This year, the ELC has set out on a journey to rediscover the purpose of preschool education and to ask the deeper question, “Are we providing the education our students deserve?”. To answer this question our school must first answer the question “What is the purpose of School?”. The ELC, under the guidance of school leaders, selected students to help provide leadership and insight through this process. Our Compass Leaders met for the first of many conversations on Feb. 3rd. Compass leaders were selected based on their natural leadership qualities observed by peers and educators. There are a total of 18 four-year-old compass leaders embarking on this journey together.
The Answers received were many but a few examples included; “To have fun”, “to play”, “to see my friends and teachers”, “to learn”. What a wonderful learning environment this would be for all of our students in the Nelson County District.
Our Community Team led the next conversation using the Community Project Backpack Team protocol to discuss how to continue to create an environment that will foster the development of our District students.
Our key takeaway was the need for students to be flexible in ideas, open-minded, and adapt to new ways of learning.
We asked the following questions to discover our overall key perceptions.
1. WHAT IS ESSENTIAL TO CARETAKING FOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS?
Supporting each other. The ability to empathize, sympathize, help individuals meet basic needs, recognize when someone has a need and know how to solve this problem. Being culturally aware of others. Feeling connected to one another and helping each other discover interests and gifts.
2. WHAT WILL THE FUTURE OF DEMAND OF COLLABORATION?
Being able to agree to disagree and hear other people's opinions. Effective Communication. Networking skills. Taking down Silos.
3. WHAT DOES THE FUTURE DEMAND STUDENTS CREATE?
Pride in learning. Students will need to create new ideas, jobs, plans, and skills that do not exist yet. In order for them to become innovative thinkers, they must have pride in their learning and build the skills needed for solving problems that do not yet exist. Students will need to be open-minded, independent caretakers.
4. WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO BE A CONNECTED GLOBAL CITIZEN?
The ability to look through other “lenses”. Respectful and reverent. Solve problems for others, not just ourselves. Know how to care and sympathize with others. Communicate effectively and have the ability to filter information.
5. HOW WILL COMMUNICATION CHANGE OUR WORLD?
If we can develop effective communicators they will be able to communicate effectively by carrying essential communication skills such as; confidence, open-mindedness, adaptability, flexibility, accessibility, creativity and problem-solving. If our students are ineffective communicators and rely too heavily on nonverbal communication, we are afraid they will become more isolated instead of global.
