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70 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 ST. MARGARET'S SCHOOL As an IB World School, St. Margaret's School (SMS) welcomes students from around the world to study and live on campus, fostering a global perspective in education. "At SMS, leadership is about action and in- fluence rather than a position. It is a com- mitment to helping others and an ongoing collaborative process that raises everyone to the highest levels of competence and morality, nurturing a sense of global citi- zenship among our students," says Sharon Klein, Head of School at the girl-centred independent school in Victoria. Today's students are learning to lead during a time of profound social and environmental change. Guided by values of courage, care, challenge, curiosity and connection, SMS creates "thrivability" with a focus on STEM-X (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and experien- tial education). "Eighty percent of people displaced by climate change are women, yet women continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields and global climate negotiation bod- ies," Klein says. "It is more important than ever to engage girls in these areas, which is exactly what we do as Canada's first girl-centred school focused on STEM." Extending the school community beyond that campus and into local and global communities, SMS fully supports eight Global Scholars through its scholar- ship program. "These students, from countries such as Ukraine, Nepal and Afghanistan, add depth in our community and learning environment as we share different cultural experiences in education from around the world," Klein says. "Our Global Scholars develop friendships with local and other international students as together they learn to collaborate on global issues and initiate meaningful and impactful action plans to share within our school community and beyond." The school's Model UN, Scholars and Debate clubs supports students in grades 9-12 to tackle global issues that are debat- ed and where ideas, values and perspec- tives are shared. "SMS school motto is 'Service with Love'," Klein says. "This commitment to service creates an environment for our youth to be caring individuals extend their actions of care to others, both locally and globally. Students are encouraged to live out our school motto, to be curious about the world and to work collaborative- ly to enact change. MULGRAVE SCHOOL Craig Davis, Head of School at Mulgrave in West Vancouver says understanding one's own identity is a central part of wellbeing. "To become Global Citizens and thrive in a culturally diverse and interdependent world we believe students should have an understanding of their own (emerging) identity and the privileges and challenges they have," he says. "They should also understand the identity of others and the privileges and struggles they face; and have the intercultural skills to connect with others." Students of all ages, from preschool to grade 12, engage in global citizenship learn- ing activities and experiences that range from Units of Inquiry in the Early Years and Junior School to a year-long Grade 10 Global Citizenship course and a Global Citi- zenship Experiential Learning Programme (GEx) in Middle and Senior School. "The grade 10 course enables students to become critically thoughtful and informed citizens who value an inclusive society and are comfortable examining their role as ally, advocate, and/or activist," Davis says. "Students explore historical, social, economic and political develop- ments and events and their impact on the lives of different individuals, groups and communities." These include First Nations, Métis and Inuit people in Canada and around the world since 1914. Students also explore issues of civic importance such as envi- ronmental responsibility and the policies needed to meaningfully engage with issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. The GEx Programme includes a 'week without walls' in Vancouver or regionally in Canada, with optional international opportunities. Mulgrave School Meadowridge St. Margaret's School