Oakville high school graduate records highest score attainable in ‘challenging’ program

St. Thomas of Aquinas Catholic Secondary School student Sofia Silva finished with the highest attainable score in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme.

The graduating Halton Catholic District School Board student from Oakville finished the school year with an impressive 43 out of 45 points in her studies and a seven out of seven in her Business Management, Biology, Economics, Mathematics and French courses, the high score attainable in an IB course.

“I believe that graduating from St. Thomas Aquinas’ IB Diploma Programme has been one of the most rewarding decisions I have made,” said Silva. “Although rigorous and challenging, the knowledge I gained in the process has unlocked my curiosity and has forged the way I see the world.

“The holistic nature of the program helped me become confident in a range of subject areas, including economics, biology and French, equipping me for any career path I wanted to choose.”

IB Programmes, open to students ages 16 to 19, encourage both personal development and academic achievement challenging students to think critically, to ask the right questions and think across disciplines. An IB education also fosters diversity, curiosity and a healthy appetite for learning.

Schools must be authorized to teach IB programmes.

Silva said the IB Diploma Programme also helped her develop personalized study habits and learn time management skills that she is ready to apply in university.

“This includes making time for creative, active, and service-oriented activities through components such as CAS, teaching me that the key to academic success is also rooted in a balanced schedule that nurtures our human nature,” said Silva, who has registered in the International Relations Program this fall at the University of Toronto.

Silva adds the most valuable takeaway from her IB experience is the support she received from her fellow students and staff.

“Through all the adversities we faced, I always felt encouraged and motivated by my classmates and teachers, and I am so proud of our collective achievements throughout this journey,” she said. “I am so grateful for the community and learnings the IB has gifted me with, and I am so excited to see how it will help lead to our eventual success in our post-secondary endeavours!”