Needham High School G lobal C ompetence P rogram ©Needham Public Schools A collaborative initiative of the Needham Education Foundation and Needham High School

History and Links East Asian Study Committee District goal - Promote Active Citizenship School sponsored exchanges and trips

Why Global Competence? Students will participate in an increasingly interdependent world requiring: Understanding of people, places and environments from many perspectives Skills in communicating, interacting and building relationships with people of another culture

2006 NHS Global Competence Study Committee Conclusions A.Think globally B.Communicate effectively C.Contribute responsibly

Think Globally Be a geographically informed person Understand the interdependence of the world Participate in international experiences Think about issues from a global perspective Evaluate information critically from various sources

Communicate Effectively Converse proficiently in a foreign language Communicate through a variety of media

Contribute Responsibly Build relationships with people from other cultures with respect and flexibility Seek knowledge to shape one’s own values Analyze one’s own motivation in relation to others, reflect and adjust Help others embrace multiple perspectives

By learning more about their world, students learn more about themselves. Personal growth Overcoming uneasiness Facing challenges Opportunity to use skills

Introducing the Needham High School Global Competence Program (GCP)! Achievable by all Encompassing what students are already doing Student-directed

The GCP Requirements Foreign travel Foreign language proficiency Global service Global Focus Project GCP Résumé Reflective essay Students who successfully complete the above will be awarded a Certificate of Global Competence, and graduate with distinction.

GCP International Travel Requirement Challenging student to step outside comfort zone and connect directly to the culture/people Student financial commitment encouraged Student involvement in planning encouraged

Foreign Language Proficiency World language through Level 4 Passing grade of C or above each year

Global Service 1 Community Classroom credit (30 hours) Exposes student to another world culture Ideally enables student to employ foreign language skills

Global Focus Project  Select an aspect of a foreign country or region’s culture, political system, history, geography or economy to explore  Study this interest area by engaging in 3 extra- curricular activities (books, movies, cultural events, foreign cooking, lectures etc.) Write a 2-3 page essay on the topic, synthesizing what was learned through the extra-curricular activities

GCP Résumé A summary of the student’s GCP related activities

GCP Reflective Essay words Reflecting upon student’s travel and/or global service experience(s)

GCP Website Link to the GCP website from the NHS homepage: All necessary forms, information sheets and approved travel program and global service lists can be downloaded from the site.