WA-Abaarso Tech Somaliland Partnership
Abaarso Tech, a non-profit organization and boarding school in Somaliland, was founded by WA alum Jonathan Starr. He seeks to offer world-class education to people of the Horn of Africa. Now in its inaugural year, the school is attracting top local and international minds to teach Somaliland’s most promising youth. Additionally, it provides professional development for teachers and others professionals, and assists rural populations by placing teachers in village schools and working on community improvements. In 2010-2011, students in the 10th grade AP World History classes will collaborate on-line (click here) with students at Abaarso Tech (click here for more information).
Haderslev Katedralskole Denmark-Worcester Academy Partnership
Last October, a group of twenty students from the Haderslev katedralskole in Denmark visited WA. During their stay, they attended classes and extracurricular events, and made a memorable presentation during an assembly.
On Friday September 24th, twelve WA students will travel to their school to participate in a global education opportunity. Our students have prepared presentations on globally relevant issues and will share their work with the students and faculty of the Haderslev katedralskole. These are the four presentations followed by audience size in parentheses.
1) Health care reform in the United States (330)
2) Immigration reform in the United States (350)
3) Sustainability: status of renewable energy projects in the US and in Massachusetts (150)
4) Biotechnology: medical advances in the treatment of Type I diabetes (150)
Our students will be hosted by students of the Haderslev katedralskole and will have an opportunity for cultural enrichment during this time. We will also take a short trip to Copenhagen to visit museums, the Copenhagen Medical School, and other educationally significant sites. Click here for the trip blog.
WA Biochemistry Partnership with University of Massachusetts Medical School, WPI and Clark University
The Biochemistry independent study is offered to seniors who have an excellent grasp of concepts in biology, chemistry and physics, and would like advanced study in laboratory science. In the first part of the year, student conduct literature investigations of topics in molecular biology and biochemistry that are studied in several laboratories at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, WPI and Clark University. Each week, the students run a “seminar series” in which these scientific articles are presented and discussed, with the goal being to familiarize the students with the research projects in these laboratories. In November, the students will begin laboratory internships at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, WPI and Clark University. Contact Michael Mallet, Science Department Chair for more details. Click here for a paper written by a Worcester Academy student based on his reserach at the UMass Medical DNA lab, Angel2010.
Future Partnerships
Worcester Academy is developing partnerships with the Royal Grammar School (RGS) in Worcester, England. In 1990 music ensembles RGS performed at Worcester Academy. They stayed with Worcester Academy host families and performed a joint concert with our students. World events interrupted our plans to establish an ongoing exchange program with the Worcester, England school, but the exchange program was reinstated. for the Worcester Academy’s Jazz Combo performed in London, the Academy Singers featured at Malvern Priory in Worcester, and both groups performed at RGS in March, 2010. Future programming is in the works.
Worcester Academy is exploring a partnership in China as well. The WA students in the Chinese language program will embark upon a language and culture trip to China during the summer of 2011.
See related posts re: other WA partnerships (click here).
