- Houston Independent School District
- 2012
- June 2012
Harvard Elementary Hosts Iraqi Students to Exchange Learning Experiences
June 21, 2012
Harvard Elementary opened its doors on June 13 to 14 students from Iraq who spent the day interacting with Harvard pupils and participating in a variety of classroom activities.
The visiting students from third to fifth grade at Knowledge Private School in Dohuk, Iraq, experienced first-hand instruction in mathematics, reading, and robotics during their classroom rotations at Harvard Elementary.
In a separate room, a group of administrators and educators from Harvard and Knowledge Private School discussed Harvard’s International Baccalaureate program and how it is being used in the classrooms. They also exchanged instructional methodologies, promoted cultural understanding and discussed possible partnerships in the near future.
"We are excited about the possibilities of establishing a sister school relationship with the Knowledge School,” said Harvard principal Kevin Beringer. “It will further help our students develop their international-mindedness as part of our International Baccalaureate program."
Harvard officially became an International Baccalaureate or IB campus this past spring, becoming the sixth elementary campus in HISD to offer the highly respected IB program.
The school has been offering the Primary Years Programme, which focuses on the development of the whole child as an inquirer, both in the classroom and the world outside, to all students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade since 2010.
“The hope is that we’re going to be able to share the things that we study and the things that we live through on a regular basis,” said Elise Sawyer, IB Coordinator. “The students could even Skype with each other in class to share what they are learning in school.”
This partnership would provide the students from Knowledge Private School and Harvard an opportunity to broaden their experiences and widen their cultural appreciation to give them access to more global learning opportunities.
“If we can have our children appreciate other cultures, they begin to really believe that it’s not just about them, but we’re all in this together,” said Knowledge Private School Principal Dr. Ricky Yates.
Both groups will continue to discuss the opportunities to partner and share additional ideas once school starts again in the fall.