February
1989
BB&N welcomes 10 students from the USSR in an unprecedented exchange
Fall
1997
BB&N adds Mandarin classes to the curriculum
Fall
2006
BB&N adds Arabic classes to the curriculum
Fall
2014
BB&N becomes a member of the Global Online Academy (GOA)
Fall
2016
Dr. Karina Baum becomes the first Director of Global Education
Global Education & Languages
For decades, BB&N has prepared students to engage with the global community. As the school website states: "Global Education at BB&N taps into the diversity of our community and beyond by weaving throughout the curriculum and extracurricular activities at all grade levels. To develop global competency, students engage in meaningful educational experiences where they share their own culture while learning from others’ backgrounds." In addition to showing up throughout the curriculum, global education includes student exchange programs, international trips, and courses and professional development through partnerships with other schools.
Left: an article about the exchange program in The Vanguard, December 1988.
BB&N's Russian program became a part of the curriculum when faculty member George Deptula came to Browne & Nichols in 1957. The program expanded to include summer trips to the USSR in 1971, which were led by the then-new teacher Armen Dedekian. The Russian program continued to be a strong part of the curriculum at BB&N after the merger, and expanded to include a Russian dance ensemble in the 1980s.
In 1989, BB&N made history as one of 30 schools to begin an exchange between Soviet and American students. Connecting with Moscow School #27, BB&N welcomed ten students for a month-long visit, and later went to Moscow for their own international experience.
Below: Russian students and their hosts during the second year of the exchange, 1990.
Language options at BB&N have expanded over the years. Spanish, French, Latin, and Russian were all available at the Upper School at the time of the merger. In 1997, the school added Mandarin to the list of options available at the Upper School; in 2006, Arabic became the most recent addition to the language curriculum. Students can now choose a Double Language Program, and international exchanges and trips can enhance their language learning. At the Lower School, students can take French and Spanish; at the Middle School, Latin is added as an additional option.
Above: a program for the Talloires exchange program, 1992.
Below: photos from exchanges and international trips across the years.
In 2014, BB&N became a member of the Global Online Academy (GOA), "a consortium of more than 60 leading independent schools in the U.S. and abroad that promotes global awareness through diverse, online communities." GOA classes are open to juniors and seniors, and the courses feature both independent work and collaborative projects with classmates.
BB&N is also a member of Round Square, "an internationally diverse network of 250+ like-minded schools in 50 countries on six continents that connect and collaborate to offer world-class programmes and experiences, developing global competence, character and confidence in our students." As a Round Square member, BB&N faculty members can apply for a grant through the Round Square Faculty & Staff Exchange Program, the purpose of which is "to support unique professional enrichment opportunities for faculty members from all three campuses who have demonstrated exceptional performance in the classroom and/or in running student programs."
Dr. Karina Baum first joined the BB&N community in 2009 as an Upper School Biology teacher, but in 2016, she became BB&N's first Director of Global Education. Since arriving, Dr. Baum has established the school's current Global Competence Framework. This framework guides all aspects of global education in the curriculum, helping ensure that "BB&N students develop the tools and knowledge to actively engage in local and global affairs, recognizing the impact local decisions have on the world and how global processes affect local communities."
Above: BB&N's Global Competence Framework.