Season's greetings from the IB alumni network! We hope you enjoy this edition of the Alumni Network Newsletter.

In 2013, we'll be reaching out to our alumni community to create local alumni chapters. The goal is to bring local networking, volunteer, and career opportunities to IB alumni. In October, we opened the first chapter in Singapore. This is a new effort being driven by the alumni community and we need your help.

Currently, we are partnering with alumni in the locations below. If you would like to become a part of the chapter effort, please follow the links below or contact us at alumni.relations@ibo.org:

• Toronto, Canada: The global chair of the IB alumni advisory council, Deron Fung, is leading the way in Tornonto. You can contact him directly through the Chapter's Facebook group.

• Den Haag, Netherlands: Join Alumni Council Member Ali Edelstein and IB staff to establish a chapter with support from the IB Global Centre in Den Haag. Facebook.

• London, United Kingdom: Support our alumni council members based in London by bringing together the IB community in 2013. This chapter is being led by Alumni Council Chair Dilara Alibayova. Facebook.

• Washington, DC, United States: Join our staff in the IB Global Centre in Bethesda to kickstart a chapter with graduates living in the US capital. We are looking for alumni to help plan our first event in DC. To get involved, email us at alumni.relations@ibo.org or help kickstart our Facebook group.

• Costa Rica: This official IB alumni chapter  was born in October 2012 and has 100 active members. If you would like to join contact them at daniel@asobitico.org. “Ticos” living abroad as well as non Ticos who studied in Costa Rica are welcome to join this exciting initiative.

• Singapore: We launched the first ever IB chapter event in Singapore in October. Join us to support our next event in mid 2013. You can reach out to the chapter leadership on Facebook.

Dilara Alibayova shares her thoughts on the work of the IB Alumni Advisory Alumni Council.  She is serving as Chair of the council for Africa, Europe and the Middle East (AEM). This year's council members gathered in September 2012 and will be working with the IB through their term ending in June 2013.

Read more from AEM Alumni Council Chair Dilara

Would you like to submit a letter as an alumnus for the IB alumni blog? Email us with your thoughts at alumni.relations@ibo.org

The Common Core IB Summit gathered educators on the 12 December to catalyze the shift that connects the IB to Common Core standards. The event included a keynote from Christine Tell, Director of Achive Inc., and a panel discussion with administrators, teachers and policy makers.

Common Core IB Summit highlights

This Washington Post Live forum on education brought together key stakeholders on the 10 December to discuss how the United States can raise its global standing in education.

Washington Post forum on education highlights

Interested in working with the IB? There are regular openings located around the world and we would be glad to hear from a qualified alumnus like you:

• Paralegal Associate (Geneva)
• Intellectual Property and Licensing Manager (Geneva)
• IB Educators Network (IBEN)  Associate (Singapore)
• IT Security Engineer (Den Haag)
• Information Systems Coordinator (Den Haag)
• Curriculum Manager Group 6, Music and Dance (Den Haag)
• Solution Design Team Lead (Den Haag)
• Assessment Quality Officer (Cardiff, Wales)
• Managing Editor (Maryland, US)
• Production Editor (Maryland, US)

The IB is already preparing for the upcoming World Student Conferences in July.  Last year, participants in Segovia and Vancouver gathered from around the world for a week of activities. Through conference events, students collaborated with their peers, university faculty and field area experts to develop innovative solutions to legal, economic, political and social issues affecting the world today.

For full details visit ibo.org/wsc

To help support the World Student Conferences this year, consider giving the gift of IB.  Last year, 55 students were awarded scholarships to attend a conference and we need your support again this year.

• $5: Contributes to a general scholarship fund for talented IB students who are in need of financial support in order to attend.
• $15: Preferred donation amount to help jumpstart this effort.
• $50 / $25 (students): You will be listed as a supporter in the conference program; in addition, you will have the option of attending the keynote if you live near a conference (limited).

Do know an IB student that could benefit from a scholarship to one of the World Student Conferences? Apply by 4 February 2012.

Across the globe, IB students are applying their skills to leave a positive impact on the world around them. Here's a roundup of IB community members that are making headlines:

Asia Pacific

IB MYP student raises awareness of street kids in Malaysia: Street kids are everywhere in the world, especially in bigger cities like Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian IB school making its mark: Fairview International School's Diploma Programme students graduated with top marks.

Education Renaissance: Katoh Gakuen Gyoshu Middle and High School in Numazu, Japan, encourage students to think and act globally by incorporating elements of the diploma program into its own curriculum.

Africa, Europe and the Middle East

Music stars want EBacc arts option: Lloyd Webber wrote: "The International Baccalaureate - a respected, challenging and rigorous qualification - includes a sixth pillar of creative, intellectually rigorous subject options and we are asking for the EBacc to do the same."

ACS will offer the IB Career Related Certificate (IBCC): The IB Organisation launched the IBCC in March 2011, with the aim of bridging the gap between academic and career-related programmes.

International baccalaureate students set for success: When it comes to university entrance, IB students were more likely than their peers with A-levels to enrol at one of the top 20 higher-education institutions in the UK.

From struggling student to international art guru: After completing her IB diploma in Wales, alumna Wangechi Mutu worked three jobs to cover living expenses and fees while studying at Cooper Union School of Art in New York City.

Americas

Ohio IB schools receive $100,000 Innovation Grant: The school district will receive the grant award for its efforts to share resources in establishing an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.

Senior wins WSU's $44,000 Barton Scholarship: The Kansas based IB programme senior will receive $11,000 a year for four years to attend Wichita State University.

Kenji Fujimori proposes access to IB schools:  The Peruvian congressman introduced a bill to strengthen science, research and technology through IB programmes (Spanish).