This fall, Wareham High School will be offering a new International Baccalaureate class — one designed to be accessible, said Assistant Superintendent Andrea Schwamb.

International Baccalaureate is a global education program that “enables students to direct their own learning pathway and develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive,” according to the program’s website.

The high school offers International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement courses in addition to college preparatory courses and honors courses.

Some students in the high school view the International Baccalaureate program as “elite,” said Schwamb. Now, administrators are hoping to change that notion.

“[International Baccalaureate] is trying to break those barriers of what it used to be – which was an elite program – into an all-inclusive program,” said Schwamb.

The high school applied for candidacy for the program in 2015 and it was officially introduced in 2017. Since then, five students have graduated with International Baccalaureate diplomas.

“IB puts the kids in the driver's seat — it’s less about who we are and more about who they are,” said Carolyn Gomes Vieira, one of the educators teaching the new course. “It makes them dial into learning.”

The inclusive class is the high school’s first step in redefining the program.

IB Language and Literature is being taught to grade 11 by educators Gomes Vieira and Thiphaphorn Lail. In the class, students will read four pieces of literature in conjunction with other forms of writing or media that will create a wider worldview, explained Gomes Vieria

“The way that we are presenting it and doing all these different types of learning, I think that it makes it more accessible,” said Lail. “It’s not just about reading books, it’s about listening to music and other forms of media. … It connects to everybody.”

“I think that this is more student-centered,” explained Gomes Vieria. “The kids can connect to [the curriculum] any way they can connect to it.”

The International Baccalaureate exam will be optional for the students in the inclusion class. Students who want to potentially gain college credit for the course will be able to take the exam.

“We are going to modify [the course] for each student,” said Gomes Vieira. “We are excited about it.”

Gomes Vieira and Lail are hoping that this course will help to unite high school students and show students that anyone can participate in the International Baccalaureate program.

Schwamb said there are many special education students who are excited and looking forward to the new class.