IB Americas: Volunteer Services

It is IB Americas policy to keep our volunteers apprised of any new information regarding travel, and we would like to share with you the following  informative link http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/secureflight/. We hope that this information is helpful to you.

If you have any questions or would like to share any experience that you have had in your recent travels, which may prove valuable to your colleagues, please post your comments here .

Lana Mills

IB Americas volunteer services

Dear volunteers,

As part of the ongoing work to align processes within the IB Americas region, we have developed a new application and authorization process that takes effect this month for all schools submitting application form part A in 2010 or later.

These changes are explained in detail in the new application process and fees documents for each programme located on the Americas website at:  www.ibo.org/iba/become

I would like to take this opportunity to highlight several important changes to the process:

For all three programmes:

• New application deadlines for both northern and southern hemisphere schools
• The introduction of a candidate fee payable annually that replaces all prior application fees (application form parts A and B fee and the continuation fee)
• Ongoing services of a consultant for all candidate schools

For Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes:

• The minimum time between application parts A and B has been increased to 18 months
• Remote consultant assignment time has been increased to two years with an additional honorarium
• Changes to professional development requirements

We rely upon our volunteers to help communicate these changes to schools in the region; therefore, we kindly request that you review the new documentation carefully.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the IB support desk via email at iba@ibo.org or by phone at 212-696-4464, extension 1 for English and French language assistance and +54 11 4766 3900, extension 122 for Spanish language assistance.

Thank you for your continued support of the IB.

Kind Regards,

Gloria McDowell
Senior Head of School Services
IB Americas

Dear volunteers,

Welcome to the Americas volunteer services blog. This blog will feature updates on volunteer services in the region, including:

• Training announcements
• New policies and updates to existing policies
• Volunteer highlights
• And much, much more

But most of all, this is a tool for you to use to communicate with me and the larger volunteer community in the Americas about any question you may have related to your work as a volunteer with IB Americas.

To post a comment, please click on the comments tab in orange on the top of this blog page, scroll down and enter your information in the “post your reply” section and then click on the button “submit comment”.

I hope you find this blog useful. If you have any questions, please feel free to post in the comment section.

Thank you.

Kind Regards,

Lana Mills
Volunteer Services coordinator

10-13 December 2009   (arrival 9 December)
Baltimore, Maryland

Are you an experienced PYP educator? Have you ever thought about becoming a PYP site visitor and consultant? This PYP IB Academy will provide intensive training to prepare participants to take on two formal roles as site visitors and consultants related to the authorization of IB World Schools.

IB Americas will pay reasonable and properly receipted travel and lodging expenses in accordance with IB Americas Policy and Procedures for Reimbursement of Expenses.

If you are involved in (or recently retired from) a Primary Years Programme,and would like to apply, please go to the online registration site at  http://www.volunteers.apteknet.com/ to  submit your application. If you have recently submitted an application for the October 2009 training, we already have your application, and it will be considered for this and all subsequent trainings within a 3 year time period.

You will have a 10 day time period with which to complete your application and the absolute final deadline for submitting is 11:59 PM EST 12 October 2009.

If you have any questions regarding the application procedure for this Academy, please feel free to use this blog to post any comments, suggestions or questions related to this post.

Thank you.                                                                                                                                                                              Lana Mills
Volunteer Services coordinator
IB Americas