VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL NEW THEATER

1:45PM PST PRESIDENT OF THE VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL INTERNATIONAL

BACCALAUREATE COUNCIL
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IBC Vice President Santos: I have the distinct honor and privilege to introduce to you Karl,
the cool kid, Catarata! Our IBC President!
IBC President Catarata:
Thank you Vice President Santos for that warm introduction.
IB Diploma Program Coordinator Dr. Feinstein;
IB Middle Years Program Coordinator Mr. Snape;
Principal Esparza;
Dean Fricker;
VHS IB Educators;
VHS IB Council;
Valley High School IB students;
It is three months into the new 2015-2016 school year. Three months filled with already hard
work, completed Diploma Candidate Extended Essays, ongoing personal projects, and fresh new
internal assessments.
Three months filled with various field trips for our IB classes, educational development trainings
for our amazing IB educators/teachers - three months of pure hard work and dedication to a
program that challenges us every day.
It is a new month, a new day, and a new chapter in our program. After years of attempts, we have
finally improved as a program on providing educational/academic based field trips that not only
engage us, but give us a darn good time.

Our program is growing at the most fastest rate it has ever seen in nearly a decade.
Let's look at 5 facts:
1. At the beginning of the year, our program was able to solve a messy issue regarding an AP
v. IB petition. Both in council, in our classrooms, in our homes, and with our friends - we
were able to come to one important conclusion: that although AP and IB curriculums may
be different - we still are all high schoolers, students, and learners. And that two letters
would not define if one was better than the other, or if one would be forced to forcefully
relocate other students into different classes.
2. During Quarter 1, our program was able to end the false notions and imaginary fault lines
that divided IB and AOHT students. This year's IBC was able to host the first AOHT/IB
Joint Conference together, and were able to discuss how these issues that were based on
assumptions were placing our programs apart. Ever since then, we've decided to continue
to build our coalition with AOHT, and continue our meetings on a quarterly basis.
3. Along with maintaining relations with our sister magnet programs at the school, we've even
attended service projects and service events with them and Link Crew, JROTC, MSTEM,
and more. In all, we've been able to raise up to thousands of dollars for our program's
activities.
4. IB Council has been able to reform itself and do a full 360. We've been able to recognize
over 30 people in their contributions to their program, raise the budget to over $3,000 in
counting, sell gear, not once, but twice (in both circumstance, allowing the council to vote
on the design in a democratic and transparent fashion). The council has been able to utilize
the power of committees, powerful class representatives, and effective projects to carry out
the IB program name in a positive manner.
5. This year, our program has been able to overall advance in several areas of growth such as
increasing field trips, events across campus, and promotion of CAS events, increasing
communication to implement culture, community, and so much more.
6. We as IB students have also been able to contribute our talents to this school. In various
sports teams, organizations, and after school clubs - our program has seen more IB student
leadership in many organizations than ever before. One strong example of this - is Valley
High School Student Council. At this time, I'd like to recognize them for the hard work
they do for our school - every, single, day. VHS Student Council, please stand and be
recognized. Please give them a hand!
7. Lastly, our curriculum, support system, and communication structure with our teachers
have ameliorated. Not only do our teachers understand the hard work that we attempt to do,
but they engage in social, academic, and discoursing discussion with us to further open our
minds. At this time, I would like to recognize all IB teachers - please stand and be
recognized. Please give them a hand!

But what can we do to further push our program, and move ourselves as leaders in this everchanging world?
1. One - we need to stop being pessimists - and start being realists. Throughout our program,
we can see how sarcasm and witticism can lead us to hilarious memories. But sometimes,
the same hilarity can also tear us apart personally, professionally, and publicly. William
Arthur Ward once said, "The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to
change; the realest adjusts the sails".
2. We need to be involved with the world. We ARE the international baccalaureate - we are
international. We are the people of the world, and we must understand that in 2,3,4 years that we will soon shape the world. Regardless of wherever we go.
3. We need to be sensitive of those around us. We need to be understanding our of hardships,
our struggles, and our successes. We are all going through the same educational
curriculum, and journey. Rather than tear each other apart, we should be consciously
present - support, converse, and communicate with one another. After all, we're only here
for a few months more.
4. Lastly, we need to stop looking to the future, and start looking to ourselves. The people we
refer to in the future? That is us. The people we expect to be in the future? That is ourselves
now. We are the future. We are the people that will continue to shape this world. We are
the people. We are the world.
It is three months into this new school year, and our program has picked itself up, brushed off the
old, and shined with the new.
We have laid a new foundation to become a more innovative program.
Let us continue this journey alongside one another - and let's continue this journey now.
Thank you.
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