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The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is more than its three educational programmes. At its heart it is motivated by a mission to create a better world through education. The IBO values its hard-earned reputation for quality, for high standards and for pedagogical leadership. It achieves its goals by working with partners and by actively involving its stakeholders, particularly teachers. The IBO promotes intercultural understanding and respect, not as an alternative to a sense of cultural and national identity, but as an essential part of life in the 21st century. All of this is captured in the IBO mission statement: IBO Mission StatementThrough comprehensive and balanced curricula coupled with challenging assessments, the International Baccalaureate Organization aims to assist schools in their endeavors to develop the individual talents of young people and teach them to relate the experience of the classroom to the realities of the world outside. Beyond intellectual rigor and high academic standards, strong emphasis is placed on the ideals of international understanding and responsible citizenship, to the end that IB students may become critical and compassionate thinker, lifelong learners and informed participants in local and world affairs, conscious of the shared humanity that binds all people together while respecting the variety of cultures and attitudes that makes for the richness of life. VIS Mission StatementThe mission of the Vientiane International School is to educate, motivate and inspire students and to prepare them to be confident, successful and responsible citizens of the world. VIS will offer a high quality, internationally accredited English language curriculum to a diverse community.
The successful IB student would…
- be self-motivated and family supported (the desire to pursue and succeed in the DP Program ultimately must come from within the student);
- have a desire to challenge him/herself intellectually and academically (someone who just wants to ‘get by’ or who is ‘going through the motions’ to get into college will be uncomfortable in the IB environment);
- be a competent reader (so as not to struggle with more difficult reading in IB courses, the student should be reading at or above his or her respective grade level);
- speak and write the English language clearly and effectively (since English is the primary language of the IB program at VIS, and since the IB program demands clear and effective communication skills across the curriculum this asset is essential to all IB students);
- possess (or be willing to acquire) analytical/critical thinking skills (since much of the IB curriculum requires investigative and discovery learning, these skills are essential);
- have proficient written and oral skills in Second Language;
- possess (or be willing to acquire) good time and stress management skills;
- be open to new idea and tolerant of different beliefs;
- participate in school and community activities.
IB courses do have increased academic expectations; this is part of the whole college prep strategy. Students will be expected to do more work at a quicker pace with a more demanding assessment system than they would if they were enrolled in regular classes. The IB is designed for motivated students who place a high priority on academic achievement.
As any teacher you are encouraged to be advocates for your students – to work together with them, to bring them along to where they need to be, to succeed.
Both students and parents need to realize that the IB program (whether Diploma or Certificate) is not necessarily for every student. The student who has demonstrated adequate past academic performance, who is highly motivated, and who has acquired good time and stress management skills should succeed in his or her IB course(s). |
Curriculums 
