In a growing effort to highlight the important work of World View’s partner school districts, schools, and colleges, Going Global in North Carolina will regularly feature global education initiatives from partners across the state.
We Want to Hear From You: If you are a World View Partner school district, school, or college and have an important global initiative you would like to make public, please contact Hailey Theile at htheile@unc.edu or 919/962-9264.
For more information on World View partnership, go to worldview.unc.edu/partners/overview.
Featured Partners
SHADY GROVE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Davie County Schools
What time is it in Delhi? Students at Shady Grove Elementary can tell you! The cafeteria walls are lined with clocks that are set to the times of several different countries around the world. Their Kindergarten classes check the weather in India each day and compare the climate to ours here in the United States. In the Art Department, the students are creating masterpieces that reflect the countries that each grade level focuses on throughout the curriculum. The art teacher traveled with World View to Brazil, and her 5th graders designed illustrations of Brazilian Capoeira (a tradition of dance mixed with martial arts) to be put on display during the annual ‘Art in the Garden’ show. Students are also participate in a project where they mail their handmade art trading cards to other students around the world. Principal Gildein traveled to Costa Rica recently with several teachers and students, and the school is preparing for their upcoming trips to Rome and Paris this spring.
For more information about Shady Grove’s global integration please contact Principal Maureen Gildein at gildeinm@davie.k12.nc.us or (336) 998-4719.
JAMES SPRUNT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Kenansville, NC
In 2006, World View offered a trip to China for North Carolina Educators. Gerald Waller, an Electrical/Electronics Instructor with a career in the movie industry in Wilmington, NC, went on the trip to record it through video and pictures. When he returned, he created a video titled “Faces of China”. This video allowed Gerald to share the trip with students, faculty, and staff. Gerald has also documented other World View trips to India, Brazil, and Honduras. These videos led to the creation of the Faces of the World website at http://www.ncccglobal.com. This website contains global video clips, pictures, and lesson plans. When the college redesigned its Success and Study Skills course (ACA 115), a globalization assignment was added which requires students to view two of the videos and write a reaction paper on one of the videos. Through these videos, students are able to explore countries’ education, culture, and history. The video “Faces of India 2011,” from a World View trip in January 2011, was shown during International Education Week at the college.
For more information on the website or how the videos have been incorporated into the ACA course you can visit http://www.ncccglobal.com or contact Jeffery Myers at jmyers@jamessprunt.edu.
JOHNSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Smithfield, NC
At Johnston Community College in Smithfield, a variety of resources came together to provide a unique opportunity for students to connect to the rhythms of West Africa and develop a deeper appreciation of the cultural traditions of Ghana. In 2009, fine arts instructor Dennis deJong received a $750 World View and UNC Center for Global Initiatives grant award to add the module “African Drumming – Exploring Traditionalistic Music” to the course Music Appreciation 110. The module provided opportunities for students to hear and explore music outside the Western musical perspective. By combining the resources from the World View-CGI grant and special equipment funds from the Windley Endowment, ground work was laid to begin a World Percussion Ensemble at the college. Under the leadership of Ibrahim Sylla, renowned djembe (skin-covered drum) artist, this new ensemble grew to spotlight North Carolina students on authentic percussion instruments of Ghana and gained a campus and community-wide following. Driving rhythms and polished grooves have become the ensembles’ hallmark. As evident in the remarks of student Nathaniel Jones, “In Ibrahim’s class, we developed a profound appreciation for a means of expression much older than the barriers of language. When the rhythms would lock, he’d smile, and that’s when we knew we were a part of another culture’s praxis that can only be felt and heard. He deserves credit for everything he did for his students.”
For more information about this global project, contact Johnston Community College Music Program Coordinator Dennis de Jong at d_deJong@Johnstoncc.edu
DUPLIN COUNTY SCHOOLS
Students, teachers, and administration across Duplin County are “traveling around the world” by imbedding global concepts and a global culture into daily instruction. One only has to walk through the hallways to see that staff and students at North Duplin Elementary School have fully embraced the Global Schools concept, providing a model for the county and region. Brightly colored bulletin boards fill the hallways with sports, animals, native dress and customs of continents and countries. A display in the gymnasium teaches students common greetings from around the world. A “Hall of Continents” displaying flags from various countries and “World Wall” lend to the ambiance of the building. One teacher noted how students are quick to point out “their” adopted country’s flag and continent as they travel down the “Hall of Continents.” “We live in a global society. As a school system, we want to bring the globe, the world to our students,” explains Superintendent Austin Obasohan. “Around the world students are learning about the United States. We must do the same for our students to prepare them to live and work in the world today.” As one teacher stated, “There is much truth embedded within the lyrics of the song, ‘It’s a Small World After All.’”
For more information about Duplin County Schools’ global initiatives, contact Associate Superintendent Cary Powers at cpowers@duplinschools.net.
