Global Connections
Head of School Nate Morrow frequently states that CPA serves as a test plot for engaging the world as students learn to evaluate all knowledge and life by His Truth. In addition to student-teacher, peerto-peer, and school-to-community interactions that allow students to practice this piece of the Academy’ s mission, CPA also provides opportunities to engage culture worldwide.
This engagement begins with an awareness that life exists outside our own set of experiences, in very different, but also very similar, ways. A complete understanding of the differences in people and cultures begins with understanding that all people are image-bearers of God. From this position, CPA students move from education to action, related to global differences and issues.
Global connection begins with our youngest students. CPA preschool hosts an annual International Day, during which each classroom represents a different country, including Uganda, China, Mexico, Germany, and more. Students learn facts and salutations in the language of each country.
In the lower school, fifth grade students celebrate weeks of learning about different countries during their annual International Festival. At the festival students served as ambassadors for their chosen country through a museum-style presentation that allows parents, peers, and
... they aren’ t too young to understand or be involved in serving others in poverty, whether in a third-world country or right here in Nashville.
Academy students of all ages to explore Africa, Asia, Europe, and North, Central, and South America.
The third grade spent many weeks this year studying economics in relation to global hunger, grappling with questions such as: What happens to a community and its economy when food and water are scarce? What does the Bible say about how we should interact with people who do not have sufficient resources and food? How does hunger and poverty affect a community?
Third grade student Will said,“ I never knew children in Kenya had to walk so far to get water. I knew they walked a lot, but I didn’ t know it was over three miles.”
Through this project-based learning experience, students created products to promote awareness of global hunger and water scarcity. The unit concluded with a Global Hunger Symposium, during which the students sought to inspire their audience to make an impact on the world. One team of students created a water filtration system, describing it, they said:“ This system uses materials that are readily available- like rocks and sand- to make water drinkable.”
Both the fifth grade International Festival and third grade Hunger unit were followed by panels of members of the CPA community, including parents, teachers, and students, who have experienced different cultures, and seen poverty, and hunger firsthand. These interviews, paired with knowledge about the issues, allow students to realize they can be part of a solution.
Panel member and CPA Upper School student Carly stated,“ I was glad I was on the third grade Hunger panel because— as a ninth grader— I’ m not that much older than these students. I think they realized they aren’ t too young to understand or be involved in serving others in poverty, whether in a third-world country or right here in Nashville.”
Carly also described the impact of mission work in her own life,“ Our family has a relationship with CPA alum Karris Hudson, who founded Danita’ s Children in Ouanaminthe, Haiti. I’ ve been going to Haiti with my family since I was in Kindergarten. My dad wanted us to see that not everyone lives the way we live or has the resources we have. Those experiences have changed my life and given me a vision of doing more long-term mission work as I get older.”
10 SEPTEMBER 2017