LAMAR HANDBOOK

IB Program Framework

The International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme is a comprehensive educational continuum catering to students aged 3 to 19. Lamar Academy offers two IB programmes: the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Years 4 and 5, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for Years 1 and 2. These programmes are designed to support and reinforce one another, with the MYP laying a strong foundation for the rigorous college-level curriculum of the DP.

IB Curriculum Framework

The curriculum for both the MYP and DP is structured around key interconnected layers that aim to create a rich and challenging educational experience.

1. IB Learner Profile

The IB Learner Profile outlines ten key attributes that go beyond academic achievement. It aims to foster holistic development in students, promoting personal, social, and emotional growth. Students are encouraged to embody the following traits:

• Inquirers

• Knowledgeable

• Thinkers

• Communicators

• Principled

• Open-minded

• Caring

• Risk-takers

• Balanced

• Reflective

2. Approaches to Learning & Teaching (ATLs)

The IB places significant emphasis on how students learn, not just what they learn. This focus on metacognition is embedded in five key skill categories that are intentionally taught across all subject groups:

• Communication

• Social (Collaboration)

• Self-Management (organization, affective skills, reflection)

• Research (information literacy, media literacy)

• Thinking (critical, creative, and transfer thinking skills)

These skills are considered by teachers when designing instructional strategies and are integrated throughout students' learning experiences.

3. Global Contexts and Global Issues

The concept of international-mindedness is central to the IB framework. This is achieved through the study of Global Contexts in the MYP and the exploration of Global Issues in the DP.

Global Contexts (MYP)

• Identities and Relationships

• Orientation in Space and Time

• Personal and Cultural Expression

• Scientific and Technical Innovation

• Globalization and Sustainability

• Fairness and Development

Global Issues (DP)

In the DP, students explore flexible, subject-related global issues. This provides opportunities for them to connect classroom learning with real-world challenges.

4. Visual Representation of the IB Framework

Visuals are often used to depict how the layers of the IB framework work together to create a cohesive curriculum. These visuals illustrate the connections between the MYP and DP, showcasing how the DP builds on the skills developed in the MYP.

Academic Integrity

Lamar Academy prioritizes a culture of integrity, respect, and perseverance. Academic integrity is central to this goal, ensuring that students' work reflects their authentic ideas, thoughts, and efforts.

IB Honor Code

The IB Honor Code at Lamar Academy requires students to commit to:

• Submitting their own original work.

• Avoiding plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct.

• Reporting violations of the Honor Code.

Failure to act on violations implies condoning inappropriate behavior. Adherence to the Honor Code fosters a climate of trust and integrity.

Purpose of Academic Integrity

Upholding academic integrity is essential to:

• Maintain fairness.

• Foster trust and credibility.

• Encourage respect for others.

This commitment supports students in becoming responsible, ethical citizens.

Promoting Academic Integrity

Lamar Academy promotes academic integrity through the following actions:

• Reviewing the Academic Integrity Policy with students and parents at IB Admissions meetings.

• Requiring signed acknowledgment of the Honor Code from students and parents.

• Displaying the policy on the school's Google Site for accessibility.

• Embedding the Honor Code in each teacher’s syllabus.

• Presenting the Honor Code to students during annual IB student orientations.

• Training teachers to support the policy and identify instances of academic malpractice.

Types of Academic Malpractice

Academic malpractice can take many forms, including:

• Plagiarism: Representing another's work as one's own without proper attribution.

• Collusion: Supporting academic misconduct by allowing one’s work to be copied or used by another.

• Duplication of Work: Submitting the same work for multiple assignments or assessments.

• Use of Unauthorized Materials: Using cheat sheets or unauthorized devices during exams.

• Misconduct During Examinations: Disrupting or failing to follow procedures during exams.

• Fabrication of Data: Creating or altering data in assignments or assessments.

• Unapproved Assistance: Receiving unauthorized help on assignments.

Consequences for Violating the Academic Integrity Policy

Violations of the Honor Code are taken seriously and result in the following consequences:

1st & 2nd Offenses

• Verbal and written reprimand recorded in the student’s file.

• Possible grade penalties.

• Parent/guardian notification.

• Disciplinary action as determined by the campus administrator.

• Review of integrity procedures with the IB Coordinator.

3rd Offense

• Student is dismissed from the IB Programme.

• MYP students lose eligibility to apply for the DP.

• DP students lose eligibility for IB Diploma courses and the IB Diploma.

Violations of Academic Integrity in IB Assessments

If a violation occurs in an IB assessment, the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) will be notified. This process includes:

• A report of misconduct is submitted to IBO.

• The IBO initiates an investigation.

• If malpractice is confirmed, penalties are assigned according to the IB Penalty Matrices.

• The student may receive a "No Score (N)" for the subject, making them ineligible for an IB Diploma.

Acceptable Citation Conventions

To avoid plagiarism, students are taught to use standardized citation conventions, including:

• Modern Language Association (MLA) for Subject Groups 1, 2, 6, and History of the Americas.

• American Psychological Association (APA) for Subject Groups 4, 5, and Psychology.

The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is recommended as a resource for mastering citation formats.