Global Learning Academy Helps Granby Students Become 21st Century Citizens

The Global Learning Academy, an elective education option now open to Granby students in first through ninth grades, has completed its summer session and will now begin a fall program again focusing on Chinese culture, language and global issues concerning the US and China.

The program, now in its second year, came about through community input, the work of Granby director of curriculum Diane Dugas and Superintendent Alan Addley, the leadership of program director Jung Jung Su and funding from the Granby Education Foundation.

Students have covered many topics, ranging from the traditional Chinese dragon boat festival, important historic inventions of Chinese origin and farming and food language to Chinese geography, agricultural and food supply studies, Chinese song and dynasties of China’s past.

As a final project and presentation of the academy’s educational efforts, participants in the fall 2011 program performed traditional Chinese dances for their peers in middle school and high school on March 30.

New focuses for this year’s academy sessions include Chinese arts and crafts, martial arts classes and an acting component. For their culminating event and final project, students will host activities at all Granby schools.

"This really came out of an initiative for world language and culture," Dugas said, noting that parents, students and other community members wanted a focused, world learning option. "Chinese was an interest of the public."

Dugas said a very important part of the program was its broadening of horizons for Granby students. Participants got to look in-depth at life beyond the confines of Granby, the state and the country.

"It's a really wonderful learning experience," Dugas said. "The students just love the program."

A good number of academy attendees were so enthused by the courses that were known to come home at the end of the day speaking Chinese, Dugas said.

This year’s fall program, which begins Oct. 29, will consist of six sessions held after school hours. Although the focus remains on China, students are encouraged to re-enter the academy as the focus has modified and expanded. Check out the PDF file attached to this article to learn more about signing up for the Global Learning Academy.

Dugas was especially grateful to the Granby Education Foundation for its sponsorship of the program, allowing students to enhance their learning by going beyond the local community.

Many teachers and counselors have contributed to the project, including Chinese language teacher Meiky Huang, global study teachers Rose Higgins and Annika Edgerson, culture and folk dance teacher Julie Lai Poon, arts and crafts teacher Jane Hsu, martial arts teacher Jeff Firestone and counselors Dan Chapple, Sarah Wutka, Jacob Coons, Ivy Nguyen and Jennifer Su.

Overall, students, parents, teachers and administrators have seen the program as a success.

“It really connects to our vision of creating 21st century citizens,” Dugas said.