DC Bilingual’s #GlobalLEADers program incorporates science, math, technology, leadership, and history and, in the fifth grade, centered on the culture of Puerto Rico. This trip provides the students with an opportunity to apply what was taught in the classroom in a real-life setting. Here’s what our students will accomplish:
- Experience Spanish language immersion in an authentic cultural setting by exchanging cultural values with their peers at a school in Puerto Rico
- Visit important historical landmarks such as: Hacienda Buena Vista, El Morro Fortress in Old San Juan, and La Cruceta
- Explore natural landmarks such as the Phosphorescent Bay, El Yunque National Rainforest, Las Cavernas del Rio Camuy, and the radio telescope at the Arecibo Observatory
- Participate in cultural activities which illustrate aspects of Puerto Rican life such as dance, theatre, storytelling, arts, food, and the architecture of San Juan and Ponce
- Meet with political figures and local cultural experts to learn about the history of the island
The majority of our students are first generation Latino and African-American children in the District of Columbia. For most students this will be a life-changing experience: it will be their first time boarding a plane and their first time leaving home. This is the kind of experience that creates lifelong memories, expands horizons, and reinforces the connection between working hard at school and the possibilities that exist in the world outside their neighborhoods.
Our teachers, staff, parents, and students are working hard towards making this trip a reality through organized classroom fundraisers. But these efforts alone are not sufficient. This is why we need your support.
#GlobalLEADERs Blog 