Interdisciplinary Learning and Leading at Castilleja

Interdisciplinary Learning and Leading at Castilleja

At Castilleja, intellectually curious and engaged students learn to think critically, contribute responsibly, lead boldly, and thrive physically, socially, and emotionally. Our intentional and robust academic program allows students to engage deeply in ageappropriate and complex interdisciplinary problem-solving. Grounded in a culture of care, our program responds to girls’ evolving needs and individual interests, preparing them to explore both independently and collaboratively. Through varied experiences within and beyond the Circle, students develop global competence, active citizenship, and ethical leadership. A Castilleja education prepares students to seize the moment as they develop skills for the future.

“What’s Possible?” Castilleja’s Strategic Plan

Strategic Plan

The first key goal outlined in the Student Experience section of our most recent strategic planning process asserts that in the next five to seven years, we must integrate emerging fields of knowledge with learning experiences inside and outside the classroom.

One concrete way to achieve this goal is to bring the hard work we have been doing to identify Interdisciplinary Contents Areas (ICAs) to the forefront of our programming. This shift will provide a framework for learning that empowers girls to engage meaningfully in real-world challenges.

Over recent years, we have refined our priorities and defined the ICAs. We believe these seven themes are essential to an understanding of our present world and the future world we aspire toward. These ideas are far reaching and present interconnected challenges and opportunities to the next generation of women leaders.

Interdisciplinary Content Areas

• Design and Innovation: A creative, iterative process to answer a question or solve a problem.

• Emerging Technologies: New or evolving applications of technology with the potential to bring about significant economic and/or social change.

• Environmental Sustainability: Development to meet current needs while safeguarding resources for future generations.

• Global Systems: Identities* and institutions that shape and are shaped by social infrastructure, resource allocation, and cultural values. *Such as: geographic, political, legal, economic, and cultural.

• Social Justice: An examination of equity, access, participation, and rights within an institution or society.

• Truth and Beauty: The pursuit of knowledge and understanding; an awakening to delight in creation and immersion.

• Women in the World: A focus on women’s contributions and experiences and the contexts in which these occur.