Schools
Local Students are Global Citizens
A recent short-term educational experience in China built confidence and leadership skills in Largo students.
For students at , English, Spanish and Chinese are part of the regular school day. While the students ages 2-13 learn their core classes in English, they also learn to communicate in Chinese and Spanish. The school values global studies and global understanding, said Headmaster Ted Gillette.
For a group of about 20 middle school students their classroom expanded to China where they attended chemistry and math classes. They ate all authentic Chinese food, which was basically rice, vegetables, chicken and pork, Gillette said.
“I enjoyed talking and working with the Chinese high school students and learning about their education system. It was interesting to experience how their classes are taught," wrote Brandon, 14, of Largo.
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Plus the Largo students did community service at a foster safe house for children of convicts.
The students got to "see, feel and touch a disadvantaged situation in another culture (and that helped them see) how they can make a difference beyond Largo," Gillette said.
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The school also gives back to the local community through and .
The school regularly interacts with classrooms from around the country and the globe. They use Skype and blogs to share, work and learn together with schools in Minnesota, Turkey and Hong Kong, said Jennifer Williams, Chair English Language Department.
The school is proud of the leadership role it has taken with global education, teaching languages and taking middle school students to China. They see the recent trip as just the beginning. They hope to organize this summer more exchange opportunities.