Loyola School Monthly Newsletter Issue #1 October 2016 LOYOLA SCHOOL REDEFINES “GLOBAL” EDUCATION: Many schools across the nation have introduced exchange programs to expose their students to a more global perspective on issues. Loyola School, however, has moved far beyond student exchanges in its quest to deliver a Global Education to their students. In fact, the NY-based Jesuit high school is in the process of transforming its entire curriculum to accomplish it. No other Jesuit high school in the U.S is doing this, and very few (if any) public or private high schools have immersed themselves this deeply in a quest to provide a Global Education. Loyola School’s “Global Initiative” venture is a 3-5 year program whose goal is to create a “globally competent” graduate who “demonstrates empathy and a complex understanding of the world from multiple perspectives; seeking to critically understand and take action on global issues through collaboration, perseverance, and problem solving.” Each year of study focuses on a separate theme:
Freshmen – Identity: Culture and Self Sophomores - Sustainability: Environmental Juniors – Human Rights Senior – Taking Action: Citizenship and Advocacy
The school has already begun introducing these elements into the curriculum. For ex., for juniors, the English, History and Language departments are doing an interdisciplinary project on Native Americana. For seniors, an interdisciplinary project involving the History and Biology departments focuses on the "Dirty War" in Argentina. In the project the AP Biology class and the Forensics elective class will study the use of DNA in identifying the children of the "desaparecidos," the disappeared parents whose children were adopted by their torturers. More global elements will be introduced each semester, as will partnerships with community groups and individuals to serve as guest speakers and mentors. Each issue of the Loyola School newsletter will contain updates about this “Global Initiative”.
TURKEY, CRANBERRY SAUCE . . . AND AN ANONYMOUS DONOR WITH A GIANT HEART: Loyola School is teaming up with four other NY Metro-area Jesuit high schools for their annual Thanksgiving food drives to raise awareness about hunger while filling local food banks and pantries with tens of thousands of pounds of much-needed provisions for needy families. This friendly but spirited competition, called “The Great Ignatian Challenge”, runs from October 18 – November 18, 2016. One anonymous individual was so inspired by the students’ spirit of giving that he/she pledged up to $250,000 for tuition assistance at the participating schools. The four other participating schools besides Loyola are Fordham Preparatory School, Regis High School, Saint Peter’s Prep, and Xavier High School. For more information, visit Loyola School’s website at http://www.loyolanyc.org/about/news/the-great-ignatian-challenge THE UNITED NATIONS, THE GIRL SCOUTS, AND THE “INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE GIRL”: For the past nine years Loyola School Sophomore Molly Maresca has been a Girl Scout of Troop 3147. Recently the Chelsea, NY native completed a 15-month program run by the Girl Scouts Leadership Institute (GSLI) which teaches young women leadership skills and exposes them to successful female role models "so that today’s girls can become tomorrow’s leaders". In celebration of “International Day of the Girl” on October 11, Molly and approximately 30 former and present members of GSLI were invited to a private panel to meet and interact with two female UN ambassadors who have helped create the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Later the group was given a private tour of the United Nations and given access to areas such as the Assembly Hall and Council Chamber. Molly felt privileged to stand “where some of the most significant global decisions have been made,” and she added that “it was a truly unforgettable experience that will be eternally grateful to the Girl Scouts for providing.”
For more info: Donald Tremblay (Loyola School Publicist) dtremblay@earthlink.net 718-664-3405
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