Click here to listen to this week’s JAM – The Future is Now.
Last Friday, I had the opportunity to hear pitches from a dozen or so 8th graders for their Social Impact & Leadership Project. There was a broad range of topics – student mental health, the rice shortage in Vietnam, women’s reproductive freedom, and climate change to name just a few, representing the diversity of students and our call that they respond to our core questions – what matters to you and what are you going to do about it?
One student, Edwin, is designing and creating a mural to be placed on the side of the Healing Grove community health center, a center located a couple miles from our new Upper School campus in downtown San Jose. The mural will honor Maria Marcelo, a community leader and faith-based activist who was tragically hit and killed by a car in December. Edwin is partnering with Lou Jimenez, a young local activist and mural artist who has eagerly embraced the opportunity to partner with a Middle School student. Edwin is coordinating and driving the project, in the process learning about everything from permitting to gaining community buy-in for the project.
Another student, Addy, is taking a children’s story, Greta & the Giants, and turning it into a play that will be performed by Ms. Butler’s 4th grade class. The story, which is inspired by the real-life youth activist, Great Thunberg, tells the story of a young girl who tries to fight against the Giants who are cutting down all of the trees. In addition to the 4th grade actors, Addy has enlisted the support of Ms. Mendez’s Kindergarten class to build props.
Other students are developing products – Ilira is designing eco-friendly pointe shoes and Estella cruelty-free healthy skin care products, or organizing drives. Chloe hosted a schoolwide drive to put together care packages that will be provided to the Valley Medical Center and will support women in need. Victor is interviewing 3rd and 4th graders to better understand the mental health needs on our campus.
Listening to these students was inspiring and highlighted the type of educational experience that is at the heart of our program. These experiences prioritize student agency, provide students with complex, interdisciplinary problems to be solved, challenge them to develop sophisticated project management skills, and are deeply tied to purpose and meaning.
Then, yesterday morning, I came across a new research study from Google – “The Future of Education.” The team at Google spoke to educators and leaders from around the country and world. What did they find? Schools need to focus on developing civic-minded, collaborative, problem solvers.
This Friday I have a meeting scheduled with three 8th graders – Soren, Lauren, and Sloan – to discuss a project they hope to do on our campus – the creation of a mural in the 3rd/4th grade area to beautify the campus and draw attention to climate change. Civic-minded? Check. Collaborative? Check. Problem solving? Check. How many schools do you know where 8th graders are expected and encouraged to meet and partner with adults, from the Head of School to community leaders?
At least at Hillbrook, the future is now.
Want to learn more? Join us on campus on Wednesday, March 29 from 5-7 pm for our Social Impact Summit, where you can hear from all of our 8th graders and learn about their projects.