World Cultures, Pathways & Global Themes

Location: Room A 125: Main Office (next door to high school teacher lunch room)

Phone Number: (202) 939-7700 ext. 5003

Contact: Ms.Wendy Pugh --NAF DIRECTOR

Goal of the World Cultures Initiative: CHEC students will investigate the world, recognize and respect different perspectives, communicate ideas in more than one language, and be proactive in taking action as global citizens.

-A Catalyst school is one that is chosen to be a model for other schools.  DCPS along with D.C. Public Education Fund sent an invitation to all schools to submit their proposal stating why they believe their school should benefit from the Catalyst grant; a grant that would allow them to place their school, staff and students onto the 21st century world stage.

The Catalyst project has three themes: World Cultures, STEM and Arts Integration.

Our history and background in multiculturalism and our vision to start a dual immersion program, led us to apply for the Catalyst grant in the World Cultures theme. CHEC has since its beginning, been a place where cultural diversity is its strength and being. In August of 2009, and after an arduous and thorough process led by the administrative team, our school was officially named one of the 13 Catalyst schools in DCPS.

In the past many of teachers, staff and students,  have, in one way or another, been involved with the Catalyst project. With our partner the British Council, we have the Rivers of the World Project that covers both the middle and upper school. Our first year has been a success and our participating teachers went to London, England for a one week professional development to share their work with their international cohorts. We are also continuing our second year partnership with One World Youth Project and where we connected with two sister schools, one in Guatemala and the other in Peru to work on projects that deal with the UN Millennium Development Goals. We have also signed on a new partner, Global Kids, which will create opportunities for students to participate in an after school setting that promotes service learning projects; help develop students into cultural ambassadors; create community leaders among other things. We have also have had the pleasure of hosting international students and educators at CHEC. The Catalyst is also working with DCPS’ Embassy Adoption Program where local schools connect with embassies in DC. Our school has worked with the embassy of  Poland, Spain, Colombia, Finland, and Mexico.  Our most recent endeavor is for our students to go to the Bahamas to collaborate and exchange ideas on water conservation for Earth Day, April 22, 2014.

The Catalyst has also been fundamental in providing professional development from Reading, World Languages, and World Cultures to sending teachers to professional development both locally and internationally and to buying materials that enhance our technology based learning among other things.

We will also be working to ensure that our curriculum promotes global awareness, citizenry and literacy in all content areas.

The World Languages is also continuing its dual immersion program and with the Catalyst project, we were able to obtain a Rosetta Stone site license for the entire campus. Students, staff and parents can benefit from this wonderful opportunity to become ‘articulate communicators in two languages’ or more!

One of the main goals of our World Cultures initiative is to set the foundation and work to allow each CHEC student an international experience. This will require the participation of everyone to make this a reality.

A World Cultures committee is in place. Please come and join us!

Global Themes by Grade Level

6th grade: Migration and Immigration

7th grade: Conflict

8th grade: Identity, Voice and Gender

9th grade: Change, Progress and Innovation:  What is progress and Innovation? Can it go too far?

10th grade: Knowledge, Learning, Education and Wisdom:  What is Knowledge, Learning, Education, and Wisdom? To whom is this accessible? How?

11th grade: Equity and Power:  What is Equity? What is Inequity? Where do we find inequity and why? Who has power and who is fighting for it and why?

12th grade: Global Economics: How are economics and power interrelated? What is a global economy?