This dynamic program for high school students includes eight online small group discussions as well as a service project completed at Corhaven Graveyard, a historical burial ground for African-Americans who were enslaved in Shenandoah County, Virginia.
Students. This course has been designed especially for high school students with an international background (ESOL or otherwise), but students without an international background are very welcome to join as well.
Online discussions. Small group discussions focus on "names" and include three units: Say Your Name, Say My Name, and Say Their Names. In the first unit, Say Your Name, we discuss the importance of identity through the framework of our names. In the second unit, Say My Name, students hear high school students' stories and explore ways to promote awareness and change around racism, stereotypes, and bias. In the third unit, Say Their Names, students will meet online with "poet ambassadors" from the Freeminds Book Club. These young adults, who had been incarcerated in their youth, will share their stories and explain how reading and writing poetry has changed their lives.
Schedule. This program will be offered with online discussions starting the week of March 22, 2021. Students will be split into two groups for online discussions and must indicate which group schedule works best for them with their application. Group 1 will meet 3/22 and 3/24 from 4-5:30 pm & 4/12 and 4/14 from 7-8:30 pm. Group 2 will meet 3/23 and 3/25 4-5:30 pm & 4/13 and 4/15 7-8:30 pm. Each group will also complete a 2 hour asynchronous Student Advocacy Project.
Preliminary Applications and Personal Statements are due March 15, 2021
Service learning field trip. In addition to the three units described above, the program includes a service learning field trip to Corhaven Graveyard. Corhaven Graveyard is a historical burial ground for enslaved people. It has been developed as a site of remembrance and reconciliation. Participants in the field trip will complete a volunteer service project to improve the grounds of the graveyard. Enslaved people did not control their own names nor the names of their children. Participants in the field trip will engage in guided reflection regarding the lives of the enslaved people buried there as well as their names. Enslaved people did not always have control over their own names or the names of their children. This 2/3-day field trip will take place on Saturday, April 10th (rain date April 17th). Service learning field trips will also be held June 26th and Oct 16th, 2021. **Students (or their families) will need to provide their own transportation for the field trip program, which takes place in Quicksburg, Virginia.**
COVID-19 precautions. The field trip to Corhaven Graveyard will be outdoors, socially distanced, and bring together a maximum of 12 students, a small group, so that COVID-19 protocols can be carefully observed. Public health protections and safety of the group will be our top priority.
SSL. The program also offers local high school students the opportunity to earn SSL credit hours through the Washington Center for International Education.
For more information and to register. For more information including program schedules and times as well as how to register, please visit our website.
IMPORTANT - PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING, WITH RESPECT TO ONLINE COMPONENTS OF THIS PROGRAM:
- A student’s parent/guardian must provide WCIE with written approval of the student’s participation in activities on our virtual platform - Zoom - prior to the student serving/volunteering.
- Students must use personal/private accounts (not MCPS or other student accounts) to engage in the virtual platform.
- Students will only engage with others under the direct supervision of a WCIE program coordinator. The WCIE program coordinator will be directly present in Zoom (including any breakout sessions) at all times.
- The WCIE program coordinator will initiate and host all virtual sessions. If the WCIE program coordinator is not available to initiate and host the virtual session, the session will not occur.
- Virtual sessions will not be recorded.
- Students should not share or upload any videos, pictures, or images of themselves, unless WCIE has obtained a signed form/waiver from the student’s parent/guardian authorizing permission/release. WCIE does not currently have plans to seek such permission but will request permission from students if necessary.
- Students’ email addresses/home addresses or any personally identifying information will remain protected and not shared.
