Our goal is to integrate diversity, multiculturalism, and social justice throughout the curriculum, in all departments and in both required courses and electives.
Middle School
The Biggest Dig (6) teaches world history by assigning students a year and a main event to research and present on.
Humanities (6) explores literature from world cultures, including Africa, China, and the Middle East.
Cultural Heritage Project (7) challenges students to research and share their birth or adopted families’ immigration histories and cultural roots.
American History (7) covers immigration, citizenship, and the Civil Rights movement.
English: Rights, Race, and Narrative (7) ties in with the history curriculum by focusing on literature that explores themes of immigration, freedom, and human/civil rights.
Science: Diversity (7) focuses on understanding and appreciating biodiversity.
Creative Scholars Project (8) charges students with identifying and researching a global social or scientific issue and developing a potential solution.
Facing History and Ourselves (8) studies the Holocaust and its effects.
Media Culture and Literacy (7, 8) exposes students to international news and teaches them to think critically about how events and issues are portrayed in the mass media.
Foreign Language Study (6, 7, 8) teaches students about French and Spanish culture and history, as well as teaching the spoken and written languages.
Community Service (6, 7, 8) involves all students in off-campus service projects and is complemented by research and discussion of social issues.
Upper School
Required Courses:
Freshman Seminar: Perspectives on Community, Culture and Class (9) asks student to explore the impact of race and class in defining culture. Incorporating projects, case studies, community service, students develop an understanding of their role as agents of change in the world.
Connections Across Cultures (9) introduces students to the great variety of world literature and explores the universality of certain themes.
Foundations of Civilization (9) explores how world civilizations are unique, similar and interconnected.
United States History (10) includes specific material and units relating to themes of power, prejudice, stereotypes, equity and social justice
20th Century Revolutions and Social Movements (11) views the major world events of the century through the lens of ideology and revolution, culminating in an in-depth research paper.
Multicultural Electives:
Arts:
History through Art: A Reflection of Culture
Social Documentary with Photography
English:
African-American Literature
Around the World in One Trimester
Harlem Renaissance Literature
Protest Literature
History/Global Education:
African-American Culture in the 20th Century
Global Media & Politics
World Films
Social Action Seminar and Service Practicum
US-China Relations
The Middle East
Languages:
French Society & Culture
Historical and Modern-Day Spain
Psychology:
Children & Homelessness
