1. Needham High School G lobal C ompetence P rogram ©Needham Public Schools A collaborative initiative of the Needham Education Foundation and Needham High School

2. History and Links East Asian Study Committee District goal - Promote Active Citizenship School sponsored exchanges and trips

3. Why Global Competence? Students will participate in an increasingly interdependent world requiring: Understanding of people, places and environments from many perspectives Skills in communicating, interacting and building relationships with people of another culture

4. 2006 NHS Global Competence Study Committee Conclusions A.Think globally B.Communicate effectively C.Contribute responsibly

5. Think Globally Be a geographically informed person Understand the interdependence of the world Participate in international experiences Think about issues from a global perspective Evaluate information critically from various sources

6. Communicate Effectively Converse proficiently in a foreign language Communicate through a variety of media

7. Contribute Responsibly Build relationships with people from other cultures with respect and flexibility Seek knowledge to shape one’s own values Analyze one’s own motivation in relation to others, reflect and adjust Help others embrace multiple perspectives

8. By learning more about their world, students learn more about themselves. Personal growth Overcoming uneasiness Facing challenges Opportunity to use skills

9. Introducing the Needham High School Global Competence Program (GCP)! Achievable by all Encompassing what students are already doing Student-directed

10. The GCP Requirements Foreign travel Foreign language proficiency Global service Global Focus Project GCP Résumé Reflective essay Students who successfully complete the above will be awarded a Certificate of Global Competence, and graduate with distinction.

11. GCP International Travel Requirement Challenging student to step outside comfort zone and connect directly to the culture/people Student financial commitment encouraged Student involvement in planning encouraged

12. Foreign Language Proficiency World language through Level 4 Passing grade of C or above each year

13. Global Service 1 Community Classroom credit (30 hours) Exposes student to another world culture Ideally enables student to employ foreign language skills

14. Global Focus Project  Select an aspect of a foreign country or region’s culture, political system, history, geography or economy to explore  Study this interest area by engaging in 3 extra- curricular activities (books, movies, cultural events, foreign cooking, lectures etc.) Write a 2-3 page essay on the topic, synthesizing what was learned through the extra-curricular activities

15. GCP Résumé A summary of the student’s GCP related activities

16. GCP Reflective Essay 250-500 words Reflecting upon student’s travel and/or global service experience(s)

17. GCP Website Link to the GCP website from the NHS homepage: www.nhs.needham.k12.ma.us All necessary forms, information sheets and approved travel program and global service lists can be downloaded from the site.