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| Students attend first day of classes at International Academy
By Jennifer S. McDonald OAKLAND COUNTY — Along with other schools of its kind throughout out the state, International Academy East officially started its inaugural school year Aug. 13. Taking over the building vacated by Baker Middle School, the International Academy East will be one of three International Baccalaureate campuses in Oakland County, joining the academy in Bloomfield Township and International Academy West in the Huron Valley School District. Troy Schools Superintendent Barbara Fowler said the district is developing the International Baccalaureate program at the middle school level at Baker Middle School and has it at Morse Elementary for younger students. Like the elementary and middle years programs, the International Academy high school offers the International Baccalaureate curriculum. The schools focus on three concepts — a holistic education, effective communication skills and an international mindset — while still following state standards and the district’s curriculum. During a special ceremony to celebrate the school’s opening, Fowler credited the Troy Board of Education, the IA Steering Committee, and former Troy Superintendent Janet Jopke, who passed away in 2005. She said she couldn’t imagine a more perfect place for this new campus. “I know I speak for the entire community when I say the Troy School District is very proud to be the host location for this very successful partnership,” Fowler said. “Oakland County is our state’s leading center for foreign-based companies, with more than 700 companies representing 33 countries based in our county. … Our community does not need to be reminded about the importance of our expanding global society. We are fortunate to live it every day.” According to Principal Burt Okma, with the third campus, all 28 districts in the county will be able to participate in the program. Right now, only 19 districts are able to do so. The plan is to add a new freshman class each year, until all four grades are filled with about 140 students each, he said. “When this campus moves along and this year’s freshmen are seniors, all three of its campuses will have over 1,400 students,” Okma said. “When you look at that, it places us right neck in neck with the largest IB schools in the world. That’s pretty amazing.” At the high school level, students have to complete a series of exams and required assignments that are graded by their teachers locally and also by International Baccalaureate teachers around the world. Okma said there are about 80,000 students who take the same examinations globally at about 2,000 International Baccalaureate schools. And because the academy is taking over an old middle school in Troy, Okma said it would give students access to more facilities than what they have at the central campus, including a gymnasium and a swimming pool. Plus, there will be opportunities for tutoring with local middle school students right next door. Anne Benda, president of the parent teacher group for the International Academy, said the choice to send her children to IA was the best one they could have made. Benda has a daughter who graduated from IA, a son currently in the program and another daughter waiting to attend. “My daughter graduated last year from IA, and my son is a senior at IA Central. I have another eighth-grade daughter aspiring to go to IA,” Benda said. “I would like to congratulate you on this morning, and I’d like to wish for all families the same sense of community, joy and enrichment the IB education has brought to our family.” Caroline Shao, 13, and Joseph Kirma, 14, were among those who chose to attend Troy’s IA. While Shao admits the homework load is a little scary, she feels it will be beneficial in the long run. “It’s been really exciting, and the teachers are amazing,” Shao said. “The first day has gone well.” Kirma said he believes his experience in the IA would help him achieve his career goals of becoming a neurosurgeon. “You can tell the teachers really like what they’re doing,” Kirma said. “Some teachers (at other schools) just don’t seem like they care, but here you can tell they’re different.” Staff Writer Kristyne Demske contributed to this report. |