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IB Club Keeps Parents In Loop

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 17, 2008

GANDY - Students come from all over the county - from Westchase to Riverview - to Robinson High School's International Baccalaureate program.

That can make it difficult for parents to establish community connections, said Marykay Holt, whose daughter Lauren is a freshman in the IB program.

It's one of the reasons Holt joined Robinson IB Link, or RIBLI, a new booster club for the program, which was recognized by the school board Sept. 4 for receiving its IB certification.

"It has been a positive thing for someone who is new to find out what's happening and get tips from other parents," said Holt of Davis Islands.

The 70-member parent group supports the school's PTSA. Its goal is to be a network for parents and a bolster for the program, which serves about 96 juniors, 104 sophomores and 140 freshmen.

"Everything goes back to, 'Does it enrich the IB experience?'" said group President Debra Faulk of Palma Ceia West, whose son Clayton is a sophomore.

The four-year, college-preparatory IB program focuses on international education and is offered in about 2,400 schools in 129 countries, according to the International Baccalaureate Organization's Web site.

In Hillsborough County, King and Hillsborough high schools have parent groups for their IB programs.

At Robinson, RIBLI has connected parents for car pools, is producing an IB student directory and helping host freshman orientation. It also will offer student and faculty mini-grants and host parent socials, such as the Mix 'n Mingle set for Oct. 7 at GrillSmith, 1108 S. Dale Mabry Highway.

Betsy Arizu, an IB guidance counselor, was thrilled with parents' response in forming RIBLI.

"To be linked with the parents creates a vital partnership that is a crucial component to student success in IB," Arizu said.

Diane Fenimore of Town 'N Country is RIBLI's president-elect.

"Once a kid gets to high school, you're kind of out of the loop," said Fenimore, whose daughter Veronica is a sophomore. "Anything that impacts them, we want to be involved with."

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Mix 'n Mingle social for parents in the Robinson IB Link booster club

WHEN: 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 7

WHERE: GrillSmith, 1108 S. Dale Mabry Highway

CONTACT: Debra Faulk at debrafaulk@aol.com

GET CONNECTED

WHAT: Robinson IB Link booster club

COST: $10 annual membership; $50 business membership

CONTACT: Debra Faulk at (813) 258-2599, debra faulk@aol.com or http://robinsonhs.mysdhc.org/robinsonIB/Parents/

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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