For guardians

For Pre-year

There is an evening organised for Pre-year students' parents/guardians at the start of the school year to meet with the teachers and each other.

A second pre-year parents' meeting is usually scheduled for January, where we discuss IB Diploma subject choices.

Open Doors sessions for 9^th graders and their parents/guardians will be arranged for information on our IB section and application procedures.

For Diploma Programme (DP1) and Diploma Programme (DP2)

General:

1) Most of the crucial information about the school is available in the Study Guide (link to the Study Guide is available on the main page of the Wilma system). We hope you take the time to browse through its contents.

2) Wilma is our main channel of communication with parents/guardians. Therefore, it is important to access Wilma on a regular basis for:

— Messages

— Absences

— Daily schedules

— Report cards etc.

Please, notice that parents/guardians cannot access Wilma any more once the student turns 18 unless the student gives permission for the continued use of Wilma.

3) Handbook for May Examination Session (unique for each examination session)

a. Can be accessed in Wilma – permanent links

b. Explains in detail the DP programme

    — The programme in general

    — Content of subjects

    — Assessment component

    — Core (CAS, Extended Essay, TOK)

4. Calendar on our school webpage contains important dates for the students

5. The school sends a Wilma-message at the beginning of each term which contains general information regarding each particular term. It also contains short descriptions of the content of each course in each subject for that term.

6. The school sends a message each term via Wilma once assessment is complete. You can access the most recent report card in Wilma. The message also gives instructions regarding e.g. retakes.

Main differences between the Diploma Programme and the Finnish National Programme

1) Official DP Programme is only 2 years long.

2) DP programme mainly offers each course only once/academic year.

3) Assessment grades 0-7

4) In addition to the final examinations in May the students need to complete various research papers in each of their subjects + the required core elements in order to pass the diploma

5) The DP Programme does not allow independent studying

a. Once student has more than three absences/course they need to contact the subject teacher to discuss    whether there is something they need to do to compensate for the missed teaching

b. If 1/3 of the lessons/course are missed or if absences continue for several terms the school has the right to remove the student from the course if necessary. In this case it means the student needs to retake the year.

c. Due to this the head principal will not allow leave of absences that are more than 5 weekdays long

The academic year of a Ressu student’s parent/guardian

TERM 1

DP1

DP programme studies are often more demanding than during PRE-year and it can take time to get used to it. As a result the grades for term 1 might be lower than expected but do not necessarily reflect the future grades.

CAS (Creativity, Activity and Service) starts. Students do CAS outside lessons.

DP2

Extended Essay is submitted. Students usually are stressed because it is a big research project which has required a lot of time and effort on their part.

Internal Assessment deadlines in each subject (usually draft and final submission deadlines). They are scattered across the academic year but unfortunately some overlapping cannot be avoided. These research papers are done in each subject and are a part of the final assessment along with the final examinations in May. They are submitted for external assessment in the spring.

First set of Predicted Grades given – used mainly in the application process for foreign universities

TERM 2

DP1

Students are pre-registered for their May Final Examination Session. The registration details will be checked and edited if needed during DP2 Term 2 when final registration takes place.

DP2

TOK exhibition.

IA deadlines continue.

Some languages have their Individual Orals recorded (see more detailed dates on school calendar).

Final registration for May Examination Session done. Due to free compulsory education the school will pay the first examination session fees. After the registration deadline changes to the registration details will cost extra (personal details can be edited without additional fees).

TERM 3

Parents/Guardians’ info sessions during Open Doors Day for both DP1 and DP2.

DP1

Students start their Extended Essays projects.

CAS checked before Christmas holiday.

Group 4 project takes place during exam week (collaboration between natural science subjects).

DP2

CAS checked before Christmas holiday

Individual Orals recorded during exam week in several languages

TERM 4

DP1

Extended Essay process continues.

DP2

Final set of Predicted Grades given – for the IBO, also used when applying to Finnish universities

MOCK exams

CAS completed

TERM 5

DP1

Extended Essay process continues

CAS checked before Summer holiday

DP2

Independent study leave

Voluntary extra sessions in each subject for revison

Final Examinations in May.

Results released in July.

Graduation in late August.

The IB Organisation offers general information for parents on the IB programmes, university applications and supporting your children during their studies:

http://www.ibo.org/information-for-parents/(Link leads to external service)