Welcome

Last year's trip to Costa Rica showed us that education can, and should, be a life-altering experience. This year, a largely new group of students, have decided to learn about and travel to Puerto Rico. With this new topic and destination in mind, we have developed a year-long interdisciplinary class that is based on the same three core principles:

1) Travel to expand students' horizons
2) An explicit connection between the classroom and real world
3) The use of sweat equity for students to see that their efforts can make a difference

During the early fall, the curriculum was largely focused on developing the 21st Century Skills of problem solving, critical thinking, decision-making, and collaboration. This was initially done using group challenges in the classroom, but then became vitally important once we started raking lawns. In addition to being our major fundraiser, this hard work put students in positions that required group problem solving, as well as perseverance and responsibility – traits that we all know are central to changing the trajectory of their lives.

During the winter and spring, each student will be developing an independent research project on a chosen aspect of Puerto Rico. We hope that you will keep checking back as we share our learning, growth and adventures.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Damien's reflection


When I first heard about this class I thought it would be simple and a good way to show the people who have doubted me that I can in fact do something life changing, and prove that work will not be a obstacle I can’t get around. To my surprise it is a very simple thought to rake lawns but to put that thought into action is very difficult and exhausting. I have learned a lot about the other students, the teachers in the class and myself. I learned that everyone is capable of doing these things but you have to push to get through them. In my family I am known for doing things for others most of the time. There are very few times that I have worked for myself, and now I am doing both for me and my peers. Also this is the first time I worked for what I want and what I can benefit greatly from. It wasn’t just physically draining but emotionally as well. When I got past my emotional issues with talking and presenting I was able to help the group with some very important situations. This class is one of the biggest things I’ve done and personally the biggest measure in my personal growth.


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