IB Connected

Welcome to the 2026-2027 school year! We're so glad you're here! The Dakota Ridge IB community includes our Pre-IB 9th and 10th graders, our 11th and 12th grade diploma candidates, and any junior or senior taking an IB class! Together, we make up a community of learners that are caring, principled, and knowledgeable. The DRHS IB community is built on more than just individual academic rigor - it thrives on this vibrant community of learners. Behind every successful essay, internal assessment, and CAS project, is a network of teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents working together to support our students. Whether you are an incoming Pre-IB 9th grader trying to figure out your new high school, or a senior IB diploma candidate thinking about college applications and extended essays, welcome to another fantastic year in the D-Ridge IB community!

Keys to Success This Year:

• Master Time Management: Procrastinating will be tempting, but don't let deadlines stack up! Break major projects (IAs, extended essays, etc.) into manageable weekly goals.
• Leverage the Learner Profile: Approach challenging topics with curiosity, an open mind, and a desire to learn.
• Utilize Your Network: Your teachers, IB coordinator, and peers are your greatest resources. Reach out whenever you need guidance or a different perspective.
• Prioritize Balance: Remember your well-being is so important, and don't take things too seriously!

We can't wait to watch you learn and grow this year, and we're so excited to support all of you on your IB journey! Let's make this year thoughtful, connected, and awesome!

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on Monday, September 28 @ 6:00pm for the IB Fall Kickoff! This meeting is for full IB diploma juniors, seniors, and at least one member of their family (parent/guardian). This meeting will cover incredibly important information, including: earning the IB diploma, IB exam registration, important dates, and understanding the IB Core. This is the ONLY meeting where this information will be shared, so please plan to join us to get this valuable information.

It may not be an old watermill, but this fall our IB seniors will be getting to go on not one, but two different field trips! Below is the information about each trip. More detailed information will be sent home with students.

• IB EE Auraria Library Field Trip - Tuesday, September 15 - our IB senior diploma candidates will be spending the day at the Auraria Library researching and working on their Extended Essays. This is an incredible opportunity for IB students to learn from and work with college librarians as they really start getting into their EEs this semester. For senior parents, check out the "IB EE Student Timeline" of important deadlines and due dates throughout the semester. The final EE will be due and presented on Thursday, December 10.

• Meow Wolf - Students in Mrs. Sullivans IB English 12 class will be headed to Meow Wolf later this month! Stay tuned and watch for information coming home from Mrs. Sullivan regarding this awesome day!

To inspire more Coloradans to continue their education, all public colleges and universities in Colorado and several private institutions will allow students to apply for free from Oct. 20-22 as part of Colorado Free Application Days.

Admissions application information for each institution is available on the website and fees will be waived for applications submitted from Oct. 20-22 only.