GLOBAL CLASSROOM
Upper School ESL Coordi– nator Robin Weitzer had found an opportunity for OES students to connect with high school students in Afghanistan via the Global Nomads Group (GNG). Within weeks, her niece Hannah Weitzer, the project manager for GNG, was on site in Portland assessing OES among other sites across the nation. The global classroom made OES a viable candidate for the program, and equally important, the International Relations class and the enthusiasm of its teacher, Hope Stevens, made an impression. In November, 15 OES
seniors participated in the first of five video conferences with students from the SOLA school in Kabul. The OES students brought enthusiasm and a willingness to come back
“This initiative may prove to be a key component in helping us realize our vision of connecting people, ideas and cultures.”
—Brad Baugher, OES Director of Educational Technology
to school for a nighttime class to compensate for the 12.5- hour time difference between Portland and Afghanistan. Each class or module has a
different theme. The initial theme was cultural exchange— the students introduced themselves and told each other about things they like to do, what they are studying, and some interesting aspects of their cultures. Following the
video conference, they have written personal letters and communicated through social media. Some boarding parents have
already experienced the high- tech clarity of conferences with their child’s teachers in the global classroom. It is expected that every dorm student’s parents will have this opportunity on a regular basis. The parents’ connection to their children and their
children’s teachers should be strengthened dramatically. The Platt Global Classroom
is named in honor of Jay and Debra Platt for their support of the school. The names of auction donors who supported this initiative will be on a plaque inside the room as a reminder of their leadership role in sustaining the mission and vision of OES.
w w w . o e s . e d u
In the photo on this page and at the bottom of the facing page, OES students talk with students at the School of Leadership Afghanistan (SOLA) in Kabul, Afghanistan, via a video link in a program created by Global Nomads Group.
The Global Nomads Group (GNG) is an international NGO that creates interactive educational programs for students about global issues. Learn more on its website,
www.gng.org.
Coincidentally, the SOLA school in Kabul was founded by Ted Achilles, who is a parent of three OES alumnae/i—Helen ’81, Todd ’86, and Jennifer ’87.
WWW.OES.EDU
WINTER 2012 OES MAGAZINE
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