Global Education Program Gains New Ground

Barstow Communications
Barstow's commitment to developing global citizens gained new ground in 2020. Our school welcomed three additional partner schools in France, Hong Kong and Ukraine. Virtual learning experiences and exchanges are already underway.
From Kansas City to Kyiv
Grade 6 Human Geography students are connecting with peers in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv during their study of urban development and city sprawl. While students in Jennifer Padberg’s class studied the layout of public and private spaces in cities, sixth grade students at Lycée Anne de Kiev have been learning about their own city, home to nearly three million people.
 
For one of their group activities, students compared Kansas City, Kyiv and surrounding communities through photos and videos. They found inspiration in the work of French photographer Jean-Marc Caracci, who shared his photos and answered students’ questions about his passion for capturing images of cities and their unique qualities.
 
“The project has encouraged the students to think about their city and beyond; their relationship to their city, how they use the spaces, how they move in their city, what kind of landscapes they observe, and how they can influence each other's perspectives of life,” Director of Global Education Ilsy Blachly said.  
 
Barstow students were excited to practice phrases in French and Ukrainian during the exchange, and the students in Kyiv practiced their English speaking skills. Other activities included introduction videos and handwritten postcards shared electronically. Each class created a Google map where they pinned the location of their favorite places in the city, landmarks and public parks. Students in Kyiv also created an online game for Barstow students to learn more about Ukraine.
 
On Thursday, Dec. 17, students joined a Zoom video chat to compare and contrast both cities and to share what they found surprising about each other’s communities. After winter break, students will continue working together in one-on-one pairs.
 
Additional Global Partners
In addition to Lycée Anne de Kiev, the global education program developed new partnerships with Groupe Scolaire Chevreul Lestonnac in Lyon, France, and Man Kwan Pak Kau College in Hong Kong.
 
Students in grades 6, 7 and 12 have begun work on shared projects with our new partner school in Lyon as they prepare to study Europe in their geography courses.

Upper school student council members and students in the Global Education Club will participate in the Global Leadership Link  online conference in January. The conference will be hosted by Man Kwan Pak Kau College, providing real-world perspectives on global issues and helping students create innovative solutions that can make our world a better place. The conference will also offer opportunities for students from different countries to participate in a panel discussion on the following issues:
  • New ways of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Challenges that they have faced under this new way of learning.
  • Preferences among in-person, online and blended learning.
Last year, Barstow began a partnership Institution Sainte Jeanne D'arc in Dakar, Senegal. Students in Environmental Science AP® are participating in a shared science project with students there. Next semester, kindergarten classes will also learn about Africa with our friends in Senegal and South Africa. 
 
Barstow International Partner Schools 2020-2021
 
Launceston Church Grammar School
Tasmania, Australia
 
Cloud Forest School
Monteverde, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
 
Colegio La Merced
Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
 
Institution Sainte Jeanne D'arc
Dakar, Senegal
 
Deutsche Schule Madrid
Madrid, Spain
 
Le Lycée Saint-Pierre
Bourg-en-Bresse, France
 
Groupe Scolaire Chevreul Lestonnac
Lyon, France
 
The Barstow School of Ningbo
Ningbo, China
 
Lycée Anne de Kiev
Kyiv, Ukraine 
 
Man Kwan Pak Kau College
Tin Shui Wai, Hong Kong
Back
    • Lycée Anne de Kiev students showed Barstow sixth graders landmarks in their country during a virtual exchange in December.

    • During their study of urban development, students examined the work of French photographer Jean-Marc Caracci.

    • They drew inspiration from Caracci's work to take their own photos.

    • Sixth grade students in Kansas City and Kyiv connected via video chat.

    • Barstow added three new international partner schools through the global education program during the first semester of 2020-2021.