At SSFS we seek to educate children in all areas of their lives so that they may become effective citizens of the world. As such, the thematic content of our new syllabus is organized around addressing the following query: how do we educate the whole child in our increasingly connected, global community?
With this guiding principle in mind, we focused the program on eight content areas: Social Justice, Culture, Mindfulness, Financial Literacy, Sexual Health/Consent, Emotional Intelligence, Digital Citizenship, and Diversity.
Throughout the academic year, every two weeks our boarders will participate in an interactive presentation spanning a variety of current and relevant topics relating to our eight areas of study. Students also have the opportunity to reflect and journal on the subject matter via our new subscription to Thrively, a multifaceted, convertible learning platform.
Our student leaders and Resident Assistants (RAs) have played an active role developing these themes and the curriculum. Their continued input ranges from liaising with, assisting, and introducing an external speaker, to sourcing material, developing the format of the presentation, and running the session, including conducting the discussion.
This syllabus will change and grow based on the enthusiasm and needs of our students, but the Global Citizen Dorm Curriculum is now a permanent addition to our expanding SSFS boarding program.
2019-20 Curriculum (subject to change)
Social Justice
● Getting Better, presented by Charles Kenny
● Climate Change, It’s real, let’s talk about it - student initiated and led
Culture
● Tell us something about your home and culture, 2 weeks of student presentations
Mindfulness
● Prior to our first exam week of the year, presented by our own Joel Gunzburg
Financial Literacy
● It’s Never too Soon, Jason Chepenik
Sexual Health/Consent
● Consent, Laci Green - student and counselor led
● The Language of Sex, presented by Al Vernacchio
Emotional Intelligence
● Resisterhood, a documentary in the making, Cheryl Crim
● Shame and Guilt, Brene Brown - student led
Digital Citizenship
● The Digital Classroom, Comptia via Skype
Diversity
● Embrace the Refugee, Luma Mufleh - student led
● TBD - student initiated and led
Final Lesson
● The Takeaway, Dorm Counselor, Meghan Cassidy
All SSFS families, faculty and staff are welcome to join any of our lessons, held 8-9pm in the PAC on Wednesday evenings. Please contact Meghan Cassidy for the schedule.