It is the desire of a number of parents to see the implementation of an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma programme on the West side of Ottawa.  The IBO is a non-profit foundation that offers educational programmes that are highly respected and internationally recognized.

The current options for IB in Ottawa include:

-  2 private school options for IB in English

- 2 options for IB in French, (East and West), with 1 school offering an English stream, through Le Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario (CEPEO)

- 1 option in French through the Catholic School Board (West)

- 1 option, available in both an English stream and a French Immersion stream, through The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)

[Note that Edmonton, Alberta, a city comparable in population size to Ottawa, has 14 publicly funded IB Diploma Programmes.]

An additional IB programme within the OCDSB would be of significant benefit to students, will meet an existing need, and is aligned with the Strategic Plan 2015-2019 of the OCDSB.

The lone option within the OCDSB is located at Colonel By Secondary School in the East end of Ottawa.

Students throughout the city of Ottawa submit an application to the IB programme at Colonel By.  Many of these student applicants are not within the boundary for the Colonel By catchment.  If they are successful, they will face a daily commute by bus.  The IB programme encourages community involvement and extra-curricular activities, however, due to the commute, (up to 2 hours each way by public transit,) some students are forced to choose one or the other.  Many families determine that this commute is too high a cost, and choose not to enroll in the IB programme because of its location.

Hundreds of students apply to Colonel By for acceptance into the IB programme, however, only 160 students are accepted per year; 80 in the English stream, 80 in the French Immersion stream.  The current capacity of the IB programme at Colonel By is not sufficient to allow even 2 Grade 8 students from each of the OCDSB elementary schools to attend.

A second IB Diploma programme in the West end of Ottawa will:

- increase the number of English IB spaces within the Ottawa area to meet demand.  This meets the "Equity" priority of the OCDSB Strategic Plan.

- limit commuting time for many students, allowing them to participate in extra-curricular activities.

-  encourage students to try different approaches to learning and to take responsibility for their own educational progress.  "Theory of Knowledge" is a core component of the Diploma Programme. (See the "Learning" objective of the Strategic Plan.)

- meet the "Well-Being" priority of the Strategic Plan through the "Creativity, Activity and Service" portion of IB.  Students are encouraged to engage in creative pursuits, physical activity and community involvement in order to meet the requirements of the IB Diploma.

- will give parents choice in educational opportunities for their children, other than private schooling or homeschooling options.

The OCDSB Strategic Plan also includes a priority of "Engagement".  From the OCDSB website, "The Strategic Objective: By 2019, the District will increase opportunities for engagement with and among our students, staff, families and broader community."

Please engage the OCDSB and show your support for an IB Diploma Programme in the West end of Ottawa.

 *Please note that any donations to Change.org DO NOT go to support the IB West proposal.