Greenwich Academy’s Initiatives for the Future Develop Leaders for 21st Century

Greenwich Academy is pleased to announce the launch of Initiatives for the Future, a springboard for exciting new programs designed to help girls and young women develop the skills they will need to become leaders in the 21^st century. To sustain the growth and evolution of these innovative programs, endowment funds will continue to be raised through the Campaign for the Future.

Associate Head of School and Director of the Initiatives for the Future, Mark Feiner, remarked that, “GA is as strong as it is because it endeavors, always, to improve itself. Our faculty is always innovating, and many of the Initiatives for the Future are the outgrowth of that innovation. If there is a mission that links all of the initiatives, it is the desire for our students to see the entire world as their campus and to believe that with the right combination of intellect, creativity and character, they can help to make that world a better place.” Head of School Molly King continued, “Some initiatives have already been launched with great success and will surely continue to grow. Others will begin in the immediate future, including our exciting new partnerships with Shanghai No. 3 Girls’ School and the Global Online Academy.”

Opened In 1892, Shanghai No. 3 Girls’ School has a distinguished history of educating some of China's most talented young girls. Much like Greenwich Academy, No. 3 Girls’ School maintains a strong commitment to academic excellence, service and global citizenship. While the relationship between the two schools will extend to all students on both campuses, those girls learning Mandarin will serve as hosts for the visiting students and faculty. GA girls and faculty will be invited to visit Shanghai in March 2013, where they will have an opportunity to attend classes and live with host families. Students from both schools will be able to practice their language skills and deepen their knowledge of each other’s cultures. Mrs. King and new Chairman of the Board Tim Morris will be visiting No. 3 School in November to attend the inaugural ceremony for this partnership. 

Director of Global Initiatives Connie Blunden captured the excitement surrounding this development when she noted, “The most powerful tool for the 21st century will be the ability to form meaningful relationships with people from around the world. From there all things will be possible. No. 3 Girls’ and Greenwich Academy both value the building of such relationships and understand the transformative nature of cross-cultural exchanges. We are absolutely thrilled to welcome their students to our campus this year and look forward to our time in China."

Greenwich Academy’s participation in the Global Online Academy (GOA) represents another game-changer in the education of its students. Director of the Duff Center for STEM Initiatives Dr. Ann Decker commented, “It would not be an overstatement to say that online education initiatives represent the biggest pedagogical shift of the 21^st century.” The 22 world-class member schools of the GOA have come together to offer a diverse array of online courses.  Since GOA has partners globally, students have the opportunity to interact with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds and geographical locations thus exposing them to varied opinions and points of view. Sophomores, juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to enroll in GOA courses as part of their Greenwich Academy schedule of classes, and next fall, Greenwich Academy teachers will also be offering courses through the GOA.

Mrs. King shared, “It is imperative that today’s students and emerging leaders understand the necessity of a global perspective, taking ownership of their education, the application of technology to learning, and the value of collaborative learning and problem solving. As with our objectives for the Initiatives for the Future as a whole, our partnerships with No. 3 Girls’ School and Global Online Academy are intended to empower Greenwich Academy girls to become leaders for positive change, foster creativity and a spirit of innovation, and enhance students’ engagement in their world, both locally and globally.”

Greenwich Academy is an independent college-preparatory day school for girls and young women that seeks to foster excellence. Its mission is to provide a challenging, comprehensive educational experience grounded in a rigorous liberal arts curriculum within an inclusive, diverse community. The school’s objective is to develop girls and young women of exceptional character and achievement who demonstrate independence, resilience, courage, integrity and compassion. To learn more about Greenwich Academy, visit: www.greenwichacademy.org.