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68 BCBUSINESS.CA NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 SPECIAL FEATURE I N D E P E N D E N T S C H O O L S "Students are encouraged to think beyond national borders, champion global awareness and develop leadership skills to contribute to a more interconnected and equitable world, in alignment with the IB program's emphasis on interna- tional-mindedness and holistic global understanding," Chee says. Stratford Hall takes a multi-faceted approach to nurturing global citizenship in its students. "By prioritising pluralism and community, we encourage students to cultivate an international perspective, embracing the richness of diverse cultures and fostering inclusivity," Chee says. "Through a rigorous language program, students gain proficiency in language acquisition, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and appreciation." Through service initiatives such as environmental conservation in Costa Rica, students learn the connection between place and local flora and fauna. Their actions in reforestation of mangroves and learning of Indigenous medicinal plants allows for growth in their appreciation of the unseen environmental services our earth provides. "These trips also foster a strong local connection to the community, ranging from local trips to Indigenous commu- nities to explore how local populations celebrated, lived and continue to thrive today allows for students to learn about not only the present but also past lives of Indigenous populations in Canada," says Global Programs Coordinator Gladys Kong. "These experiences also support stu- dents in exploring the world around them, to bring them to places where families may not have thought to go or an oppor- tunity to dive deeper into local culture and practices." COLLINGWOOD SCHOOL Collingwood School in West Vancouver focuses on developing socially respon- sible students pursuing passions for a better world, starting with a personalized approach to learning for all students. Prioritizing forward-focused learning, building community, wellbeing and sus- tainability, the school provides authentic learning experiences connected to real world problems or issues where students develop cultural awareness and consider the broader global context of issues and challenges. "We offer trips and activities through academic, athletic, arts and service-learn- ing opportunities, to expose our students to different languages, cultures and lived experiences," says Lisa Evans, head of school. "A strong community includes diverse minds and broad perspectives, and we explore what it means to live in a "connected world", to break down barriers (i.e., in language, or by learning styles), so that we can appreciate and be inspired by others in the world." This learning starts early. In kinder- garten, students exchange information about their local natural environment with students at Aubrick School in Brazil. In grade 4, they partner with students in South Korea to explore ways to connect Western and Eastern cultures, in a project called Crossing/Across the Big Blue that was proposed by a grade 11 Collingwood student. In grades 6 and 7, students participate in a Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) Student Leadership program, which is designed to engage and support the development of student leaders from CAIS Schools across Canada, including Bermuda. Grade 7 students also have a 10-day exchange program with the Hackley School in New York, and in grades 8 and 9 they participate in a variety of off-campus excursions to develop awareness of the Metro Vancouver region and beyond while focussing on personal development of traits such as self-reliance, decision mak- ing and healthy relationships with peers. By the time they reach grade 12, students are well-prepared for Entrepre- neurship 12—designed like a university level business course—where they learn through case studies that span diverse in- dustries and explore real-world problems. "Our academic program is rooted in developing thinkers who are able to understand multiple perspectives of any given topic and transfer that learning and knowledge across disciplines to create novel solutions," Evans says. Aspengrove Collingwood School