Rickards High

The International Baccalaureate program is a rigorous pre-university course of study that meets the needs of the highly motivated secondary school student. Designed as a comprehensive curriculum that allows its graduates to fulfill requirements of the various national systems of education, the IB program is based on the pattern of no single country. It provides students of different linguistic, cultural, and educational backgrounds with the intellectual, social, and critical perspectives necessary for the adult world that lies ahead of them.

The education of the "whole person" takes on a special significance in the twenty-first century when knowledge continues to expand dramatically; when advanced technologies and global economies have tied together vastly different cultures; when the world is bound too closely for provincial ideologies to guide political thought; when to exist in a world community requires appreciation and understanding of cultural diversity; and when cooperation alone will solve global problems. It is essential therefore that academic training provide students with the values and opportunities that will enable them to succeed in the competitive modern world.

All IB Diploma candidates are required to engage in the study of Languages, Sciences, Mathematics, and Humanities in the final two years of their secondary schooling.

The high standards implicit in the IB examinations assume high levels of achievement and preparation at the middle school and Florida’s Pre-IB levels. This program is a deliberate compromise between the preference for specialization in some countries and the emphasis on breadth often preferred in others. The intent is that students should learn how to learn, how to analyze, and how to reach considered conclusions about people, their languages and literature, their ways in society, and the scientific forces of the environment.

Since the International Baccalaureate Office was established in Geneva, Switzerland in 1965, the IB Program has grown to almost 5,000 schools in 150 countries. Working in three official languages (English, French, and Spanish), IB enjoys the respect and support of many governments, colleges, and universities.

Students are often accorded advanced standing in college based on their IB work. Significant numbers of IB Diploma holders both from within and outside North America have gained admission to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Brown, Stanford, MIT, the University of Chicago, and other prominent institutions.

Parents and guardians:

Congratulations to IB Junior Ashvin Sinha for his individual and team results at the Harvard-MIT Mathematics Tournament on February 14th. Ashvin placed 1st in COMBINATORICS, and his team, the Florida Alligators, placed 5th overall.

IB Senior Celebration: All parents of 2026 IB Seniors who are interested in serving on the planning committee for the 2026 IB Senior Celebration, please contact Dr. Williams by email at joe.williams@leonschools.net or by phone at (850) 414-5036. Our initial planning committee meeting on Wednesday, February 18, in the Rickards Media Center went well, and we are still looking for more parents of IB seniors to join the planning committee. Once the date, time, and location are set for the next committee meeting, a notice will be sent to all parents of IB seniors via Mr. Featherston’s IB TOK 2 FOCUS messaging and this listserv.

IB Senior Celebration: All parents of 2026 IB Seniors who are interested in serving on the planning committee for the 2026 IB Senior Celebration, please contact Dr. Williams by email at joe.williams@leonschools.net or by phone at (850) 414-5036. Dr. Williams looks forward to meeting with parents interested in serving on the planning committee on Wednesday, February 18, at 6 pm in the Rickards Media Center to give everyone the opportunity to see the IB Senior Celebration Parent Notebook and help you start planning for this year’s celebration. Also, if you are a parent of an IB junior, you are welcome to participate in this committee. Parents of IB juniors have helped with senior celebrations in the past in order to plan more effectively their own student’s senior celebration the following year. Parents of older siblings who have helped plan previous IB Senior Celebrations are also welcome to attend and share their perspectives and ideas.

IB and AP Exams will be held at TSC again in May 2026: We have received confirmation from Tallahassee State College that they will again host our IB and AP Exams this spring, and we are grateful for their support and partnership as they continue to encourage and facilitate student success at James S. Rickards High School.

Please see the attached most current draft of the combined AP and IB exam schedule. If your IB student has a schedule conflict between any IB and AP exams—or between any AP exams and an EOC, FAST, or other mandatory statewide assessment—please notify both Mrs. E. Melissa Cooper and Dr. Williams by email as soon as possible so Mrs. Cooper can schedule your student for a late AP exam. Late AP Exams are only offered under very specific circumstances outlined by College Board and with permission from Mrs. E. Melissa Cooper, our AP Coordinator.

IB Diplomas are here! The official IB Diplomas and IB Transcripts for Rickards IB Class of 2025 graduates have arrived. Please email Dr. Williams at joe.williams@leonschools.net to make an appointment to pick up your IB Diploma. One of your parents may also pick up your IB Diploma and IB Transcript for you.

We are excited to share that the IB Career-related Programme has officially been authorized! This initiative is designed to equip students with essential skills for their future careers, blending academic learning with practical experiences. The IBCP combines academic rigor with real-world skills. This program will empower students with the skills and knowledge they need for success in their careers. Information regarding the program is below:

The IB Career-related Programme (Grades 11 & 12)

The Career-related Programme (CP) is a framework of international education that incorporates the values of the IB into a unique programme addressing the needs of students engaged in career-related education. The CP was specifically developed for students who wish to engage in career-related learning while gaining transferable and lifelong skills in applied knowledge, critical thinking, communication, and cross-cultural engagement.

The CP Curriculum consists of:

• Two courses from the IB Diploma Programme (IB)
• the CP core (Service Learning, Reflective Project, Language Development, and Personal and Professional Skills)
• Career-related Studies – Certified Nursing Program
   

This program offers students the rigor and challenge of IB without the requirements of the full IB Diploma Programme. 

Benefits of the IB CP for students:

• Combine academic subjects with their personal and professional interests and skills
• Think critically and creatively
• Build effective communication skills
• Develop greater self-confidence and self-awareness
• Be internationally-minded and globally aware
• Apply their knowledge to real-world scenarios and situations.
   

If you have questions about this program, please contact E. Melissa Cooper at coopere@leonschools.net or Dr. Williams at williamsj@leonschools.net.