New Canaan Country School eighth graders presented at the school’s annual World Congress, a hallmark event of their year-long study of world cultures.
“What they are learning is vital preparation for a generation of leaders who will have to bring knowledge, empathy and creative thinking to inescapable global challenges,” said eighth-grade teacher Bart Fredo, who teaches the social-studies course. Additional eighth-grade teachers include Elizabeth Carroll and Will McDonough.
In preparation for the event, held May 27, students examined the geography, history and cultures of Africa, the Middle East, East Asia and South Asia. Their course of study culminated in a major research project dealing with contemporary issues, including the environment, climate change, alternative energy, global health and human rights. During the World Congress symposium, students individually took to the podium to present their issue summaries and field questions from the audience of teachers and classmates.
“They develop several vital skills that they will need as they move into high school, college and beyond,” explained Mr. Fredo. “Critical thinking and research skills, of course, but equally important are peer collaboration, public speaking and the ability to think on one’s feet.”
Topics and presenters included:
Global Health
Access to Healthcare - Jack Nally
Life Expectancy - Isabella Sarracino
Child Mortality - Penelope Arredondo
Autism - Parker Hanson
Alzheimer's - Caroline DiBiasio
World Health Organization - Lila Gizzie
CDC - Annie Boggess
Pandemics - Matt Fry
Immunization - Niall Glynn
Tuberculosis - Eleanor duPont
Heart Disease - Emma Cannon
Cancer - Oliver Golden
Stem-Cell Research - Ellie Israelov
Human Rights
Human Trafficking - Dominic Hartmann, Courtney Edwards
Child Labor - Regan Famigletti, Skyler Gendason
Access to Education/Illiteracy - Sebastian Kelsey, Penelope Legnani
Gender Discrimination - Ellie Rosolen, Kieran Mohindra-Green
Overpopulation - Reed Ghriskey, Brendan Buda
Refugees - Ifeanyi Ndokwu, Morgan Powell, Aoife Flanagan
Hunger - Daniel Marin, Matthew Schell
Energy
Biomass - Peyton Ambrose
Geothermal - Katelyn Barr
Hydroelectric - Ana Petricone
Nuclear - Jack Fichthorn, Josh Fleuriot
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion - Ambika Nott
Solar - Eloise Galante, Elizabeth Hall
Tidal power- Ella Kurtz
Wind - Emily Behr, Lyla Koch
Electric vehicles - Brandon Krongard, Justin Mims
Public Transportation and Human Powered Vehicles - Colin Mackey, Brodie O’Connor
Environment
Climate Change - Chris Santa, Riley Newport, Leena Aronson, Vy Cullen
Water Pollution - Margot Seiden, Rigs Conze, Alex Thiersaint
Air Pollution - Dario Sanon
Deforestation - Lane Gallagher, Connor McNamara
Biodiversity - Annie Harrigan
Habitat Loss - Mark McNamara
Environmental Disasters - Matt Rivera, Oliver Johnson, Chandeny Rahman
Plastics - Sabina Cherry and Bray Rudd