the DP.
Please see the assessment policy for Etelä-Tapiolan lukio.
PREDICTED GRADES
Predicted grades for university entrance purposes will be made on the basis of performance
during test weeks.
Mock examinations for IB2 will be held in early March. Attendance in the mocks is compulsory;
absences must be accounted for with medical evidence, just as in the actual examinations. Once
IB2 students have completed the mock examinations, predicted grades for IBO and university
entrance purposes will be based upon performance in the mocks as well as achievement in the
above-mentioned tests.
The final exams for IB2 students are held in May.
All test and mock results will be recorded on the final certificate issued on completion of studies.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS DURING TEST WEEK
As noted above, "test week" is relevant to pre-DP students and DP students during period 2 (and 5).
Nevertheless, the comments below concerning special arrangements apply equally to all students in
test conditions.
When does a student have the right to special arrangements?
The right to special arrangements is based upon a diagnosis of dyslexia by a specialist or doctor.
First year students are entitled to an extra hour in test conditions if the dyslexia is recorded at grade
three or above by the special needs teacher. Students in the second year and thereafter require a
statement from a specialist doctor. IB students will normally be granted up to 25% extra time in test
conditions, after application to IBO. Students are entitled to request special arrangements in the
event of a temporary or permanent physical disability. In such cases, medical documentation must
be brought to the Principal.
What does the student need to do?
Students need to ensure that the necessary documentation reaches the Principal. The special needs
teacher will submit her own assessment directly to the Principal on behalf of students under her
care. Students are required to speak with the teacher about their needs in good time before test
week commences. Generally extra time will be granted and/or the use of a word processor.
Furthermore, students need to inform the Vice-Principal (responsible for scheduling tests) using
Wilma. This email should clearly state the student's name, course in question, teacher, and specific
request for special arrangements (such as extra time or the use of a word processor).
It is important to ensure that students observe the agreed conditions.
INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
Some 20 - 30% of assessment in any given DP subject is internally assessed by teachers and
moderated externally. Teachers will be careful to ensure that full guidance on assessment criteria is
provided in advance and in steering students through the internal assessment procedure. Deadlines
must be respected. If a student misses a deadline for internal assessment teachers are under no
obligation to submit the work to IBO. Furthermore, students who miss a deadline will be
required by the coordinator to sign a declaration that all future deadlines will be respected. This
document must be counter-signed by a parent for those under the age of 18.
ABSENCE
Regular and punctual attendance is a cornerstone to successful study. For those under the age of
18 a sick note signed and dated by a parent or health centre is required to account for
absence. Those students over the age of 18 are expected to take full responsibility for any
absence, providing a formal sick note wherever more than a single day has been missed. Note
this carefully: a self-written note may be accepted for a single day's absence by those who are 18+,
but only in cases where the note is brought in the very next school day. Repeated absences may
disqualify students from continuing with a course and is bound to impact negatively upon
performance.
You are recommended to arrange for a classmate to pick up handouts for you in the event of
illness/absence. This is often easier than trying to get handouts from the teacher at a later date. Also
ensure that you copy up missed notes. It is important not to fall behind or leave gaps in your notes.
SUPPORT TEACHING
Students have the right to request additional support teaching, which will be provided according to
the availability of resources. Students who are frequently absent from class without an explanation
will be refused this option. In some cases an alternative may be sought, such as the need to repeat a
course or even a full year. Every application will be weighed according to its merits. Please speak
with the coordinator if you feel the need for additional support.
APPLICATIONS FOR A PERIOD OF ABSENCE
Students are permitted to be absent for holidays, sporting championships and such like. For periods
of absence up to one week in duration, please complete the necessary form and hand this to the
class tutor. For periods of absence of more than a week's duration apply to the Principal or vicePrincipal. The coordinator must also be informed. Where time off is granted, the student is
responsible for completing assignments required by the teacher. Be aware that absence may impact
upon grades. At certain times of the year absence must be avoided at all costs. Test week is one
such occasion. Where absence coincides with a deadline it is the responsibility of the student to
ensure that work is submitted before the deadline is reached.
LATENESS
The occasional lateness may be unavoidable, but repeated lateness is a serious matter. Many
teachers refuse to admit students into the classroom after lessons have begun. Late-comers should
report to the Principal instead. We expect students and teachers alike to be punctual at all times.
GUIDANCE COUNSELING
Students need (considerable) guidance in making the right study choices while in school and in
preparing for Higher Education. To this end, there is one compulsory course of study guidance,
spread over three years, led by the IB Coordinator and the Guidance Counselor. The first year
tutorials concentrate on strategies for effective study and the nature of the DP. In the second and
third years more attention is paid to attending educational fairs, meeting representatives from
various institutions, and familiarization with university application procedures and deadlines.
An important part of student guidance and the effective running of the school is played by the
weekly tutorials, during which the class tutor will typically notify students of forthcoming events
and deadlines. Students are required to be prompt and regular in attending these sessions. Please
have your diary readily to hand. Also take this opportunity to raise issues of concern. Do be prompt!
Parents will be informed in cases of repeated late-coming or irregular attendance.
UCAS APPLICATIONS - DEADLINES!
Applications to Oxford and Cambridge need to be submitted on 15.10 at the latest. Applications to
other British universities need to be submitted by 15.01 Students are required to file individual
applications to universities; the school will not submit on a student´s behalf. Please make sure that
references are requested at least a fortnight before the application deadline. The coordinator is
always happy to write references and give support with personal statements. Again, students must
provide at least two week´s notice before a deadline. It should be stressed that applications can be
filed at any stage in the autumn and do not need to be left to the final deadline before submission. In
all cases, applications due on 15.01 must be handled before Christmas.
GENERAL ADMINISTRATION
Teachers can deal with study-related questions during lessons, or if need be, at the staffroom door.
However, please be sensitive to the fact that your teachers also need a break. Issues concerning any
aspect of the (pre-) DP should be addressed to the coordinator, who is always happy to assist.
Simply come to the staffroom door and ask.
The secretary can deal with such matters as:
- applications for bus passes for Espoo residents
- applications for railcards
- issuing student cards
- applications for study support
- registration for tests
- change of address/telephone numbers
The DP coordinator will post notices on the info screen and the international notice board (at the top
of the stairs) Regular tutorials remain one of the main vehicles for passing on information, and as
such are extremely important.
COMMUNICATION WITHIN THE SCHOOL
The main communication channel for everyday use is Wilma. Here you will find the programme for
special days, timetables for test returns, notification of room changes and a host of other useful
information. Teachers contact students through Wilma as a matter of course. You are expected to
check your Wilma messages each school day. Please ensure that your password and user name are
readily to hand and that you report any technical problems without delay to the Vice-Principal
Marja Voipio.
You are also expected to consult the notice boards at least once a week, view the info-TV screen
daily and view the school webpage from time-to-time. Tutorials are a vital part of the
communication process. The contents of these sessions will not be posted on Wilma and regular
participation is compulsory.
LIBRARY USE
Books can be borrowed for one period at a time from the library. Do learn how the system works. A
loan card must be filled out for each text that is borrowed. Books should be returned to the box and
never directly to the shelves. Please be prompt in returning books before the end of the period
– don't wait to be reminded by the librarian. You should also be aware that end of period certificates
will be withheld from those who have failed to return books. You may be invoiced for lost items. In
everyone's best interest, please be a conscientious library user.
Also observe the need for peace and quiet in the library space. Hats and overcoats should be
removed. Eating and drinking are not permitted in the upstairs area.
SCHOOL RULES
Please respect the school rules. Good behaviour in class includes the avoidance of chewing gum and
other food or drinks. Hats and overcoats need to be removed and large bags should be kept out of
gangways. Mobile phones must be switched off. All of this should make perfectly good sense and
therefore teachers ought not to have to remind students of the need to create a purposeful, busy,
friendly and polite classroom atmosphere.
Hats and coats should be removed before queuing for lunch or while sat at the table. Please
ensure that trays are returned to the hatch. The footpath adjacent to the school should be kept clear
of obstructions at times. Never be less than polite to passers-by. Smokers keep to designated areas
(or better still, kick the habit)! We are justifiably proud of the good reputation the school enjoys, but
it requires commitment and sensitivity to retain this positive stance.
STUDENT WELFARE
The school nurse can be visited in the sickbay at times posted outside her office. The phone
numbers and email addresses of the nurse, psychologist, social worker and special needs teacher are
shown at the beginning of this guide. You can also speak with your teachers in confidence. The
Coordinator and Principal are always ready to help with any difficulties. Never fret over problems
in isolation - talk to someone who can help.
STUDENT REPRESENTATION
Each lukio has a student body to which all students automatically belong. The task of this body is to
represent students´ views on all matters pertaining to their interests – such as curricular changes,
special events, purchase of teaching aids or other initiatives within the school. Indeed the student
body must be consulted over all important decision-making.
The student body elects representatives each year to serve on a Student Council that convenes
regularly through the year and meets frequently with the Principal. Etelä-Tapiola lukio is rightly
proud of its record of active student decision-making.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT
Parents are encouraged to take an active role in supporting their children during the demanding
years of IB study. Attendance of parents´ evenings will ensure that parents are kept up-to-date on
the requirements of the programme and offer an opportunity to meet with teachers. Parents are
urged to view the certificates issued at the end of each period of the pre-DP year and at the end of
periods 2 and 5 in the first year and the end of period 2 of the second year. The school will be proactive in contacting parents where there is cause for concern. Wilma is an excellent tool for
maintaining contact. Please note that once students turn 18 the school is only in a position to contact
parents with the permission of the student.
Parents of IB1 students will be asked to read a set of regulations on the Diploma programme and
sign a declaration that this has been understood. Similarly parents (and students) will sign a
declaration of academic honesty; helping to maintain academic integrity is another area where
parents can play a significant role. We also welcome parents volunteering to come into class to
speak about their professional lives. If you can host a visit to your workplace, this would be very
much welcome, too. Parents may be in a position to suggest or even supervise suitable CAS
activities. If so, please contact David Allen. Finally, the Parents´ Association always warmly
welcomes active members. Please take every opportunity to get involved!
If the wider IB network is a topic of interest please visit http://www.ibo.org/informationfor/parents