On February 10, Winter Springs High School held the annual IB (International Baccalaureate) Pinning Ceremony for the IB class of 2027. Current juniors met in the auditorium with their families to be officially inducted into the programme and celebrate this achievement with their fellow students, staff members, and teachers.
While freshman and sophomore years are spent in Pre-IB classes, junior year is the first official year of the programme, making it a momentous part of an IB student’s life. This year’s graduating IB class was present at the ceremony to help organize and guide their younger counterparts. The WSHS Valedictorian Sophie Li was also present at the event, and gave a few words of advice for the juniors.
The ceremony consisted of small speeches by Dr. Vickers, Principal Gaffney, and Ms. Sutton. These speeches were then followed by the reading of every IB junior’s name, as well as three accomplishments they submitted to be read aloud. These ranged anywhere from volunteer work, personal goals, competitions, and grades. Each student received a certificate of achievement and an official IB pin on stage.
With their families, friends, and fellow IB students, the juniors were able to be recognized for all the hard work they put into the programme. Mrs. Sullivan, the IB Spanish teacher, and Dr. Knight, the IB Literature teacher for juniors, were both present on the stage, greeting their students with a kind smile and a handshake. After being awarded, the students gathered together on stage to take a group photo alongside their friends.
Hardworking student Julianne Parker greatly appreciated that WSHS takes the time to “appreciate the IB program and the hard work the kids put into it.” With all the work and energy that such a rigorous program requires, the students cherish times like these, where all that effort is recognized.
The IB Pinning Ceremony was a significant moment in these students’ lives, and they were shown that, no matter how hard the work gets, their peers, friends, families, and teachers recognize all their effort.
