Fridley High School, an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, hosted its 12th annual Silver Platter Breakfast Celebration on December 21, 2021. FHS seniors who are enrolled in the full IB Diploma Programme (DP) presented their extended essays, a culminating research project for those pursuing the IB Diploma. This year, the celebration recognized 13 seniors who are participating in the highly rigorous college preparatory program.
To earn an IB Diploma, students must complete DP core classes, assessments and exams during their junior and/or senior years of high school. The challenging DP pathway is a course of study that is considered a prestigious distinction on college applications and offers students the opportunity to earn college credits.
The extended essay is an externally assessed in-depth study into a topic that teaches high-level research and writing skills, intellectual discovery and creativity. Each topic is independently selected by participating students, which allows Diploma candidates to engage in personal research while readily preparing for their next steps in higher education.
Congratulations to the 2021-22 IB Diploma candidates: Karina Daniels-Carlson, Eric Dean, Ryken Farr, Salma Hassan, Andrew Hill, Emily Hill, Ellie Hinnenkamp, Elizabeth Lor, Michele Martinez-Rosales, Greta McCoy, Sophia Pehl, Devika Ramnarine, and Priya Rana.
Fridley Public Schools is the first and only school district in Minnesota to offer the full IB Continuum from Preschool to Grade 12. Students begin their IB journeys in Fridley Preschool with the Primary Years Programme (PYP), and advance through the interdisciplinary and whole-child approach to education through PYP at Hayes or Stevenson Elementary, and Middle Years Programme (MYP) at Fridley Middle School and Fridley High School. During junior year, students have the opportunity to pursue the Diploma Programme (DP) or Career-related Programme (CP), both highly rigorous courses of study. FHS students are able to enroll in any number of DP courses, where they continue to develop college preparatory skills. Students are also offered many opportunities to pursue career-ready certification and preparatory education in areas including Emergency Medical Responder/Emergency Medical Technician or CompTIA A+ Information Technology certification.
Pictured above, l-r, back row: Ellie Hinnenkamp, Greta McCoy, Karina Daniels-Carlson, Ryken Farr. Front row: Michele Martinez-Rosales, Emily Hill, Priya Rana, Devika Ramnarine, Sophia Pehl, Andrew Hill, and Elizabeth Lor. Not Pictured: Eric Dean and Salma Hassan.
Presentation of the IB Diploma
In addition to the presentation of the extended essays, seven FHS Class of 2021 graduates earned the IB Diploma. The internationally-recognized IB Diploma represents a highly advanced and rigorous high school education.
Congratulations to the following FHS alumni who accomplished this exceptional achievement: Abhinav Bijlwan (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Engineering); Grace Brant (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Nursing); Ellen Delp (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Journalism); Isabelle Dircks (Dance Instructor at More Than Dance); Louisa Schirmacher (Winona State University, English); Michael Ude (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Electrical Engineering); and Jason Vanderwerf (University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Biomedical Engineering).
Pictured are Grace Brant, Ellen Delp, Michael Ude and Louisa Schirmacher.