High School Going Global

Concord-Carlisle is jumping into the global melting pot.

There's a new program at CCHS designed to foster global awareness in high school students. The Global Literacy Program aims to provide CCHS graduates with the essential 21st century skills and a global perspective.

The goal of the program is to better prepare our students to participate in an increasingly "flattened world."

This program encourages students to think globally, to improve their foreign language skills, and to be able to communicate effectively with people across cultural and language divides. The program acknowledges those students who want to learn more about other cultures and the relationships among people across the globe. Based on their interests, students can choose to participate in the program and complete the requirements necessary to earn the Global Literacy Certificate (GLC) over their high school career.

In order to be eligible for the certificate, students must fulfill academic requirements as well as community service requirements. One of the requirements is three years of foreign language study at the high school level or its equivalent.

CCHS offers many opportunities for students to participate in clubs and trips that focus on global awareness; through these activities, the students learn about a culture different from their own and make a worthy contribution. Some students choose to travel and/or volunteer during the summer months, or school vacations with programs that are not affiliated with the high school.

The interested students can submit an application to the Global Literacy Committee, for approval before they embark on their travel and/or community service. The committee is made up of teachers and administrators.

This past May, the first three certificates were awarded. The recipients were seniors Kathryn Miller, Rebecca Schneyer and junior Alex Gutwillig. They received the Global Literacy Certificate at Awards Night, on May 12, 2010. They have participated in the CCHS cultural exchange with Japan and were recognized for volunteering locally and in Nicaragua and Costa Rica. This certificate acknowledges these students for striving to better understand global issues and for developing an appreciation for world cultures and perspectives.

Today's students are the global citizens of tomorrow. CCHS hopes to encourage and recognize more students who are willing to actively learn about global issues, who develop their own values and perspectives, and who use their knowledge to contribute responsibly to their local and global communities. For more information please see http://cchsglobalcertificate.concordcarlisle.wikispaces.net/ on the CCHS web page, or email Iolanda Volpe, foreign language teacher and Global Literacy Certificate coordinator, ivolpe@colonial.net.