2024 Middle School Minimester Program Brochure

PROGRAM GOALS

The Isdell Center for Global Leadership (ICGL) Middle School Minimester program supports Pace Academy's mission to create prepared, confident citizens of the world by taking students out of their familiar classroom environments and allowing them to learn about global issues in real-world settings.

The program's emphasis on immersive and experiential learning around socially relevant topics supports the growth and development of students' global competencies.

GLOBAL MINDEDNESS

The Middle School Minimester program develops global mindedness by helping students understand both the wider world and their place in it, and by encouraging them to take action on global issues.

Students will:

Develop curiosity about the world around them through the discovery of new things.

Be able to pinpoint significant global issues and know how to identify plausible responses.

Understand and appreciate a variety of perspectives around a topic.

Gain an understanding of the connections between local and global.

CULTURAL AWARENESS

The Middle School Minimester program develops cultural awareness by helping students identify their own cultural expressions, practices and value systems—and then recognizing those expressions and values in others.

Students will:

In a safe environment, increase their confidence within their own cultures.

Demonstrate empathy, respect and appreciation by developing genuine interest in others' experiences and traditions.

Be able to explain why certain values and beliefs are shared, and understand the importance of empathy and respect when interacting with those who do not share the same values or beliefs.

Learn and apply the target language, where possible.

ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP

The Middle School Minimester program develops engaged citizenship by supporting students as they learn to connect with community organizations, communicate ideas and collaborate to make the world a better place.

Students will: Gain an understanding of how to learn from other communities.

Develop a deeper awareness of the systems and structures that impact communities. Experience themselves as part of a broader community.

Recognize that they can help develop solutions to community-based issues.

LEADERSHIP SKILLS

The Middle School Minimester program develops leadership skills by helping students learn how to take appropriate action, individually or collaboratively, in response to a local, regional or global issue.

Students will: Collaborate with other communities to overcome real-world problems.

Engage with with a wide spectrum of leaders to understand various leadership styles and their benefits, giving particular attention to cross-cultural practices.

Recognize leadership qualities in others, and identify the qualities they possess or can cultivate to solve global problems.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Abrahamic Faiths in the Modern World

Lisa Dubovy and Rev. Kim Peterson

As global citizens, Pace students must learn about the diverse cultures and societies that make up our global community. Religion plays a significant role in shaping the values, traditions and customs of these societies. In this course, students will develop a clear understanding of the global distribution of the Abrahamic Faiths and the interrelationships between them. Students will explore each faith’s core tenets and modes of worship while examining examples of religious intolerance in the contemporary world. Discussion will focus on ways to promote respect and eradicate intolerance. Field trips to various religious sites and to organizations advocating for religious freedom will allow students to experience a diversity of religious expression throughout Atlanta.

Aerospace Engineering: A Global Industry

The aerospace industry is at the forefront of technological innovation and is increasingly important as we tackle global challenges like climate change, communication and transportation. In this course, students will develop an understanding of the elements of aerospace engineering. Topics will include the difference between aerospace and astronautical engineering, the global supply chain associated with airplane production, the physics of flight, the potential of drone technology to transform “last-mile delivery systems” for commercial and emergency response systems, and the changing landscape of satellite communications. Along with hands-on activities such as building model airplanes and exploring physics while flying drones, students will take a behind-the-scenes tour of Delta Air Lines’ operations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Pete Pope and Declan Traquair

Art & Activism: Addressing Global Issues

Dr. Kirsten Boehner and Katy Cowles

In an increasingly interconnected world, students must understand global issues and their roles as global citizens. Art and activism often transcend borders, making them excellent avenues for exploring international concerns and fostering a sense of global responsibility. In this course, students will gather firsthand perspectives from those using art as a vehicle for activism and then apply their learnings to their own passion projects, ultimately creating collaborative and personal pieces that call attention to and inspire action around global issues. In addition to interviewing artists who work in activist spaces, students will spend time with SCAD educators and artists. Students’ final pieces will be displayed in the Middle School exhibition space.

Civic Engagement & Social Innovation

Ted Ward and Whit Whitmore

In Middle School, we expect students to take on more responsibilities, and learning about civic engagement helps them understand their roles as active citizens in a democratic society. This course provides students with a deeper understanding of the systems and structures that impact communities. Students will meet with community leaders to better understand cross-cultural leadership styles and values, and will develop a deeper understanding of how values and beliefs impact policy-making. They will then evaluate the role of nonprofits, businesses and civil society organizations in the creation of policies that affect local and global communities. Students will enjoy immersive experiences at the Center for Civic Innovation, George Tech’s Engineering for Social Innovation Center, Atlanta’s Office of Innovation Delivery and Performance, and other nonprofits.

Effective Leadership in a Complex World

Graham Anthony and Mark Sommerville

Middle School is a critical period of personal and social development, and introducing leadership concepts at this time has multiple benefits, especially in today's complex world. The Effective Leadership Minimester course will engage students in real-world problem-solving by exploring the tools community leaders use to effectively communicate and collaborate to tackle issues within their organizations. With the goal of identifying their own leadership qualities, students will meet a variety of leaders, examine their leadership styles, understand their cross-cultural leadership values and recognize the various qualities needed for effective leadership. Students will participate in multiple excursions to corporate offices and community organizations.

Food Security: Local Approaches to a Global Issue

Global food security is inextricably linked to challenges such as water scarcity, economic inequality and social policy. By exploring this issue, students will begin to grasp the interconnected nature of global challenges and see how their actions impact the world. This course will foster students’ awareness and understanding of food security at the local and global levels by examining the components of food systems and exploring sustainable food practices. Students will be empowered with the knowledge and skills to make informed choices about food and will take action to address food insecurity in their communities and beyond. For example, students will conduct a map analysis of food availability in different regions and formulate ways to eliminate food deserts. They will also reflect on industrial food systems and their effects on the environment. In what promises to be a highlight of the course, students will build a Ponix hydroponic farm system to be used in the Middle School in for years to come.

Taylor Berry and Kelly Colquitt

Refugee Migration: The Most Diverse Square Mile in America

Andy Lopuszynski and Nancy Quintrell

Refugee migration is an increasingly complex global challenge for countries around the globe. This course will allow students to clearly define refugee status as it relates to other immigration classifications, and to think critically about the root causes of displacement, the challenges faced by refugees and potential solutions. A better understanding of refugee migration can inspire students to get involved in humanitarian efforts, advocacy, and community engagement related to refugee support and resettlement. The experiential learning elements of this course will be rooted in the city of Clarkston in DeKalb County—a refugee community known as the more diverse square mile in America. Students will gain an understanding of the historical significance of Clarkston, volunteer with organizations and schools involved in facilitating refugee settlement, and meet with refugees to learn about their experiences.

Water & Global Cities

Migration to urban areas is expected to increase rapidly over the coming decades. In fact, projections show that by 2050, 70% of the global population will live in urban centers. Major cities around the world already show signs of water stress, and some, including Atlanta, have come within weeks of running out of water. Using Atlanta as a test case, this course will allow students to develop a working knowledge of how major cities obtain and maintain clean water, and how they are working toward creating sustainable supplies. Students will also examine the relationship between urban development and rural access to water, especially for agriculture. Field excursions will include working with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper and The WaterHub at Emory University, as well as visiting government departments overseeing Atlanta’s water supply.

Jason Miller and Stewart Tarvin

Water & Indigenous Culture

Many indigenous peoples worldwide share similar challenges related to land rights, access to clean water and cultural preservation. This course will focus on water as a critical resource and help students understand its historical and contemporary importance for indigenous cultures. Students will follow the path of the Chattahoochee while making historical connections to the original inhabitants of Georgia and their relationship to the river. They will explore the significance of water rituals, spirituality, survival, trade and migration of indigenous cultures and how those relations evolved with forced migration. Using their acquired historical knowledge, students will compare what they have learned to current value systems and water usage, thereby developing deep connections to the land and waterways and becoming better stewards of the environment.

Water is Life: Food, Farms & Migrant Workers

Georgia's agricultural industry relies heavily on migrant labor, and while Pace students interact with water and food daily, they may not know much about where their food comes from or how it is produced. A better understanding of water, food and labor dynamics will prepare them to make more informed decisions in their personal lives and, perhaps, become informed advocates for responsible water use, sustainable agriculture and the rights of workers. In this course, students will learn what it means to be classified as a Migrant Farm Worker, and about the protections and rights that accompany this classification. They will hear from experts at the Emory Farmworker Project; and they will compare and contrast migrant worker systems through conversations with the Rainforest Alliance Farmworker program in Costa Rica, and professors at UC Davis and Cornell. Other experiential learning activities will include a visit to the DeKalb Farmers Market and a local farm.

Kirstin Baillie and Tara Harris

Celeste Arellano and Lucas Moreno

Worldly Wellness: A Global Persepctive

Julie Hampton and Katie Sandlin

In an ever-connected world, the pursuit of holistic well-being transcends geographical and cultural boundaries. This course invites students on a transformative journey to develop a comprehensive wellness toolbox by drawing inspiration from diverse practices around the globe. Through this course, the students will uncover the impact of various wellness traditions on their physical and emotional well-being. They will foster a deep understanding of global perspectives and embark on a journey that transcends borders, while broadening their perspective on wellness. Worldly Wellness invites students to create a wellness toolkit that takes the richness of cultural diversity into account, and to engage meaningfully with others. Seminars and field trips will connect students with experts in holistic medicine, mindfulness, yoga, and art therapy. Students will also hear from MD’s and our own Pace Academy consulting psychologist to better understand the relationship between traditional medicine, functional medicine and wellness.

FAQs

When do Minimester courses take place?

Middle School Minimesters will run during the school day during the first full week of February (Feb. 5 - 9, 2024).

Which students sign up for a Minimester?

All students who are not traveling on an international ICGL spring Study Tour (Feb. 2-11, 2024) will sign up for a Minimester.

How do students choose their Minimester?

In much the same way as our ICGL Study Tour program, students will indicate their top three Minimester choices. Priority will be given to eighth-grade students.

When do students submit their Minimester choices?

Sign-ups for Minimesters will take place at the same time as Study Tour sign-ups. To learn more about Study Tours and Minimesters, please attend the ICGL Parent Zoom Meeting on Sept. 18 at 5:30 p.m. https://paceacademy.zoom.us/j/94683761544. Sign-ups will open on Sept. 18 and close on Sept. 28.

Is there any cost associated with Minimesters?

No. All learning activities, transportation and meals will be covered by the ICGL. The Minimester program is part of our students’ regular school curriculum.

Will the Minimesters conflict with extra-curriculars?

No. Students will arrive at and be dismissed from school at their regular times.

Will the Minimester courses change each year?

Some courses will change year to year, and some may be offered for several years. Courses that focus on the ICGL theme will be updated to support learning around the topic for the year.

How many students will be in each Minimester?

Depending on the number of students who register for ICGL Study Tours, we estimate that there will be between 15 and 20 students enrolled in each Minimester course.

How should students choose a course?

Students should read through the course offerings with a parent or caregiver and make sure that their interests and/or curiosities align with the course goals. The ICGL goals and outcomes are targeted and delivered in every course, but some courses highlight global mindedness and cultural awareness, whereas others focus more on leadership development and engaged citizenship. We understand a student’s desire to sign up for a course with their friends, but we encourage the students to choose a topic they really want to explore!

For more information, contact Trish Anderson ICGL Director 404-240-7402 trish.anderson@paceacademy.org or