肯特咨询集团双周简报
Bi-weekly Newsletter from KCG
Nov. 16th - 30th, 2014
简报介绍：肯特咨询集团双周简报致力于与您分享作为顶级教育咨询公司的优质服务和相关新闻，希望能够帮助您更多地了解关于肯特咨询的价值观和使命。
跨学科的学习
水和人类，少数得到学校学术校长批准的高年级学生能够学到一门美国生态局的课程。该课程调查水资源与人类发展的动态和微妙的关系。学生从一个多学科的角度和项目运作的方式来研究水，他们批判性思考水在文明的持续力和生命力中所已经扮演的，并且以后继续扮演的，不可或缺的，中心的角色，以及人们为维持，保护和获取有用的淡水资源所面临的挑战。学生通过研究不同的材料，作整体分析和创新的项目计划，来思考，了解和提出复杂水问题的解决方案。通过多种教学方式，包括在线学习，视频会议，面对面沟通和上课，同时包括实地考察和项目开发，这门课程着重在水的价值和水资源匮乏带来的，在不同宗教信仰和实践，人类和水资源的关系在艺术，建筑学，以及在国家或王国的基础设施和工业发展等方面的问题。学生也考虑他们在当地的，区域和全球的水资源所处的位置，并调查，提出自己解决复杂的跨学科的水资源问题的解决方案。通过项目间的合作，和创新机会的锻炼，学生享受在线和跨学科间平台的优势，这种方式使他们通过八校联盟互相合作和对话，为解决水资源的核心困境而进行深入的思考和探讨。
语言
语言系的使命是培养学生掌握从母语去欣赏和了解别人的语言，文学，历史和文化的语言技能。学生学会对目前全球范围内沟通的挑战和机遇给予创新和批判性的回应。我们最终的目的是帮助学生培养一种对待自己，以及世界上过去和现在的人们的，健康的，放眼未来的态度。
作为我们愿景的目标框架，我们采纳美国语言教学委员会所提出的5种目标：
沟通目标： 用其他语言沟通，而非英语。
文化目标： 汲取知识，了解其他文化。
结合目标： 结合其他学科，获取信息。
比较目标： 提升对语言和文化本质的洞察力。
社区目标： 无论是在国内还是国外，参与多语言社区。
有七种语言可供学习——两种古典语言和五种现代语言-还有荣誉语言项目。古典荣誉项目吸引着在拉丁语和希腊语上有着很强能力的学生。
海外学年项目(SYA)给学生提供了以浸泡式的环境学习法语，西班牙语和中文的机会来快速提高他们的语言水平。同时与日本大阪成蹊学校，法国巴黎的阿尔萨斯学校和德国莱比锡的洪堡文理高中合作的交换生项目也可以提供这样的机会。
数学
作为教授数学教师，我们鼓励每一位学生在数学概念方面和有关解题的策略方面获取实用的知识和能力。我们鼓励学生重视和培养数学思维习惯，理解数学在这个世界上的重要性。教师完善和营造鼓励学生好奇心和自学的环境。
学生运用科技做调查，发现，分析，做模型，猜想和预测。整个课程中我们运用图形计算器和电脑技术来提升学习过程。通过使用实际生活中的应用来阐明和强调数学思想。同时，数学本身也增强对实际生活中现象的了解。
而且，学生会参加有关数学方面的课外活动，如当地和国家举办的数学竞赛，校内的数学社团和学生间的数学辅导等。
科学
了解科学原理对成为有责任的公民是最基本的要求。学会如何鉴别和搜集大量客观的数据并从中做出定量的推理是在各级别的科学课程里面要教授的技能。圣保罗中学科学部的任务就是要培养学生在科学和推理中的乐趣和能力。
创造性是科学过程中至关重要的一方面。我们让学生认识到，死记硬背物理定律相比较设计一个物理实验，或者认识到现象之间的联系，是次重要的。对于自然界特性的概念性的理解在物理学，化学和生物的整个核心序列课程中都有重复教授和运用。
实验室训练是教授对客观数据真实性尊重的主要的平台，也是训练用文字客观描述过程和结论的地方。在实验报告中，只有在了解使用的设备和所涉及的概念之后，才能对搜集的数据进行精确的分析。电脑，生产设备，天文台，学校操场，校外参观学习都被我们充分地利用给学生提供经验和让学生以自己的角度看待自然世界并提升自己人文方面的能力。
Interdisciplinary Studies
Water and Humanity, an ESA (Ecological Society of America, ESA) course available to a limited number of seniors approved by their Academic Deans, examines the dynamic and tenuous relationship between water resources and human development. Exploring water from a multidisciplinary, project-driven perspective, students think critically about the central role water has played and must continue to play in the viability and vitality of civilizations, as well as the many challenges people face in sustaining, protecting, and gaining access to usable fresh water. Students engage diverse materials, holistic approaches, and innovative project planning to consider, understand, and propose solutions to complex water issues. Using blended methodology involving online learning and videoconferencing, face-to-face discussions and lessons, as well as field research and project development, this course will focus on the value of water and on the issues that water scarcity presents within the contexts of such elements as religious belief and practice, the human-water relationship in fine art and architecture, national and imperial infrastructure, and industrial development. Students also consider the place of water in their own local, regional, and global communities, while researching and proposing original solutions to complex multidisciplinary water issues. Through collaborative projects, with opportunities for innovation, students enjoy the advantages of this online and interdisciplinary platform, which enables them to engage in dialogue and collaboration across the Eight Schools Association, with the goal of furthering thinking and conclusions about water's central dilemmas."
Languages
The mission of the Languages Department is to develop in students the language skills that will enable them to gain a first-hand appreciation and understanding of other people's languages, literatures, histories, and cultures. Students learn to respond creatively and critically to the challenges and opportunities for communication in the world today. Our ultimate goal is to help students cultivate a healthy vision of the future that includes not only themselves but past and present peoples from around the world.
As an objective framework for our mission statement, we have adopted the five goals as set forth by the ACTFL (American Council for the Teaching of Languages):
Communication Goal: Communicate in languages other than English.
Cultures Goal: Gain knowledge and understanding of other cultures.
Connections Goal: Connect with other disciplines and acquire information.
Comparisons Goal: Develop insight into the nature of language and culture.
Communities Goal: Participate in multilingual communities at home and around the world.
Seven languages are offered-two classical and five modern-with Honors sections available. The Classical Honors Program attracts students who achieve a high level of competence in Latin and Greek.
The School Year Abroad Program (SYA) offers students studying French, Spanish, and Chinese opportunities to improve their language skills dramatically in an immersion setting. Exchanges with the Seikei School in Japan, the Ecole Alsacienne in Paris, France; and the Humboldt Gymnasium in Leipzig, Germany offer similar benefits.
Mathematics
We as mathematics faculty encourage each student to achieve a working knowledge of and competency in mathematical concepts and related problem-solving strategies. We encourage students to value and develop mathematical habits of mind and to appreciate the role mathematics plays in the world. Teachers promote and maintain classroom environments that encourage student curiosity and responsibility for their own learning.
Students utilize technology in investigation, discovery, analysis, modeling, conjecturing, and prediction. We use graphing calculators and computer technologies throughout the curriculum to enhance the learning process. The use of real world applications illustrates and reinforces mathematical ideas; at the same time, mathematics itself promotes understanding of real-world phenomena.
In addition, students may engage in mathematically oriented extracurricular activities, such as prize exam, both local and national competitions, the School's Mathematics Society, and peer tutoring.
Science
An understanding of scientific principles is essential for responsible citizenship. Learning to identify and collect objective data and reason from them quantitatively are skills which are taught at all levels of the science curriculum. The mission of the Science Division at St. Paul’s School is to develop both enjoyment and competence in science and reasoning.
Creativity is an essential aspect of the scientific process. We encourage our students to realize that rote knowledge of physical laws is secondary to the ability to design an experiment or to recognize connections among phenomena. A conceptual appreciation of the behavior of nature is recursively taught and leveraged throughout the core sequence of Physics First, Chemistry, and Biology.
Laboratory exercises are the main vehicle by which respect for data is taught and written communication of limited objective support for conclusions is cultivated. In lab reports, an accurate analysis of the collected data can only follow an understanding of the equipment used and the concepts involved. Computers, fabrication facilities, the observatory and School grounds, and field trips are all utilized in our effort to provide students with experiences and perspectives of the natural world and the changing abilities of humanity.