Pacific Ridge School Welcomes International Visitors from Germany and China for Cultural Exchange with Students and Faculty
With an Emphasis on Global Engagement, Carlsbad Non-Profit, Independent School Hosts Students and Faculty from Educational Institutions Worldwide; Serves as Model School for Harkness Teaching Model.
San Diego, CA, February 03, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Since its founding in 2007, Pacific Ridge School in Carlsbad has served as hub of cultural education, immersion and dialogue. This month, the non-profit, independent school in Carlsbad hosted Mr. Christoph Ehland, the Department Head of English and American Studies at the University of Paderborn in Germany, as well as 26 students from Shanghai Shidong High School in China.
Mr. Ehland of the University of Paderborn regularly visits schools throughout the U.S. to exchange ideas and new teaching methods. He spent over two weeks observing classroom discussions and, as he noted, was “stunned by what I’ve seen at Pacific Ridge. The teaching methodologies at this new school are not just rhetoric; the school truly functions as a community. This campus is special. Students are given opportunities to challenge themselves and they rise to the occasion.” Instead of sitting in rows of chairs and desks, students at Pacific Ridge School sit around oval classroom tables called Harkness tables. In face-to-face communication with teachers and peers, students learn to listen and speak respectfully, to question assumptions, and to articulate their views. Mr. Ehland’s goal following his trip is to establish internships for University of Paderborn student teachers at Pacific Ridge School. He also hopes his university might adopt Pacific Ridge’s Harkness Teaching model, as he notes it fosters self-oration and presentation, key factors that he believes influence students’ confidence and ability to express themselves.
Following Mr. Ehland’s visit, 26 students from Pacific Ridge School’s sister school, Shanghai Shidong High School, visited the Carlsbad school to observe classroom teaching, engage in dialogue, and visit San Diego landmarks. The students and chaperones participated in home stays with Pacific Ridge School families during their travels. Pacific Ridge School’s tenth-grade students visited Shanghai in June of 2010 as part of the school’s annual global engagement travel program and the January visit from the Chinese students allowed the students to further educate one another on their respective cultures. The visit kicked off on Sunday, January 23, with a Chinese New Year celebration that included classical and lion dances, as well as a zither performance. Attendees wore red or Chinese-style clothing.
This summer, the cultural immersion continues as Pacific Ridge students embark on school-wide global enrichment trips to destinations domestic and abroad. For more information about Pacific Ridge School, Harkness Teaching and its global engagement curriculum, visit http://pacificridge.org.
About Pacific Ridge School:
Opened in the fall of 2007, Pacific Ridge School is a non‐profit, independent middle and high school located in the North County, San Diego. With the distinctive mission of building a community that fosters academic excellence, ethical responsibility and global engagement, Pacific Ridge offers a first-rate educational experience to prepare students for college and a purposeful life. For more information, visit http://www.pacificridge.org or http://facebook.com/pacificridgeschool. Pacific Ridge School does not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, creed, or national origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other administered programs.
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Mr. Ehland of the University of Paderborn regularly visits schools throughout the U.S. to exchange ideas and new teaching methods. He spent over two weeks observing classroom discussions and, as he noted, was “stunned by what I’ve seen at Pacific Ridge. The teaching methodologies at this new school are not just rhetoric; the school truly functions as a community. This campus is special. Students are given opportunities to challenge themselves and they rise to the occasion.” Instead of sitting in rows of chairs and desks, students at Pacific Ridge School sit around oval classroom tables called Harkness tables. In face-to-face communication with teachers and peers, students learn to listen and speak respectfully, to question assumptions, and to articulate their views. Mr. Ehland’s goal following his trip is to establish internships for University of Paderborn student teachers at Pacific Ridge School. He also hopes his university might adopt Pacific Ridge’s Harkness Teaching model, as he notes it fosters self-oration and presentation, key factors that he believes influence students’ confidence and ability to express themselves.
Following Mr. Ehland’s visit, 26 students from Pacific Ridge School’s sister school, Shanghai Shidong High School, visited the Carlsbad school to observe classroom teaching, engage in dialogue, and visit San Diego landmarks. The students and chaperones participated in home stays with Pacific Ridge School families during their travels. Pacific Ridge School’s tenth-grade students visited Shanghai in June of 2010 as part of the school’s annual global engagement travel program and the January visit from the Chinese students allowed the students to further educate one another on their respective cultures. The visit kicked off on Sunday, January 23, with a Chinese New Year celebration that included classical and lion dances, as well as a zither performance. Attendees wore red or Chinese-style clothing.
This summer, the cultural immersion continues as Pacific Ridge students embark on school-wide global enrichment trips to destinations domestic and abroad. For more information about Pacific Ridge School, Harkness Teaching and its global engagement curriculum, visit http://pacificridge.org.
About Pacific Ridge School:
Opened in the fall of 2007, Pacific Ridge School is a non‐profit, independent middle and high school located in the North County, San Diego. With the distinctive mission of building a community that fosters academic excellence, ethical responsibility and global engagement, Pacific Ridge offers a first-rate educational experience to prepare students for college and a purposeful life. For more information, visit http://www.pacificridge.org or http://facebook.com/pacificridgeschool. Pacific Ridge School does not discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, sexual orientation, race, creed, or national origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, and other administered programs.
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Contact
Pacific Ridge School
Caroline Callaway
(949) 218-5454
www.pacificridge.org
Caroline Callaway
(949) 218-5454
www.pacificridge.org
Contact
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