IB Newsletter - Alexander Mackenzie High School February 2026
Dear Parents/Guardians:
I hope you are doing well. In this newsletter, you will find important information and updates regarding the IB Programme at Alexander Mackenzie High School.
Semester 2 Has Begun
Semester 2 began on February 2 and will run until the end of June. We wish all students a successful and productive semester.
Course Selection (Feb 12-20)
Students will soon be registering for courses they wish to take in the next school year through a process known as Course Selection. This year, the course selection window runs from February 12 to February 20.
Course selection is a critical planning process for the school. The data allows us to:
- Allocate appropriate resources,
- Determine staffing needs,
- Decide whether to add, combine, or cancel courses based on enrolment, and
- Plan the number of sections for IB-specific courses.
For Grades 9 and 10, there are mandatory IB-streamed courses along with elective options.
Our Guidance Department will support students throughout this process. To ensure students receive accurate and program-specific information, the following grade-specific workshops will be offered via Google Meet:
For Gr. 9 into Gr. 10 - Period 1 on February 10th
For Gr. 10 into Gr. 11 - Period 3 on February 10th
For Gr. 11 into Gr. 12 - Period 2 on February 11th
These workshops will cover course selection for students in the regular program as well as specialized programs, including IB, Arts, and SHSM.
Courses required for each grade in our IB program can be found here.
Course descriptions can be found here.
Information for Current Grade 10 Students Entering Grade 11 (DP1) in September 2026
It is very important for students and families to discuss Group 3, 4, and 6 subject choices. Students entering DP1 must select three Higher Level (HL) and three Standard Level (SL) courses.
Suggested Pathways:
- Students interested in STEM fields (science, engineering, health sciences):
- Group 3: Psychology or History
- Group 4: Chemistry HL
- Group 6: Physics or Biology
- Students interested in non-STEM fields (business, social sciences, humanities):
- Group 3: History
- Group 4: Physics or Biology
- Group 6: Psychology
- In this pathway, Chemistry HL is not required.
Please note:
- The IB Diploma requires 3 HL and 3 SL courses.
- If a student chooses Music SL or Theatre Arts SL for Group 6, and their remaining SL courses are French SL and Physics/Biology SL, they must choose Chemistry HL in Group 4 to meet the IB requirement.
All course offerings are subject to Ministry of Education guidelines and student enrolment numbers. Courses with insufficient interest may not run.
IB Council Course Selection Information Session
Our IB Council, led by DP1 and DP2 students, is hosting an IB-specific course selection information session:
- Date: Tuesday, February 10
- Time: After school
- Location: School Library
This session is designed specifically for current Grade 10 students entering DP1 next year. If your child has questions or would like clarification about IB course selection, we strongly encourage them to attend.
Extended Essay (EE) – DP1 Students
Grade 11 students have now been assigned an Extended Essay mentor teacher who will guide them through the EE process. There will be multiple workshops and checkpoints throughout this year and next, leading up to the final EE submission in December 2026.
We kindly encourage families to check in with students about their EE progress approximately once a month.
Thank you for your continued support of the IB Programme at AMHS. Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Benjamin Law (benjamin.law@yrdsb.ca)
IB Coordinator, Alexander Mackenzie High School, York Region District School Board
905-884-0554 ext 419