The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme at Latta High School has had some changes this summer.
Mrs. Martha Heyward who was appointed IB Coordinator at the inception of the program retired on June 30, 2015.  Mrs. Christy Berry of Latta High School was named the new IB Coordinator.
One of the first things that Mrs. Berry and Mr. Adam Kirk, IB Lead Teacher, implemented this summer was an IB Boot Camp.
The Boot Camp was for LHS juniors who began the program in August and for LHS seniors who will be completing the program this year.  On August 13th, IB staff met the juniors at the LHS Library.  Sessions covering academic honesty, time management skills, and an overview of the Diploma Programme were followed by team building exercises on the JROTC ropes course with CAS coordinator, Major William Thompson.  After a successful morning, the students were given an opportunity to eat lunch with the IB seniors so that they could discuss what to expect in the upcoming year.
After lunch the seniors reported to the library and had their own Q&A session with Dori Webster, one of the first IB diploma graduates from Latta.
She talked with the seniors about the upcoming school year, and the tasks, challenges, and triumphs that lay ahead of them.  
She reminded them that their greatest resource was each other and to make sure that they worked together to accomplish all that would be required of them in the months to come.
Staff members conducted afternoon sessions for the seniors before they were released for the day.  
All of the students agreed that the Boot Camp was a success, and it was something that should be continued to help future students.

(Contributed Photos)

Latta High School began the process of implementing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme in 2008 when the staff and faculty of Dillon County School District 3 initially contacted the International Baccalaureate Organization.  The next major step was accomplished in 2009 when after much training and preparation; the school was authorized to begin teaching the curriculum.  We are very pleased to announce that this year; we have taken another major step by graduating the first two IB Diploma Programme graduates, Amber Campbell and Dorian “Dori” Webster, last school year.
Amber Campbell is the daughter of John and Julie Campbell.  She is attending Francis Marion University’s Honor College and will transfer to the Medical University of South Carolina.  She plans to major in biology and then pursue a career in medicine, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.  Amber said that pursuing the IB diploma “opens you up to doing bigger things.” For her that included the Honors College.  She also liked the small school atmosphere and felt that it “creates a small family” feel that was instrumental in choosing Francis Marion University for her undergraduate work.
Amber noted that while it was not always easy, she is pleased that it is done and is now eager for her next challenge.  She noted that her biggest obstacles in IB were time management and balancing assignments.  However, having dealt with those issues in a safe environment will now allow her to excel when she has to do the same independently in a college environment where the stakes are much higher.
Dori Webster is the daughter of Donna and Arnie Webster.  She was very active in high school.  She was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Interact, Academic Challenge Team, Lattatude staff, the volleyball team, and was the anchor of the 2015 State Championship softball team as the pitcher.  Dori also graduated as salutatorian.  She is proof that an academically rigorous load does not prevent students from participating in the many extracurricular activities that high school offers.  She is currently attending Clemson University and studying Animal and Veterinary Science.  She said that “you do it because your parents want you too; but then once you’re in it, you stick with it as a personal challenge.”  She noted that while it was “a lot of work,” the IB prepared her to do “quality, independent work and manage the demands.”  She noted that her biggest challenges with the program were learning self-discipline, figuring out how to balance everything, and knowing when to make sacrifices.
Both young ladies completed six academic classes in the subject areas of mathematics, language, world language, science, social sciences, and the arts.  They also had to complete three additional subjects in the core of IB.  Amber felt that the Theory of Knowledge class “validated her way of thinking for the first time.”  Creativity, Action, and Service requires students to give back to their local community, and both girls served many hours as volunteers with varying organizations including the school community and McLeod hospital.  The Extended Essay component is an independent, college-level essay of approximately 4,000 words.  Dori’s topic was “The Development of the Themes of Morality and Religion through Williams Wordsworth’s Poetry Career,” and Amber’s topic was “How did the First-Wave Feminism (1920’s) Influence the Second-Wave Feminism (1960’s).”  Their parting advice to upcoming students about the succeeding in the Diploma Programme was “don’t under or overestimate it. It’s doable.”