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The internationalization of education is an exponential force when students are empowered
Grande Prairie Composite High School’s four-year involvement with the Finland–Alberta project has gained momentum and excitement as recent student exchanges have ignited enthusiasm within the student population.
For the first two years, our exchanges consisted of visits between administrators and teachers from Finland and Grande Prairie. The exchanges influenced the culture of our school through administrative leadership decisions that attempted to increase student choice and ownership. Our teachers involved in the exchange initiated collaboration between Grande Prairie and Finnish students to create projects ranging from literature exchanges to joint science slideshows to page designs for each other’s yearbooks.
This past year saw two Grade 10 students, along with a teacher and an administrator, travel to Finland. Upon their return to Alberta, the students engaged in leadership. Renée, inspired by a globalization workshop offered during her visit to Seinäjoki, is spearheading a fundraiser to buy books for a school library in Tanzania, Africa, through CODE Canada. Moira has become the student ambassador for a student leadership event in our city—Mighty Peace Day—that is affiliated with the Me to We campaign. The students’ energy and enthusiasm about making a difference and becoming involved in local and global issues has spread to their peers, who have ideas for improving student voice within the school and global communities. The internationalization of education becomes an exponential force when students are empowered to make a difference.
Grande Prairie Public School District is building a second high school, Charles Spencer High School, which will open in September 2014 with 950 Grades 9–12 students. We have focused on the Finland–Alberta partnership as we endeavour to create a great school.
The challenge of creating a new school lies in its design. From a leadership perspective, I strive to answer the following questions:
- How does the internationalization of education influence decisions around building design, programming and staffing?
- How do the experiences of the past four years influence the future?
- What is the vision and what are the obstacles?
- How do you include stakeholders in meaningful ways?
Our two district high schools are also involved in the High School Redesign Flexibility Project (HSRFP) with Alberta Education. Grande Prairie Composite High School is one of the original 16 schools in the project. Insights gained as we engage in analysis of current practices are playing a role in creating a student-centred environment for Charles Spencer High School. The foundation principles of the HSRFP are connected with our experiences in the Finnish school system (for example, personalization, alternative delivery of relevant curriculum, flexible use of time and space, and meaningful relationships). This speaks to the similarities between the Finnish and the Alberta education systems and confirms that the partnership is a natural fit.
The Finland–Alberta partnership, along with the influence of the HSRFP, has contributed to the foundation upon which Charles Spencer High School will be built. Our exciting journey over the next school year will shape and define the school with the vision to become a great school for all.
Michelle Blair is the former principal of Grande Prairie Composite High School and currently principal of Charles Spencer High School.
