Josh Baker (‘09) Reflects on IPS & Transitioning Into High School

November 6, 2009 – 12:53 pm

How did IPS prepare you for high school?

It’s actually quite incredible how well IPS prepares you for high school. You don’t even notice you’re ready until the time actually comes. All throughout my four years at IPS (at every grad ceremony) I always thought to myself, “Wow, they have to go to high school in September. I don’t know if I will ever be ready for that!”. And then, when the time came, I realized that I was ready, and that IPS had provided me all the tools I needed to go to high school. The ironic thing was, they were different tools than I thought I would need. Especially in my Grade 9 year I was pushing for more content, more things that can help me for when I finally get to the end of my time here. Now I realize that, while content is important, it will not be the thing that will get you through high school. It’s how you learn the content, how you apply and present yourself, how you advocate, how you use technology and books, and something that is repeated time and again; work ethic. IPS gives these tools to you, but you don’t even notice it; they sneak up on you, and you don’t know you even have them until you already have them.

What do you miss about IPS?

I hadn’t really thought too strongly about this question before. I would always just generalize saying “Man, I miss IPS” or something to that degree. When I actually think about it, the answer almost surprises me. Some of the things I miss most were the time consuming, dreadful, daunting tasks–the three big projects throughout the year: Science Fair, OTT, WTT. Of course there was Masterworks as well. They were pretty big projects, but, for some reason, I have very fond memories of them. I think the feeling of knowing a topic really well and being able to present it gives you this feeling of pride that is hard to get any other way, it’s a pride that you know you have earned.

But, the thing I miss most, hands down, are the teachers. It’s no coincidence that the students in that school are such good kids, it’s the teachers who provide this atmosphere for them; the sense of belonging that is truly impossible to replicate. I knew students who never missed a single day of school, they loved it that much, it was like a second home to them. Coming back after the summer break and just feeling like this is the place you belong. And it’s all because of the teachers. The students will come and go, and even the teachers will, but some will stay and pass on the “IPS-ness” to new teachers, and they in turn will pass it on. I have a feeling that I could come back to this school 5 years from now, maybe even 10, and I would still feel like this is where I belong, it has become an inseperable part of who I am.

What skills do teachers need to emphasize in IPS students in order to ease the transition into high school?

This is the wonderful part of IPS, the teachers care so much about the students and their learning, that there are no stock skills that teachers need to emphasize. Not everybody has strengths in every subject or area, and in most schools, well that is really too bad and means they have to try harder or fail. But in IPS, the relationship between teacher and student is so close that the student has the ability to focus on whatever skills will help them in accomplishing their goals. Some kids for example, liked computer’s alot, others liked art. Both were encouraged, neither put down. Everybody was given the opportunity to do something their own way. Sometimes people would turn out to be incredibly surprising; a student who seemed to be struggling with some things could turn out to be an amazing public speaker, an eloquent writer, an artist, or somebody who is a whiz on computers. The only thing that needs to be done is to tap into that resource, something IPS does. It almost forces you to bring out talents you might not have even known you had. This is the ultimate preparation–to not be afraid to try to do something just because you don’t already know you are good at it; to speak up when nobody else will; and to not be afraid to stand up for what you think is right. These are the things that set IPS students apart from the rest and what makes its graduates unique. In short, IPS already does an amazing job at preparing students, as it has been said many times before: “You leave with a head on your shoulders”.

Josh Baker, IPS Class of 2009 & Current Grade 10 student enrolled the pre-IB Diploma Program @ WVSS