Largo IB Partners General Meeting Presentation

Wednesday night at the General Meeting, Ms. Wolfe gave a presentation on college readiness for all classes. She offered various insight for freshman, sophomores, and juniors in preparing for applying to colleges senior year. The presentation can be viewed by clicking below.

College Readiness

2016 Pinning Ceremony

Sixty-four (64) Largo High School juniors received their IB pins, and were officially recognized into the International Baccalaureate Program last night in the school's new auditorium. Put together by Largo IB Partners, the evening started with a welcome and introduction from IB Coordinator Mr. Liem and Principal Dr. Finkbiner. 

Senior Darcy Boos was the guest speaker for the evening. She congratulated the class of 2018 for surviving the past two years of honor's option, and offered helpful tips for their next two years in the IB program. She thanked the IB teachers and reminded the students to rely on them for help and support.

Baby pictures of each students came across the screen as the junior's names were called and they walked the stage. Each student received their IB pin from Mr. Liem, and a congratulatory handshake from Dr. Finkbiner. Largo IB Partner President Jyoti Patel closed the evening by thanking the volunteers who helped make the evening a success, and by reminding the families to get involved by supporting the school's program.

A huge thank you to Largo IB Partner Sunila Spano who organized the event, and big thank you to all of our parent and student volunteers. The evening was a wonderful night for the juniors and their families, and we look forward to our next event.

***Pictures taken at the ceremony can be accessed HERE. Choose Largo High School from the dropdown menu and select "pinning ceremony" from the list of activities.

October News

October IB News

• The IB Activity Fee of $25.00 per family is due by November 1st. Please pay online at www.largoib.com, left hand corner under Pay Activity Fee. Cash and/or checks can be given to Brenda Chevere in the office or mailed to the school with Attn: Largo IB Partners.

• The Junior IB Pinning Ceremony will be Wednesday, October 19, 2016 in the Largo HS Auditorium at 6:30 pm. Refreshments will follow the ceremony.

• The Largo IB Partners General Meeting will be held November 2, 2016 from 6:30 - 7:30 pm in the school's media center. Please enter through the gates by the office, under the blue light. There will be an Open Forum at the end of the meeting for any questions, comments, or discussions. A teacher, administrative, student, and parent representative will be at the meeting to help with the forum.

• Largo IB Hoodies are available for sale in the IB office. Hoodies are $25 and come in blue or gray. Largo IB T'shirts can be pre-ordered in the IB office. T'shirts are $15

• Senior Graduation will be May 17, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg at 4:00 pm. This is also an IB testing date, but exams will be finished by noon. 

IB Senior Information

FAQ From Your Counselor, Ms. Wolfe

wolfecai@pcsb.org

wolfecai7.wixsite.com/advisor

Q: Who is my guidance counselor?

• Mrs. Wolfe; Room 2-211. 
• Email: wolfecai@pcsb.org (This is the fastest way to reach me)

Q: How do I request an official transcript?

• All transcript requests go through Brenda Chevere, the IB clerk, room 2-202 (chevereb@pcsb.org)
• If you are applying through the Common App, I will send those manually, no requests are needed. HOWEVER, if you need a final transcript sent via Common App, you MUST notify me in writing before you leave for the summer.

Q: I need a recommendation from you via Common App. How do I send it to you?

• Put my email in the counselor recommendation field; this sends me an email inviting me to complete your secondary school report, as well as the recommendation.
• Make sure to schedule an informal Rec Letter interview with me AT LEAST three (3) weeks before the due date.

Q: What do I bring to my Rec Letter Interview?

• Bring your resume and recommendation form (the one you are working on in Mrs. Beck's TOK class).
• Please review your top choices' websites so that you are familiar with what kind of student they are looking for.

Q: I still haven't finished my Bright Futures Hours, what do I need to do?

• Once you figure out when you are going to complete your hours, complete a proposal. If approved I will give you the log sheet needed to record your hours.
• Turn in your hours to me once completed, and I will enter them into portal.

Q: Can you help me find the most up to date scholarships?

• Yes! My website (wolfecai7.wixsite.com/advisor) is updated weekly.
• Largo HS website (www.pcsb.org/largo-hs) under "For IB Students" is updated weekly.
• I will also send out updated scholarships from Pinellas County via Managebac.

Q: I am going to visit a college during the week. What do I need to do beforehand?

• Fill out a College Visit Form 
• Turn the complete form into Brenda Chevere, the IB Clerk, room 2-202

Q: Is there help available for the College Application Eassay?

• Yes, Saturday, August 27th from 2;00 - 3:00 pm. at Countryside Library (2640 Sabal Springs Dr), Maria Gerakios, an Honors English teacher from Countryside High School will be hosting a workshop on What Colleges Really Want. 

Free Workshop for Parents and Students

What Colleges Really Want!

Countryside High School Honors English Teacher, Maria Gerakios is offering a free one hour workshop to give parents and students the answers they need for writing the college essay. Please join her!

Saturday, August 27, 2016

2:00 - 3:00 pm

Countryside Library (Multi-purpose Room)

2640 Sabal Springs Dr., Clearwater

Back to School

School starts earlier this year so pull out those backpacks, dust off the books, and scramble to finish that summer homework. We will see all IB students bright and early at the NEW Largo HS building on August 10th!

Largo IB Seniors Colleges of Acceptance

University of South Florida

University of Florida

Florida State University

Washington University

Columbia University

Carnegie Mellon University

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University,

John Hopkins University

University of Virginia

Georgia Tech University

University of Pennsylvania

We wish all of our seniors good luck next school year!

2016 - 2017 Summer Homework

The 2016-2017 Summer homework has been posted. This can be found by clicking below or on the Largo High School website HERE. Summer homework is due as posted or is usually due the first week of school. Please plan accordingly...DON'T PROCRASTINATE AND WAIT UNTIL A WEEK BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS!

Incoming 9th Graders:

• English I Summer Work

• English I Supply List

• American History

Incoming 10th Graders:

• English II Summer Work

• English II Supply List

Incoming 10th - 12th Graders:

• Physics HL/SL - Finish radioactive packet

• French - Watch two (2) French movies and write an interview with the actor on one movie and write a reflection on a diary for the second movie. 

• French Summer Assignment

• French Journal

End of the Year Breakfast

The IB End of the Year Breakfast was a huge success! Parents and Largo's IB Partners brought various breakfast items, juices, and coffee to start the morning off right. The four classes of students, teachers, and administrators did the rest bringing squirt guns, water balloons, frisbees, and a tug of war rope.

Thanks to our photographer Winchester Dermody for the fantastic photos that can be found HERE.

IB exams are finished!

Largo's International Baccalaureate seniors gathered for three weeks at Prince of Peace Church to finish out their last piece of the program; exams. Everyone agreed it wasn't as horrible experience as they had conjured in their minds. All of the students felt comfortable and prepared by their teachers, but it was still a relief when the last bell signaled the end.

Thank you to Prince of Peace Church and their staff for one again hosting the school and its seniors.

Thank you to our proctors Jyoti Patel, Pam Potter, Jamie Daniel, Audrey Schechter, Pam Warren, Anya Corvin, Sunila Spano, Karez Zandy, Tara Kivett, Deborah Pettey, Win Dermody, Stacey Zidi, and Cara Boos.

Thank you to our guidance counselor, Mrs. Wolfe, and to our IB Coordinator, Mr. Liem, for the hours they too put in preparing the testing room and proctoring the exams.

We look forward to hearing the results in July!

BOOT CAMP

WHO: Incoming Honor's Option Freshman

WHAT: IB Boot Camp

WHEN:  June 9th and June 10th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: Largo High School (Temporary Campus)

Largo's IB Boot Camp is designed to ensure that incoming Honor's Option freshman have a solid foundation when they enter the IB program. The camp is a great way to meet and interact with classmates and teachers as freshman spend two days participating in icebreakers, team building exercises, and academic classes.

The camp will be highly beneficial to incoming freshman and attendance is strongly encouraged. 

Please RSVP to Ms. Chevere at chevereb@pcsb.org to reserve a spot or to ask questions.

IB End of the Year Breakfast in the Park

Where: Largo Central Park
When: Monday, May 23rd - 7:30 - 11:00 AM
Info: Students will walk with administrators and teachers from school to the park.
Sign-up: HERE to register to bring food/drinks, etc.

Come celebrate the end to another great IB year! Games, food, and fun!

Welcome Incoming IB Freshman

Wednesday night Largo High School's IB program welcomed 50+ incoming freshman to its 2016-2017 IB school year. The students came from various middle schools around Pinellas County including Largo Middle School, Country Day World School, Seminole Middle School, and Morgan Fitzgerald Middle School. The students participated in a candlelight welcome and got to meet several of the faculty members and many IB students.

Next year's class is already at 80 students and counting making it one of the largest incoming classes and the first IB freshman class in the new school.

March & April IB Information

• CAS Project Information - Please join the Facebook Page, IB Helpin' You. This is a CAS project by IB junior Sarina Patel devised to help students and parents learn their way around Largo's IB program. Students and parents are welcome and encouraged to join the Facebook group. They can ask questions, read articles, and watch videos of what Largo's IB program is all about.
• Elections - Election time is just around the corner! We have openings on the board for Vice-President (2 year position), Treasurer (2 years), Student Representatives (1 year position), and Class Representatives (1 year) for next year. Interested parties should email us at largoibbooster@gmail.com to submit your name. Entries are due by May 3rd.
• 2016-2017 Freshman Candlelight Ceremony - Wednesday, April 20th at 6:00 pm. We will need parent and student volunteers that evening. Please email us if you are able to volunteer that night.
• SENIORS - Don't forget to purchase your Largo IB stoles to wear at graduation. Please see Mr. Liem in the office. Stoles are $25.
• End of the Year Breakfast - May 23rd from 7:30 - 11:00 am. in Largo Central Park. We are asking for donated food items. Please email us if interested in volunteering or donating.
• Leadership Pinellas - 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students can now fill out applications to join Leadership Pinellas and make a difference. See the website here for the application.
• General Meeting - Wednesday, May 11th at 6:30 pm. Come an join us for elections and a virtual tour of the new school!

IB Student Recognitions

Scholastic Art Award Winners

• Amanda Moody
• Sarah Nguyen
• Vanessa Garcia
• Celine Haddad
• Rachel Piper
• Malyna Reed

All-County Choir

• Fei Fe Hu
• Vanessa Garcia

HACK THE SACK...and the ACT too

Join author and tutor Eliot Schrefer

 as he reveals strategies and shortcuts for taking the college entrance exams!

February 21st at 2:00 pm.

Countryside Library

2642 Sabal Springs Dr.

Clearwater, FL

Eliot Schrefer, popular New York City novelist, National Book Award finalist, Countryside High Grad, Harvard University Honors Grad and in-demand SAT tutor, shares secrets of the college admission process. Schrefer discusses tips on how to improve your SAT scores from his book, HACK the SAT. Visit his website at eliotschrefer.com.

For more information, call 727-562-4970 or visit myclearwater.com/cpl.

Largo's IB Guidance Website

Largo's IB Guidance Counselor Mrs. Wolfe has created a new website for all things IB Guidance related. Check it out HERE!

General Meeting

The next General Meeting will be Wednesday, January 20th at 6:30 pm. in the school cafeteria. The meeting is open to all students, teachers, parents, and administrators in the IB program. This meeting will have pertinent information on various topics for all class grades and parents and students are urged to attend.

Topics include:

• CAS information for freshman and sophomores
• HL/SL class schedule information for freshman and sophomores
• The upcoming USF Field Trip for juniors
• Extended Essay information for juniors
• Proctoring for Senior Exams in May

There will as always be an Open Forum at the end of the meeting for questions or comments. There will be student and parent representatives, teacher representatives, and an administrator representative at the meeting to help answer any questions.