Beginning next fall SM North will be offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. North will be the third school in the district to offer the program, following SM East and SM Northwest.

“The International Baccalaureate offers three high quality and challenging educational programmes for a worldwide community of schools, aiming to create a better, more peaceful world,” explained IB Coordinator Christian Zuck.

IB is an internal educational foundation based out of Switzerland that offers programs for children 3-19. Unlike College Now and AP courses, the IB program is observed on a global level, meaning that students have the ability to compete with others all around the world. Zuck said that IB provides a different avenue to attract students who have high aspirations and want a challenging curriculum.

“IB promotes international-mindedness and an appreciation of all cultures,” Zuck said, “Also, IB expects to produce the following attributes in our students: Inquiry, Knowledge, Thinking, Communication, Principle, Open-mindedness, Caring, Risk-taking, Balance and Reflection.”

Sophomore Mario Garcia will be participating in the IB English next year.

“I am really excited for the IB program next year,” Garcia said. “Especially since our class [2014] is the first class at North to be able to participate.”