Smith Elementary Named International Baccalaureate Magnet

October 29, 2008 - Change is coming to the instructional plan and the Maxwell Drive campus of Smith Elementary. When the work is completed, the school will become Smith Elementary International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme in a completely renovated campus.
Lassiter talks with teachers.
Principal Chris Lassiter talks with Smith teachers about the new International Baccalaureate magnet theme.

“There are all really great things happening that will bring better and better things to our students here at Smith Elementary,” said first grade teacher Keely White. “We’re so excited about this opportunity.”

“We have an exceptionally flexible staff,” said reading teacher Krisan Matthews. “We work really hard and we are eager to learn, progress and do the best for our students, so I think that all of the new decisions and activities coming our way are a positive impact for us.”

At its Oct. 21 meeting, the Board of Education heard from WCPSS Magnet Program Director David Ansbacher about launching the new magnet program at Smith Elementary with the school accepting applications in February 2009 for their first year of magnet implementation in the 2009-10 school year. Ansbacher said Magnet Program staff researched possible themes, collaborated with the principal and Growth and Planning, and conducted a survey of potential magnet families. As a result, the Magnet Program staff will work with the school to implement an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme theme at Smith Elementary.

Earlier this week, Margaret Henderson, Tasha Haynes Cardenas and Kirsten Justice of the WCPSS Magnet Program talked with the school’s teachers about the IB program.

“What I heard most and am most excited about is the opportunity for teachers as well as students to grow globally,” said Matthews. “It is an approach for instruction that will teach our students how to look outside the walls of Smith Elementary and see the world as a whole, and understand how other children in other cultures are educated.”

“It really will make a large impact on our students who may have been a lot of places and maybe for those children who haven’t traveled outside the city that they live in,” said Keely. “It will bring the world to them, if they don’t have the opportunity to go out and see the world.”

The visitors from the WCPSS Magnet Program explained to the Smith teachers they were just beginning a journey with the International Baccalaureate magnet theme. Teachers will take part in training, some from IB teachers from other WCPSS IB schools. Over the next several years, the school will work to earn accreditation from the International Baccalaureate Organization.

Smith Elementary will join other IB Primary Years Programme schools at the WCPSS Magnet Fair at Southeast Raleigh High on Nov. 1. The other IB Primary Years Programme schools include Farmington Woods Elementary, Joyner Elementary and Millbrook Elementary.

Chris Lassiter, Smith’s principal, is excited about the new opportunities for his students.
“What we bring to these students is an international focus on academics,” said Lassiter. “We stay focused on the NC Standard Course of Study, but with that we add layers and layers that a lot of children outside an IB school may not be able to experience. One is major benefit to the children here; two, we’ll be able to offer expanded opportunities for students that may be outside Smith’s base that would love to come here and join the Smith community.”

When Smith launches its magnet program, it will be in a completely renovated campus. The $22 million upgrade to facilities has provided for construction of new general and special programs classrooms and new art and music classrooms, as well as administration, student support services, child nutrition services and plant operations areas. The new construction will enclose the campus and improve security.

While this work is underway, Smith Elementary students and staff are in swing space at the new Banks Road Elementary campus.

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