International Baccalaureate Program

This program is unique because students learn concepts through six themes:

1. Who we are
2. Where we are in place and time
3. How we express ourselves
4. How the world works
5. How we organize ourselves
6. Sharing the planet

The students’ day is integrated across subject areas. For example, students might learn about math, science, language, and social studies during their theme of “Sharing the Planet,” versus the traditional school day where each subject has a dedicated time during the day. IB also offers the opportunity for all students to learn a world language. At Conklin, students will learn Spanish. Teachers are required to participate in annual staff training about the program, curriculum, and teaching practices specific to IB.

This program is for learners who are independent, curious, work well in a team, are creative, enjoy projects, would benefit from an interactive and non-traditional school environment, and are interested in learning Spanish.

This program may be difficult for learners who need more direct instruction from the teacher, struggle with language development, find it challenging to manage their time, and/or benefit from the traditional school setting.

Families must attend a required orientation before completing the application. IB program families will be expected to:

• Commit to the IB program for the duration of the child’s elementary experience
• Maintain regular communication with the classroom teacher
• Regularly attend meetings (such as conferences and IB nights)
• Support my student learning Spanish
• Encourage my student to ask questions about their learning and support student-led learning
• Maintain regular student attendance
• Recognize that this is a non-traditional learning environment geared toward academic achievement and social emotional development

Current Conklin Elementary School students – grades K-4 – can complete the application to attend the IB school. After that, students at McIntosh, Welsh, and West View may apply for any remaining seats.

Incoming kindergarten students: All families zoned at Conklin, McIntosh, Welsh, West View have an equal opportunity for their kindergarten student to apply to a kindergarten lottery for the IB program. Applications can be submitted at the RPS 205 Welcome Center. Required enrollment documents are listed at rps205.com/enroll.

Families must attend an informational meeting to apply. Meetings are open to families applying their incoming kindergarten student for the kindergarten lottery, families of current K-4 students or families who missed a November or December orientation.

Families with incoming kindergarten students who attended an orientation in November or December do not need to attend another meeting, but must fill out an application.

Attend a meeting:

• Tuesday, January 24 – 2:30 p.m. at Conklin
• Monday, January 30 – 5 p.m. at Conklin
• Thursday, February 9 – 4 p.m. at Conklin
• Wednesday, February 15 – 2:30 p.m. on Zoom. Join Virtual Zoom. (meeting in English and Spanish)
• Tuesday, March 14 – 2:30 p.m. at Conklin
• Thursday, March 16 – 2:30 p.m. at Conklin (meeting in English and Spanish)

Families at Conklin, currently in grades K-4, will receive a confirmation letter verifying their placement once they fill out the application. Incoming kindergarten families and families at McIntosh, Welsh and West View should expect a letter by late March or early April that confirms their seat at the school or provides waitlist information. We’ll share a clearer timeline in the coming months.

Any students who don’t receive a seat in the lottery are given a random place on the kindergarten waitlist. Seats will be filled based on availability.

Current kindergarten through 4th grade students attending McIntosh, Welsh, and West View submit their interest via an online application. Interest lists for incoming 1st through 5th grade students are sorted by grade level and time stamped by submission date. Seats will be filled based on availability.

Yes, sibling priority will be given based on space availability.

The IB program is located at Conklin Elementary School, 3003 Halsted Road.

The school will serve kindergarten through fifth grade students at Conklin Elementary School.

It is anticipated that school hours will remain the same as all other schools in the northwest quadrant (7:35 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

Yes. Students can transfer into the school during designated time periods if space allows. However transfers will not likely be accepted during the third trimester.

Yes, and they will continue to learn English and Spanish in their class within the IB program.

Yes, student services will continue, such as: ESL, IEP, 504, health, counseling and intervention.

Yes. Transportation is provided for students who live more than 1.5 miles away from the school or live at an address that is certified as meeting serious safety hazard criteria outlined by the state. Please refer to isbe.net for more information and answers.

Yes. Breakfast and lunch are available free of charge to all students in Rockford Public Schools.

Students will participate in library, art, music, physical education, and Spanish.

Conklin Families Only

If you do not want your child to attend IB at Conklin you will decline the program in the application. Your child will then be assigned a seat at your new zone school, if seats are available. If your child is in the TBE/Bilingual program and you do not want them to attend IB at Conklin they will be placed in an alternative TBE program school site with seats available.

McIntosh, Welsh & West View Families

If you do not want your child to attend the IB at Conklin you do not need to fill out the application.

If you do not fill out the application and attend the mandatory orientation for the IB program during the designated time windows, you will be assigned a seat at your 2023-2024 zone school, if seats are available.