Press Release
March 19, 2008
Smiley Middle School To Become International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme
Smiley Middle School today announced that it will become a fully accredited International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP). Local dignitaries, including Michael Hancock, City Council President and Kevin Patterson, Board of Education, Denver Public Schools, attended the media event held at the Smiley Middle School Library early this afternoon.
In the 2008-2009 school year, Smiley will begin the process to become an IBMYP, which will bring changes and new opportunities to youth in Denver’s Park Hill neighborhood.
"There are currently over 2,000 International Baccalaureate (IB) Schools worldwide in 126 countries,” remarked Smiley Principal Nathaniel Howard III. “By offering the IB Program at Smiley, our students and community can take advantage of this nationally renowned program and a rigorous curriculum that provides tools for success in the twenty-first century.”
As the designated IBMYP school in the northeast Denver area, students outside the Smiley boundaries but living in the northeast or far northeast quadrants will be offered bus transportation to Smiley. Students within Smiley’s boundaries but living farther than 2.5 miles away will also be offered transportation to Smiley. All students, including those within the Smiley boundary area, will be expected to complete pre-registration and the admission process.
Smiley’s existing Mission College Academy will no longer exist as of the 2008-2009 school year. All Mission College students will become part of the IBMYP and may also apply to the IB honors component of the program.
Founded in 1968, IB is a nonprofit educational foundation with three Programmes for students of ages three to 19 to help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional, and social skills to live, learn, and work in a rapidly globalizing world.
The Primary Years Programme for students of ages three to 12 focuses on the development of the whole child in the classroom and the outside world. The Middle Years Programme for students of ages 11 to 16 provides a framework of academic challenge and life skills through traditional school subjects. The Diploma Programme for students of ages 16 to 19 is a two-year curriculum that leads to a qualification that is recognized by universities around the world. For more information on IB, visit www.ibo.org.
For more information, contact the Communications Office at 720-423-3414.