In Lower School, we honor diverse literature and music at our daily morning meeting, teachers often choose stories from cultures other than our own, regularly give presentations about important events and heroes in history of Civil Rights in America, and Wednesdays are specifically devoted to music from around the world. Our lower school curriculum covers many different cultures from around the world.
Our K-2 classes history curriculum rotates for three years:
o Ancient Egypt
o The Middle Ages
o Louisiana, including a study of the Native Peoples who settled here before the Europeans arrived
Grades 3-4 history curriculum rotates for two years covering Ancient Asia, including India, China, and Japan and then Ancient Greece and Rome, while our 5th Grade Humanities curriculum ties together geography, both physical and cultural, reading, and writing, with a primary focus on Africa, North and South America, and Europe.
PMK, the afternoon Kindergarten program, includes a portion called Global Studies during which students learn about the countries such as Mexicao, India, South Africa, Ireland, Japan, Kenya and even Egypt. By considering native food, clothing, religion, arts and crafts, music, and language, they gain great perspective on communitys far outside of their own.
* Foreign language begins in Pre-K, and includes cultural lessons as well as language. Teachers support authentic experiences for students by seeking out experts and natives and inviting them to the classrooms.
* Upper school students study French or Spanish at least through Level IV as a graduation requirement. Many continue to Level V and AP. Multicultural perspectives in addition to language skills are taught.
* Students may also take a second or even third foreign language as an elective.
* Mandarin language is offered as an elective with lessons about Chinese culture and language.
* Teachers make a conscious effort to teach about underrepresented groups in English, foreign language and history classes.
* English classes include literature from authors with diverse backgrounds.
* The teacher led advisory programs includes activities on issues such as tolerance and acceptance of different people and groups.