IHS IB Notes

Did you realize we've already been back to school for over a month? Have you adjusted your sleep schedule and gotten back into the routine? It seems to have been a relatively smooth start, and I hope that's been your experience, too. Before we go any further, have you been hearing/reading the announcements about the NUSD College Fair happening TONIGHT? Click here or on the picture below to find our Parent University page. They host much more than the college fair, and you can register for any of their events with a single link. For tonight, you only need to register if you wish to attend one of the workshops. Otherwise, just walk in and visit with the college reps! This is encouraged for students in grades 9-12.

I'm often asked where our students are headed after Inderkum. To find out, please see this newsletter about why we continue to be so proud of our IB graduates' achievements. You can view past years by using the newsletter links on our Scholars/IB page. We'll invite our alumni to speak to students later in the year.

The Inderkum IB Board, continuing under the leadership of President Rachel Farrell and Vice President Rajina Sandhu, is vital to expanding what we can do for our Scholars/IB students. Board meetings are scheduled for the second Tuesday monthly, beginning at 6, and typically the public portion is done by 6:30. I send out reminders with Zoom links, and some meetings are hybrid if you'd like to come in person. I forgot to start the recording link last week, but you can read meeting notes here. Senior Zoe Huynh is beginning service as a student liaison to the board, too.

For 2025-26, the board already has put on the Back to School BBQ and approved the order for shirts for the Class of 2029 (plus the Scholars new to the Class of 2028). To help pay for these expenses, they arranged the dine and donate with Menchie's last week and have begun planning for the annual IB Gala. It takes a lot of volunteer effort, so if you'd like to get more involved with the board and offer your assistance, please email them. InderkumIBCommittee@gmail.com

We ask for all Scholars to complete 20 hours of service over grades 9 and 10 combined. Service is a way to support others in our community, explore personal interests and gain new skills. Freshmen will hear more during English class, and they'll be asked to do written reflections about their service activities. We accept a wide range of activities, basically as long as they are unpaid and helping someone outside their families.

Students and parents/guardians may learn more on the Service as Action website built by our MYP Coordinator, Theresa Quinby Overstreet. As far as documenting service, students may begin with recording activities on the log available through their English teachers, in our office A107 and on the Documents tab of the Service as Action site. Soon we'll transition those records to Toddle (online app), with further instructions for students. Sophomores who completed more service over the summer may upload on the documents page as they have previously.

In grades 11 and 12, the requirements shift. Any student pursuing an IB Diploma is required to do IB Creativity-Activity-Service (CAS), while those on an IB Certificate schedule can opt into CAS. In brief, CAS encourages students to be well-rounded and try to stretch beyond their comfort zones. Our typical IB students are naturally participating in many experiences which will be counted under CAS, but they will formalize their plans and reflect on those experiences; additionally, they will work with other students to carry out a self-directed project. Mr. Nolan and Mrs. Glubka recently presented about CAS to the IB English juniors, and we've had a large number sign up.

Juniors who do not opt into CAS have no specific service requirement. However, we urge them to continue to find ways to be involved and keep personal records of those experiences so they can be accurately noted while doing college applications. During Senior year, non-CASers will do the Inderkum Senior Project.

As I hear about volunteer opportunities, I'll share them with students. Inderkum Tigers have assisted at many events for the K-8 schools previously. If you're part of a PTSA or another organization which is planning an event, please let me know how our students can help.

Participating in clubs is another great way to find service opportunities. Key Club and National Honor Society are focused on service, while others such as Stitchery and Business Society may plan a short-term event benefitting an outside group.

Many students are part of One Youth, run through the District One Office (Lisa Kaplan). Students may join and then sign up for the events which work with their schedules. Check out their Instagram @oneyouthnatomas to get an idea about those activities. If you have specific questions, reach out to Giovanni Terrones.

Some students even have found ways to do service online. If you're unsure if something would "count" as service, just ask!

The IB MYP Personal Project is underway for all of our sophomores. I think of PP as standing for "pursue your passion" because that's what we want our students to do. MYP Coordinator Ms. Quinby Overstreet visited their English classes to launch the PP, and now students are developing their plans. Ask your favorite 10th grade what they intend to do! Guidance and reflection time are provided during English, but it's really up to the kids to follow through on those plans.

New this year is that students will finish their projects by the end of December and complete their reports in January. You'll have the opportunity to see some of their work showcased at Open House in March.