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Dear Colleagues,
As school reopens and the prospects of dynamic new academic years begin, I am excited to support California IB schools on behalf of CAWS. Each year, your CAWS Board and contractors strive to offer a variety of meaningful in-person and virtual events in addition to our IB training and statewide advocacy. I invite you to attend our events, share your ideas and reach out if I can be of assistance.
Highlights of the past few months include:
IB Workshops at Lake Tahoe – Your CAWS Professional Development team successfully provided an outstanding training experience for our participants, featuring three carefully designed sets of workshops. The enthusiastic responses and positive feedback received from participants and trainers reflected the positive atmosphere enjoyed by those who came together for IB Training at Granlibakken in June.
IB Association Meeting and Global Conference, 13-18 June, 2025, New Orleans - During the Association Meeting for North America CAWS representatives engaged actively in discussions centered around strategic planning and innovative ways to support our schools. Our participation underscored our commitment to fostering educational excellence and collaboration within our community. Additionally, we served as a Silver Sponsor at the Global Conference, where we represented our state. These experiences allowed us to connect with other key stakeholders, further enhancing our mission to empower educational institutions.
Amy Osborne, IBO Senior Manager for Global External Communications – Amy visited Pacific Beach Middle School, Casita Center and Fairmont Private School this June as part of her campaign to promote and support IB Programmes in California. Gracious staff members and students met with her during their summer breaks. She was thrilled with how staff and students are thriving and she plans on creating one or more publications from her visits. Amy will be returning to visit additional campuses during the coming year. If you have an event or would like further information on arranging a visit with Amy, please let me know.
Legislative Advocacy - In May, Michael Winsatt, the President of CAWS, and I had the pleasure of meeting with Lynn Lorber, the Chief Consultant for the Senate Committee on Education, and Debbie Look, the Principal Consultant for the Assembly Committee on Education. Our discussions were centered around enhancing the awareness and appreciation of our California IB Programmes. Their genuine enthusiasm and commitment to the IB was encouraging, reinforcing the importance of our mission. CAWS is dedicated to continuing our advocacy efforts in Sacramento as we strive to ensure that the value of IB Programmes is recognized and supported throughout the state.
In the upcoming months, we will share a comprehensive fact sheet dedicated to California's International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes. This insightful document is designed to empower schools as they articulate the value of the IB to parents, district administrators, board members, and local legislative representatives. We invite you to join us in our outreach initiative, as we work together to foster a deeper understanding of the IB's benefits within our communities.
University – We are pleased to announce that the following courses are now UC approved for the IB Program and can be added to your school A-G list.
- Environmental Systems and Societies IB HL2
- French Ab Initio IB SL1/Preparation Course
- French Ab Initio IB SL1
- Italian Ab Initio IB SL1/Preparation Course
- Italian Ab Initio IB SL
- Economics IB HL1 (newly approved for honors)
- Geography IB HL1 (newly approved for honors)
- In addition, Environmental Systems and Societies IB HL1 and English Literature IB
- SL1/Preparation Course were submitted and are pending review.
A reminder that 31 August is the deadline to update your high school’s A-G list for 2026-
2027.
Maria D. S. A. Johnson, Educational Consultant IB, has been collaborating with Christian colleges over the past several months. Her efforts are geared towards creating recognition policies for DP/CP. Maria expects to receive updated recognition policies by September. This year Maria is committed to expanding her outreach with all of our public post secondary systems.
Looking ahead:
CAWS 2025/2026 Membership Campaign - Our membership form will be sent out the third week of August. By joining CAWS, you will support your regional IB Association, have discounts on events, and participate in our teacher and student awards.
CAWS 2025 Fall Forum – Growing Global Learners: The IB Framework from TK to Career - Please mark your calendars for Monday, 27 October and join us at the Orange County Department of Education located in Costa Mesa. We are pleased to announce that Dr, Robert Kelty, Head of Outreach, Development, & Government Relations for IB North America, will be our keynote speaker and that Kelsey Day and Chloe Suberville, IBWS Senior Managers, will offer two of our nine featured sessions. An email containing the detailed agenda for the day, along with a registration link, will be sent in August. We look forward to your participation in what promises to be an informative and engaging event.
CAWS Event Calendar – Our 2025/2026 CAWS Event Calendar is set to be an exciting blend of in-person and virtual gatherings designed to foster collaboration and innovation among our IB Educators. Our events provide opportunities for professional collaboration for California IB Educators who understand the joys and challenges of meeting IB and State standards and practices. An email with our calendar will be sent in August with updates sent as additional events are added throughout the year.
Professional Development 2026 – We are delighted to announce our new IB Training in San Diego, 1-4 March 2026. A list of our offerings is currently available on the IB Professional Development page. Registration for these workshops will open this month. Our Lake Tahoe IB Training will continue with workshops 23-26 and 27-30 June. Lake Tahoe registration will open in October.
CAWS Summer Board Meeting & Fall Strategic Planning - On 16 August, your board will meet to review and further refine our plans for the 2025/2026 year. On 25 October, we will engage in formal strategic planning and goal-setting sessions that promise to be both productive and innovative. Stay tuned, as we look forward to sharing updated versions of our Mission, Vision, and Goals with you this November, ensuring that our collective vision continues to evolve and resonate with our community.
Social Media – CAWS is now active on Instagram! We invite you to follow us for udpates on our latest events, explore highlights from our schools, and discover valuable resources to support your programs during our weekly posts. Scan the QR code and follow us today!
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