Global Tech 2007

Another curriculum highlight is the school's award winning Global Tech 2007 lnitiative. It was developed to help create a more cohesive school community and was initiated by faculty members to promote articulation throughout grade levels via a thematic curriculum.

Global Tech 2007 was developed during the 1993-94 school year. During the summer teachers received in-house technology training by our school's computer specialist. Additional training was received through workshops at WLRN in the area of telecommunications. Both in-services assisted in the planning of Global Tech 2007 activities. Once the program was developed, grade level chairpersons disseminated information and guided the implementation of the individual, grade related activities. Grade levels are grouped across programs into thematic areas of study focusing on global and local community issues. This has promoted both vertical and horizontal articulation throughout the school.

All the areas of study are related to a pressing global issue and stress community involvement as well community service. Learning about these areas of study requires extensive research and the use of cooperative learning in a variety of settings. It also requires the use of materials with resources beyond the textbook and traditional classroom instructions. Computers, phone lines and modems are enabling students, and teachers to "hook up" to the information superhighway. The ultimate goal of this endeavor is working and forming alliances with global counterparts.

Another unique feature for Global Tech 2007 is its organization. The themes stay the same, allowing all students to participate in each thematic area of study as they progress through grade levels. Each year the child advances in depth area of study addressing global and local concerns. Each grade level, across all four programs, also works as a team to develop one community service project. The table below shows each grade level's theme, slogan, and service project.

Community Service Projects

GRADE SLOGAN THEME SERVICE PROJECT
Pk - K Helping Hands World Hunger 1) Clothing drive for refugee children
2) Making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and soup for homeless
1st Grade World Travelers Families Around The World 1) Providing food and clothing to needy families
2) Preparing a video and brochure of family traditions, sharing in schools
2nd Grade Earth Patrol Environmental Issues 1) Fund raising for Miami to purchase rain forest acres
2) Creating learning/study area gardens on school grounds
3rd Grade Inventors Inventions 1) Fund raising for lollipop sales for Miami Museum of Science
2) Sending third graders from an inner city school to the Museum of Science
4th Grade Health Crusaders Health Issues 1) Creating care packages for children in a pediatric wing at Miami Children's Hospital
2) Holding a "Health Summit" at a local hospital
3) Sending health and personal hygiene packages to. children in Haiti
5th Grade Space Explores Space 1) Fund raising to assist in the maintenance of a sister school's own planetarium