I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you that support the IB Program at Desert Mountain High School.   It has been a very productive and exciting year.  The things that were accomplished could not have been completed without all of us working together.  I would like to give an overview of what all of us have accomplished in the school year 2008-2009.

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Communications:

• Had an IBPA table at registration to help assist and answer questions as the IB students registered.
• Updated all the IBPA documents which concerned classes and course progression.
• Assisted with the IB Profile/computed IB statistics.
• Developed website www.dmibpa.org and increased email communications to parents.

Program and Teacher Support:

• The last segment of the Barnes & Noble fundraiser was completed, raising $1,384.
• Encouraged tax credit donations.
• Began International Dinner Fundraisers.
• Facilitated the direct gift of a color printer to IB Administration.
• Provided a grant for teacher training.
• Supplied nearly $1700 in equipment and teaching resources to augment the technology and instructional materials utilized in the IB Program including:

• • A digital voice recorder to facilitate the oral IB exams in English, Spanish, French and Theatre.  The new equipment generates digital recordings which can be easily duplicated and emailed, saving teacher time and program costs over the prior tape cassette method.
  • Two TI graphing projector systems which enhance the utilization of advanced calculators in IB algebra and calculus instruction.
  • Two colorimeters and supplies to facilitate laboratory data collection and analysis in IB Chemistry.
  • An Art History/Styles DVD and Poster Set to augment instruction materials available for IB Art/Design students.
  • Funds to copy materials for Nuremburg and IB Art.

• Provided refreshments to quarterly teachers’ meeting - the Teachers Appreciation Breakfasts.
• Gave each IB teacher and administrator an “end of first semester” basket of treats.
• Proctored IB Exams in March and May.

Education funding crisis:

Parent support in this area was just unbelievable this year.  We have shown ourselves and our students that we do have a voice.  Without your support, there would have been changes to the IB program at Desert Mountain which would not have benefited the program or your children.  Thanks again for all the emails, phone calls, attendance at meetings, and everything else you did to show that you care about education and the IB program.  For our part, the IBPA:

• Provided parents with updates on the budget process at the state and district levels through emails and the website.
• Encouraged parents to ask their legislators to support education and retain funding.
• Provided contact information for parents to write district officials in support of the IB program.
• Organized email campaign to help retain Sandy Lundberg and John Andrews in their positions as IB Administrator and IB Counselor.

IB Community Outreach:

• Delivered 8th grade flyers to middle schools to promote the IB program.
• Facilitated an IBPA booth at the Expo (a showcase of what DMHS has to offer).
• Conducted four (4) Parent Education meetings, including a Parent to Parent offsite at Paradise Bakery.
• Facilitated a Forum for school board candidates.
• Organized a “Meet the Grad Night” where current students and IB grads could connect.
• Honored our outstanding students, faculty, and administration with the 6^th annual Celebration Event. We had over 350 attendees including our new superintendent, Dr. Catalani, three School board members and district personnel.

Administrative support:

• Provided support to IB Administrator, Coordinator, and Counselor where requested.
• Attended four (4) Booster meetings.  The IBPA is one of 16 organizations under the umbrella of DMB, Inc.  This is what retains our 501C non-profit status.
• Establish framework for IBPA to facilitate hand-off to succeeding Executive Boards and promote continuity from year to year.

I would also like to give a special thank you to some unbelievable women that I have worked with this last year.  Their tireless energy and time commitment has been awesome.

Kathryn van Huisstede – Vice Chair

Anne Gray – Secretary

Karen Rogers Sim – Treasurer

Marta Brunwasser – DMBA Rep

Nancy Handel - DMHS/SUSD Liaison

Suanne Rudley - DMHS/SUSD Liaison

JoAnn Williams - Communications

Pat Welborn – Fundraising