One Big Happy I.B. Family!!!

Since school started, the term IB Family has taken on a whole new meaning! In the month of August alone, four events have been planned (or have already taken place).



Warm Up Day was held the first Friday of the new school year! The freshmen were divided into thirds and participated in three morning rotations in the library, North Gym, and Gallagher Gym. They learned about IB, MYP (middle years program), and DP (diploma program) with Mrs. Thiele; they were taught the Eight Keys to Excellence, Rum Tum Tum, 10/24/7, and S.L.A.N.T with Mr. Pafford; and they all participated in Full Body Ro-Sham-Bo and Chair Lift with Mr. Thiele. From there each individual group (with one-two senior helpers) came up with their own team name and poster to present to their class. We broke for lunch and returned to work on team cheers. The seniors showed their class spirit with their demonstration cheer (which may be posted sometime in the near future). The group cheer is a Warm Up Week tradition (my group named ourselves the Mystics and our cheer was a repeat after me song), and during the last hour of the day all twenty (yes, twenty - there are 250 freshmen!) groups performed their cheers. Of course the staff, seniors, and freshmen all acknowledged their efforts with various Whooshes (Austin Powers, Napoleon Dynamite, Regular, and the newest addition Summer in Stockton). All in all, Warm Up Day was a success!



As Warm Up Day was condensed from fifteen hours to six, please FHS 10th, 11th, 12th graders and Alumni post a comment with your favorite Warm Up Day experiences and activities!



Moving right along to Sunday, August 3rd and the IB Diploma Reception. The classes of 2008 and 2009 along with the FHS IB staff were invited the the home of Erin and Dan Thiele for a lovely celebration of our 24 IB Diploma recipients. We even had some older alumni with the two older Randolfs joining us as well. Most teachers and students attended! It was great to catch up with friends and teachers and relish in our record breaking Diploma year!



Now.... for those events still to come!



Friday, August 8th is the I.B. Family Picnic at Oak Park's Magpie Picnic center! Please join us from 6-8 p.m. for relaxation, fun, and hot dogs! Freshmen are asked to bring salads, Sophomores, desserts, Juniors/Seniors, drinks. Of course any potluck dish is welcome! This is a great opportunity to meet new families, for parents to network, and to interact with teachers outside the classroom.

The weekend of August 22-24, the 33 IB DP candidates will travel in caravan with the DP teachers to Volcano, CA for the annual Senior Retreat! This is a wonderful bonding experience that draw the entire class closer together for their last, and most difficult year!