Celebrating 20 Years of IB at White Oaks Secondary School

For 20 years, White Oaks Secondary School has been providing students with opportunities to challenge themselves, explore their interests and prepare for success beyond high school through its International Baccalaureate (IB) program. To celebrate this milestone, White Oaks SS is reflecting on two decades of academic achievement, personal growth and lasting connections made through the program.

The IB program is a globally recognized, two-year program for students in Grades 11 and 12. The rigorous program encourages students to develop critical thinking, research and problem-solving skills while gaining a deeper understanding of their subjects and the world around them. Recognized by universities in more than 110 countries, IB can provide graduates with opportunities for advanced standing, course credits and scholarships. Students who successfully complete the program earn both the IB Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

White Oaks SS students in IB achieve exceptional results, including the rare accomplishment of earning perfect scores across all six subject areas, along with an ‘A’ in both Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay.

White Oaks SS alumni who have achieved this impressive feat include Kaiya Ajmera and Zoe Vasilijevic in 2026, Yanzi Guo and Bana Maarouf in 2025, and former Student Trustee Dasha Metropolitansky in 2018, who went on to attend Harvard University.

While academic achievement is an important part of the IB experience, the program’s impact extends well beyond the classroom. Over the past 20 years, students have built friendships, challenged themselves and developed skills that have stayed with them long after graduation. White Oaks SS is currently ranked 29th among secondary schools in Ontario in the Fraser Institute’s 2025 annual school rankings.

“Reaching this 20-year milestone is a testament to the dedication of our educators, students and school community,” says Mark Duley, Principal at White Oaks Secondary School. “The IB Diploma Programme provides students with extraordinary opportunities to build confidence, independence and research skills that serve them well into post-secondary education and beyond.”

As White Oaks SS celebrates 20 years of IB, alumni are looking back on their time in the program and reflecting on the people, experiences and lessons that have shaped them.

Read the alumni reflections below to hear their stories and learn more about the lasting impact of 20 years of IB at White Oaks SS.

Khushi Padala

What year did you graduate and complete the IB Programme?

I graduated from WOSS in 2021, completing the IB Programme right in the middle of the COVID pandemic (2019–2021)!

What are you doing now? 

I’m currently wrapping up my final year in the BBA program at Wilfrid Laurier University, after recently returning from an unbelievable exchange term studying abroad in Spain. My time at university has been filled with incredible growth, I was the Captain of the Laurier Case Team, and I spent my most recent co-op terms working on the public equities investing teams at OMERS and EdgePoint Wealth Management.

Looking back, what did the IB Programme at WOSS mean to you?

The IB Programme at WOSS was incredible for both my personal and professional life, and it was because of three key things. First, I was able to meet such incredible and like-minded people, and today I have lifelong friends doing amazing things all over the map, from London and New York to San Francisco and beyond. Secondly, the teachers at WOSS spent so much time to make the IB programme incredibly robust providing us with feedback and many subject options like the French immersion programme.  Finally, IB completely set me up for long-term success. WOSS created a rigorous environment, which taught me how to work hard, stay organized, and build resilience that served me in university and my career.

Are there any teachers, experiences or opportunities from the program that had a lasting impact on you?

I never was personally taught by Ms. Ivey, however I participated in DECA which Ms Ivey and Mr. Hurley ran. In grade 10, alongside Riya we were able to qualify and compete in ICDC which was located in Orlando. Participating in DECA was such an incredible experience, it was the first time I had travelled outside of the country without my parents! Ms. Ivey, fostered a great environment to learn more about business and set us up better to compete. Ms. Ivey, was also a big supporter of Laurier which made me really excited to go!

In what ways did the IB Programme help prepare you for your education, career or life after high school?

IB is known for its academic rigor, but juggling that workload alongside clubs and sports forced me to master time management, prioritization, and day-to-day organization early on. Beyond the classroom, the CAS requirements encouraged me to step out of the academic bubble and immerse myself in community initiatives and volunteer work. When I got to university, the academic transition was much easier in comparison to my peers. The first year of university can be shocking because it's so heavily exam-focused, but because of IB, I was already accustomed to higher weighted exams and critical thinking.

What advice would you give to current or future WOSS IB students?

My biggest advice is to make the absolute most of every moment, because it flies by! IB can definitely feel overwhelming at times, so remember to take care of yourself, lean on your peers, and enjoy the ride together. Looking back now, some of my favorite memories are actually the late nights spent studying with friends, editing each other’s Extended Essays, and pushing through the grind together. WOSS is such a special place, and the experiences and friendships you build here will stay with you long after you graduate!

Spencer Lynn

What year did you graduate and complete the IB Programme?
2018

What are you doing now?
Project Finance Lawyer in NYC

In what ways did the IB Programme help prepare you for your education, career or life after high school?
I started my high school elsewhere but transferred to WOSS for the IB Programme. I can't stress enough how impactful this decision was, and how fortunate I am to have parents who encourage me to challenge myself. Academically, the intellectual stimulation from advanced course material was second to none, and the structure of the instruction and evaluations (including exposure to major exams, key projects throughout the year, and cumulative essays) equipped me with the study skills and habits to excel in university. Opportunities to explore content beyond the scope of the traditional curriculum also taught me how to wrestle with foreign and complex concepts and it really helped develop my intellectual curiosity that shaped my career. That said, I strongly believe that the greatest benefit of the IB Programme is the cohort of students you learn alongside. I was surrounded by exceptionally well-rounded people who enjoyed learning while also excelling in diverse extracurriculars. I was so inspired by those around me and the collaborative nature of the program helped us learn together and push each other, rather than competing with one another. I was inspired from day one and many of my classmates remain my closest friends who continue making me a more ambitious, thoughtful and kind person. Regardless of the diverse paths we all took, the IB Programme is an experience that continues to unite us all, and the discipline and skills that we developed continue to compound year after year. 

What advice would you give to current or future WOSS IB students?
The IB Programme is a major commitment and is candidly quite difficult. However, if you enjoy challenging yourself, learning beyond what is taught within the four walls of the classroom, and being surrounded by bright and ambitious people from different backgrounds, the IB Programme will be exceptionally rewarding. On top of all the short-term tangible benefits (like earning university credits in high school that ease your workload in undergrad), I look back on my time in the program and attribute a major amount of my current success to it (even almost 10 years and two degrees later)! Though intensive, the program isn't all-consuming as I was still able to maintain a rich personal and social life including playing soccer at a high level (6 times a week) while still having sufficient free time to enjoy with friends and family. I'd encourage everyone that loves to learn and is intellectually curious to be a part of the program because the extra hours and time scratching your brain for the few years in IB and at WOSS will prove extremely fruitful for the rest of your life (and there will be a lot of fun moments along the way)!