Global Initiatives

Overview

First Program’s Global Initiatives enhance the curriculum by identifying global resources for students, faculty, and staff, facilitating student and faculty connections to others around the globe, and encouraging the development of global curricular collaborations. Through global relationships and collaborations, First Program children learn about global cultures and correspond with students worldwide using blogs, e-mail, and Zoom.

Examples of Past and Ongoing Events

Archaeology

As part of their Archaeology “excavation” of artifacts from the Silk Road, third grade students are treated to a musical presentation by musicians from the region Additionally, students create illuminated manuscripts with the same techniques and materials used in ancient times from the Southwest Asia region under the guidance of expert guest artists.

First Program Multi-Cultural Festival

The Parent Association plans and hosts a popular yearly event to celebrate the many diverse cultures at Dalton. A recent Festival theme was “Performing Arts: Expressions of our Cultures” As part of our philosophy to celebrate the whole child, students and families bring their cultural heritage to the Dalton community to participate in a shared learning experience fostering connection, learning, and fun!

House 91

Almost weekly, all First Program Houses gather in person or on Zoom as a community Led by our division’s Equity & Belonging Coordinators, students, faculty, and special guest speakers share cultural elements such as song, dance, holiday celebrations, and traditions with the community These events create cultural understanding, awareness, acceptance, and empathy We celebrate what makes us unique and observe how much our global community has in common.

Hats for Homeless

Some first graders engage in a hat-knitting project that considers their role in the world beyond Dalton and their power to make a change Using yarn from an organization providing dignified sources of income to underprivileged women in Chile, India, and Rwanda, students knit hats that are donated to people within the community who cannot afford warm accessories for the winter months. Students engaged in the hat-knitting process are empowered to make a change and partner with organizations in their local community while learning about the struggles of people in the global community, building empathy and a deeper understanding of different cultures and cultural issues.

Freedom and responsibility together perform the miracle.

~ Helen Parkhurst