Global Education

Our Philosophy

At Providence Day School, we intentionally create experiences that foster intercultural learning inside and outside the classroom. Knowing the world is increasingly interconnected and ever-changing, we purposefully develop opportunities for our students to become empathetic, informed, and empowered global citizens.

Join us in learning more about our passion and commitment to global education.

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Global Curriculum

PD Passport

Imagine your TK student learning about China, Germany, and Kenya, and then continuing on that global journey to gain the knowledge, skills and character dispositions needed to make a difference in a rapidly changing world.

At PD, they can! All students at Providence Day experience the TK-12 global education framework known as the “PD Passport,” which infuses traditional classes with the content, skills, and character dispositions critical to becoming a global citizen. Our classrooms are places of discovery where learning about diverse cultures and shared experiences creates connections to our larger humanity.

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Global Studies Diploma

Providence Day was the first school in the nation to create the Global Studies Diploma for Upper School students and remains a leader in defining global education in America.

The mission of the Global Studies Diploma is to develop within our students an ability to appreciate and value differences locally and globally and to develop the understanding, skills, and character dispositions to become active global citizens.

Students begin the program in the 9th grade. In their educational and experiential journey, they will learn to:

Understand there are commonalities connecting all cultures
Appreciate new knowledge systems or ways of thinking about the world
Demonstrate high proficiency in a spoken world language
Understand and promote the value of living in a way in which the planet can sustain itself
Understand the interconnectedness of causal factors and the complexity of global issues
Demonstrate an active empathy that moves beyond mere tolerance of the wider world to true engagement with the world
Develop a genuine concern for world problems and a commitment to finding solutions

To receive the Global Studies Diploma, students must complete the following:

A set of global courses (which also count toward the PD diploma)
A World Language through all four years in upper school, complete at least through level four of that language
Local and global co-curricular experiences

Global Online Academy (GOA)

Providence Day School is a member of Global Online Academy (GOA), a consortium of leading independent schools from around the world whose programs offer our students a way to pursue their passions, learn with peers from around the globe, and acquire and practice modern learning skills that will serve them well in college, career, and life.

Global Travel

Journeying beyond the United States on a PD global trip is an adventure many Providence Day School students enjoy. Each trip is led by dedicated PD faculty and staff members who are trained as on-the-ground risk managers through certification in CPR and AED, as well as instruction in physical and emotional first aid, small group dynamics, and intercultural skill-building.

Our global travel learning goals:

Explore another country through hands-on experience
Engage in a reflective learning process to extract lessons learned
Grow personally to become a more confident and accountable global citizen

For summer 2024 PD offers global trips to Costa Rica, Greece, Iceland, Italy, and Japan!

Global Speakers and Student Groups

Our home city of Charlotte provides a rich landscape for international engagement. Providence Day School students take advantage of this resource through events such as the Global Speaker series and Academic World Quest, which are sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Charlotte.
In addition, Providence Day School has a variety of student-led clubs including Model United Nations, Chinese/French/German/Spanish Language Clubs, Asian Affinity Club, Jewish Culture Club, Black Student Union, and Hispanic/LatinX Affinity Club.

Global Speaker Series

Global Partnerships

As part of our commitment to fostering intercultural learning, Providence Day School became a Global Member of Round Square in 2016. Inspired in 1966 by the educational concepts of Kurt Hahn, a German educator and a key figure in the development of experiential education (including Outward Bound), Round Square is an internationally diverse network of 200 like-minded schools in 50 countries on six continents.

Member schools share a commitment to character education and experiential learning through our shared IDEALS – International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership, and Service. Through Round Square, Providence Day School students have the opportunity to attend international conferences, volunteer projects, and student exchanges around the world.

As leaders in the field of international education, Providence Day School also is a member of the Global Education Benchmark Group and Global Connections.

Global Educator Certificate

Bringing The World Back To Our Students:

THE GLOBAL EDUCATOR CERTIFICATE

LEARN ABOUT OTHER CULTURES

Certificate candidates are required to study the language of at least one of their chosen travel destinations. They also prepare a pre-departure journal to research and explore questions and initial impressions.

DEVELOP AS A GLOBAL CITIZEN

The certificate candidates visit at least two different countries and cultures (different defined by language and geographic distance). They make efforts to visit both urban and rural areas, local schools, and stay with host families to fully experience many aspects of the travel locations.

ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO SEEK GLOBAL EXPERIENCES

Once home, the certificate candidates share their travel experiences through lesson plans that teach the value of their travel and presentations to students, teachers, and parents. They inspire others to begin developing their own global citizenship.

To learn more about our faculty's travel through
the Global Educator Certificate, click here.

Global Education Team

Our Global Education Team

Jessica Williams
Director of Global Programs
jessica.williams@providenceday.org

Jessica Williams is the Director of Global Programs at Providence Day School. Raised on a farm in Pennsylvania, Jessica was a first-generation college student who fulfilled her desire to study abroad in college (China, Taiwan, Scotland, and Thailand). A deep desire to help students find their paths and fulfill their dreams led her to work in education where she has over 18 years of experience in admissions, advising, and international education at diverse institutions including the University of Miami, Rollins College, Appalachian State University, Davidson College, and Cannon School. As a heart-centered educator, Jessica values blending deep listening with gentle challenges to encourage students in following their unique paths to an inspired life.

Suzanne Clements
Global Education Assistant
suzanne.clements@providenceday.org

Suzanne Clements is the Administrative Assistant for Global Education. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Suzanne grew up in a two-family home that included her grandmother, an Irish immigrant. Her interest in global travel has been nourished through a semester abroad in college, personal travel and a stint working with international visitors through USAID. As a grateful mom of two PD alumni, Suzanne is happy to support the current students of Providence Day as they experience global opportunities.