Globalization at HVCS

We are in our second year of what I call our "global perspective" at HVCS. Our global perspective began as a desire to expose our students to a variety of cultures because we recognize that the world in which we live is getting "smaller" and more "flat". By smaller and more flat, I mean that our world is much more connected than in prior years, and our children are exposed and interact with various peoples and cultures much more than the generation before the one now coming through K-12 schools. Technology is the primary factor that has moved the world in this direction. This will continue for the foreseeable future. Given this different world, HVCS is and will be taking steps to address what and how children should learn.

Over the past two years, we have celebrated India and Brazil. Our students have learned songs in Hindi, Indian cultural dance, received henna tattoos, learned greetings in Portuguese and Hindi, and they have celebrated holidays from both cultures. These countries are integrated into the classroom experience and each grade learns about one continent per year. Our fifth grade has partnered with a school in Mexico to create a proposal to make an impact on global poverty. Our service organizations focus on poverty in other countries and in our own country.

What is my dream about where HVCS goes from here with our global perspective?
(1) Over the long-term I would like us to weave global issues into our curriculum. In this way content is taught with these key issues in mind that our children will face in the future
(2) Continue to celebrate at least one country per year to learn more in-depth about its culture and people
(3) To increase respect for cultural differences that exist in the world
(4) To develop the skill of collaboration and to believe that one can make a significant contribution to the world
(5) To use our existing and future technology to enhance the children's global perspective

Globalization has and is impacting us; however, in the future, it will have an even more significant impact for our children. We want to prepare our children for the world they will live in not just the one they live in now.