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OCT. 17, 2024—The High School Lower Cafeteria transformed into a ceremony to honor a group of juniors and seniors Tuesday afternoon.

The school held the second-annual "International Baccalaureate (IB) “Signing Day,” an event that celebrates student commitment to their IB exams and diplomas.

Each student was welcomed up to sign their declaration of intent, stating they would follow the guidelines of Pal-Mac and IB's academic integrity and assessment regulations.  As a sign of support, the students' parents and IB teachers were there to cheer them on.  

This year, the program celebrated nearly 30 students who were taking one or more courses. 

PHOTO GALLERY: IB SIGNING DAY 2024

IB Diploma Program Coordinator Rebecca DeSol hatched the idea last year as a way to recognize the academic challenges a student takes on with the IB program.

As part of the program, students may take one or more IB courses, such as Literature, History of the Americas, Film, Psychology, Physics, Biology, Spanish/French, or Math. Students interested in earning the full IB Diploma take an additional core course called Theory of Knowledge, craft a research paper on a topic of their choosing, and create community service projects. 

Unlike Advanced Placement courses, which have only one test at the end, IB DP courses have multiple projects and assessments that are averaged together for credit.  

"As [High School Principal] Andy Wahl said, IB comes with a framework of learning," DeSol said. "Students leave with skills, experiences, and a flexible mindset that sets them up for success in college and beyond."

DeSol added that the potential for college credit is there for  students, just like AP and community college courses offered at Pal-Mac.  

Interested students and parents are encouraged to reach out to DeSol at (rebecca.desol@palmaccsd.org).