Global Education

Discovering a World of Learning

The flags of nearly 80 different countries are displayed throughout the King School campus. These flags represent our community’s many nationalities and underline our commitment to global education.

At King, we prepare students to become responsible global citizens. Our Global Education program provides them with the mindset, skills, and resources they need to engage actively and positively in the global community. Through an expansive and interdisciplinary PreK-12 curriculum, we strive to develop students' understanding of the world and their role in addressing ethical, cultural, socio-economic, political, scientific, ethnic, religious, and environmental issues.

Nurturing Global Competencies

Global Education programming is integrated into our school’s identity and equips our learners with the global competencies they will need to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

In addition to developing essential hard skills like research, public speaking, media literacy, language proficiency, writing, and digital technology, students acquire valuable soft skills such as listening, flexibility, curiosity, collaboration, critical thinking, and leadership.

Meaningful Connections Through Inquiry and Exploration

Our Global Education learning is rooted in inquiry and exploration. In the Lower School, students engage in culturally responsive teaching and project-based learning. For example, our Grade 2 students explore geometry through a global lens by studying how shapes found in art and architecture around the world convey meaning and reinforce cultural identity. Inspired by their research, students shared their own stories as they created models of homes, paper weaving, or mosaics.

In the Middle School, guiding questions about identity and perspectives prompt students to examine their place in the world. For example, in Grade 8 history courses, students represent countries from around the world in a Model United Nations simulation, together seeking solutions to some of the world’s most complex problems. They also partner with the Greenwich Japanese School to build community and celebrate cultural traditions.

In the Upper School, our Global Studies distinction scholars embark on an intensive interdisciplinary course of study, culminating in a multimedia portfolio project that showcases their understanding. For example, some Grades 11 and 12 students conduct feasibility studies on sustainable practices at King or build up exchange programs with partner schools. Global distinction scholars may share their research with peers at an assembly or work cross-divisionally to bring their capstone work to younger learners.

Global Education Beyond the Classroom

King students have numerous opportunities for global engagement empowering them to make choices, direct the course of their engagement, and pursue their interests. Our strong partnerships with local, national, and international organizations foster deep connections for a meaningful student experience.

Our middle and upper school global travel programs are rooted in our curriculum and enable students to connect their lives to the world around them. Students become international performing artists at the Fringe Festival in Scotland, engage with scientists at the CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Switzerland, experience classes and school life in Japan through an exchange with our partner school, or connect with culture and the environment as they also work with Orphaned Starfish Foundation in Costa Rica.

Shaping the Future Through Global Education

With more than 10 partner schools/organizations, ongoing professional development, and our involvement in global networks such as the Global Educator Benchmark Group, Global Citizens Initiative, and Independent Schools Experiential Education Network, we are actively shaping the future of global education.

At King School, we are committed to fostering a global mindset and preparing our students to make a positive impact on the world. We continue to create unparalleled opportunities for exchange and community engagement. We believe that together, we can empower the next generation of global leaders.

King Journeys

We invite you to explore the elements of a King School Global Education below:

Certificate of Distinction in Global Studies

Exchange Programs Abroad and at King

King offers language, cultural, athletic or service-oriented programs with a homestay component through our partner schools. Our rotating offerings may include programs in China, France, Japan and Spain. We also host students and teachers from our partner schools on King's campus for two to three weeks. Students interested in longer exchange opportunities have the ability to take part in a semester of study abroad at our partner schools.

Leadership Opportunities

Model U.N.: Brown, Harvard, Beijing, and England Model U.N. conferences
Global Leadership Summit
Global Youth Initiative & Global Citizen Summit at Harvard
Global Citizens Initiative Fellowship
Human Rights Cohort with RFK Human Rights
Community engagement with partner organizations: Building One Community, Children's Learning Center, Soundwaters, Orphaned Starfish Foundation

Interdisciplinary Learning

Global Citizen's Initiative

King School is an full partner school with Global Citizen's Initiative (GCI). We are highly committed to the common goal of preparing students to function across cultures, and to become citizens of the world. Several King students participated in the one-year long GCI fellowship since 2015. The fellowship equips young global citizens with the mindset, skills, and resources necessary to become effective and ethical global leaders. GCI Seminar is a professional development opportunity for educators to learn the GCI method during the GCI Youth Summit. Educators learn to design and implement an ethics-based leadership curriculum grounded on project-and discussion-based methodologies.

Our GCI Leaders

Millei Wyatt '21

2019

Former GCI Leader Millei

Citizenship: United States, Japan

"My parents are happily married and I get along extremely well with my siblings, so I can say I was raised surrounded by love. This family dynamic is the main thing that affects me as a person. My mother and I have the textbook definition of a love/hate relationship. From her, I’ve learned that I can always be better. My father has had the greatest impact on my character and personality. This is because he’s my greatest role model and I strive to be as amazing as he is. He is extremely laid-back, independent-minded, hardworking, and sociable. I take my role as the oldest sibling extremely seriously. I think it’s important for me to be someone that they can look up to. They inspire me to be the best I can be so that I may be a positive role model to them in the way that my father is to me."

Will Tipping-Hall '20

2019

Former GCI Leader Will

Citizenship: United States, United Kingdom, Russia

"At 3 years old, I was adopted from Irkutsk, Russia. Although it took stacks of paperwork and approvals, a long process through the tough and intimidating Russian courts, and 5 trips, my parents were determined to get me out of that orphanage and into our family. It is because of their fight that I understand my own life as an opportunity to apply that same determination to give others that same chance. My parents have helped to show me the value of an education in becoming a curious and independent thinker. Whether it's because of the story of my background or how I was raised, I've always found it fascinating to learn the stories of others, and how aspects of people's experiences have come to formulate what they believe. To me, there's always something to be learned from every person and their experiences."

Former GCI Leaders

Alex Kearns

2018

Former GCI Leader Alexander

Matt Roer

2017

Former GCI Leader Matt

John Hock

2016

Former GCI Leader John

Laurel Jaffe

2015

Former GCI Leader Laurel

Global Events

Window into the world

Window into the World are multidisciplinary, all-school events that bring musicians, artists, film producers, and heritage speakers into classes and on stage to provide instructive workshops.

Global Classroom at the United Nations

King partners with the International Cinema Education organization (I.C.E.) to offer an annual Global Classroom. The Global Classroom is a tailor-made program for high school students which uses films, literature and private U.N. briefings as catalysts to facilitate discussions about international events, global finance, cross-cultural affairs, and critical thinking

Guest Speaker Series

Guest speakers enable students to understand a global challenge through memorable testimonies and meaningful analyses by experts. Prior speakers are from Sudan, Rwanda, Afghanistan, the United Nations, the World Food Programme and RFK Human Rights Defenders

World Languages

Global Education Benchmark Group

GEBG Student Dialogues

The Global Education Benchmark Group offers a student dialogue program where students from member schools may connect with peers around the world. This year's student dialogues are focused on current events and require little to no preparation prior to the session. "The overarching goal connecting all student dialogues is to provide a space in which students can discuss what matters to them, to share challenges and opportunities they face, and to collectively develop ways in which they might use their talents and passions to act as leaders now and into the future."

Learn about Global Travel Programs

Global Education in Action

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