Breakout Session A – 2024 ICGS Conference

Breakout Session A
Monday, June 24
2:20-3:10 p.m.

FEATURED PRESENTATION: The significance of girls’ education now, more than ever
Two years after the launch of The Girls’ Futures Report, a landmark survey of 5,000 girls across the UK to understand what matters most to them and how they feel about their futures, the Girls’ Day School Trust has taken the findings further. This session will outline key insights from the family of 25 girls’ schools’ work with experts from education and industry, teachers, students, and alumnae to get a greater understanding of educating girls. What roles do the classroom, curriculum, and culture play in furthering the critical work of girls’ schools around the world, and our mission to create a more equal world?

In a climate where progress feels like it has stalled, with the agenda around women and girls having suffered some significant setbacks, we will demonstrate why it is critical that we double down collectively on our shared mission as co-creators of that future.

Presenter: Cheryl Giovannoni, Chief Executive | Girls’ Day School Trust (United Kingdom)

Audience: Elementary/Primary/Lower School; Middle School; Upper/Senior/High School; Heads of School/Principals/Presidents/Headteachers; Senior Administrators; Teachers/Faculty; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Practitioners

Crisis leadership; Responding to the suicide death of three students in one year
As educators our worst nightmare is the loss of a student. This session is a raw account of what unfolded in our school in 2019 and 2020 when three students, from the one cohort, took their lives over a period of twelve months. Kate, Lamia and Nikki will share what they learnt, what they did well and hard lessons about things they would not do again. We hope through sharing our story we can support others to think through how they would respond should this type of tragedy occur in their schools.

Presenters: Dr Kate Hadwen, Principal; Lamia Rockwell, Deputy Principal; Andrew Scott, Lead Psychologist | Pymble Ladies College (Australia)

Audience: Elementary/Primary/Lower School; Middle School; Upper/Senior/High School; Heads of School/Principals/Presidents/Headteachers; Senior Administrators; Teachers/Faculty; School Counselors

How Girls* Learn Best: Evidence and Conclusions from our Scoping Review
When The Linden School was founded in 1993, the founders undertook a deep dive into feminist pedagogy in order to build a school on a foundation of evidence about how girls learn best. Now, 30 years later, with a broadened understanding of gender, and with a new generation of students shaped by politics, the pandemic, and the rise of AI, we undertook an extensive review of the literature to sharpen our understanding of the intersections between social justice education and optimal learning environments for our female, trans, and nonbinary students. Come explore our results, ask questions, and share experiences!

Presenter: Beth Alexander, Associate Principal | The Linden School (Canada)

From Me to We: Navigating Success through Collaborative Camaraderie
This engaging session delves into the inspiring journey of three dynamic educators who have seamlessly blended their individual talents to create a collaborative and empowering educational environment. Titled “From Me to We: Navigating Success through Collaborative Camaraderie,” this session will showcase the impact that a united approach can have on the academic and personal development of 12 and 13-year-old scholars.

Presenters: Emma Arett, 7^th Grade Science Teacher; Jennifer Rudd, 7^th Grade Math Teacher; Claudia Stadelmann, 7^th Grade Texas Studies Teacher | Solar Preparatory School for Girls (United States)

Audience: Middle School; Teachers/Faculty; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Practitioners

Normalizing Neurodiversity: How One Independent School Builds Metacognition in Girls
As our understanding of neuroscience grows, the number of students with diagnosed neurodiversity continues to rise and educators may struggle to differentiate instruction, even when class sizes are small. What happens if you flip the script and involve students in the differentiation process? Come learn how one school has tackled this challenge through a focus on normalizing neurodivergence and building metacognition within its students using innovative self-assessment tools and targeted instructional paradigms. Attendees will hear from a learning specialist, a teacher, and a number of students and parents about the benefits of this approach.

Presenters: Julie Bierman, Director of Learning Support; Kim Hoffman, Middle School History Teacher | Roland Park Country School (United States)

Audience: Middle School; Heads of School/Principals/Presidents/Headteachers; Teachers/Faculty; School Counselors; Learning Specialists

Raising girls through a Middle School programme
The Middle School phase is an exclusive bridge spanning years 5 to 8 (ages 10 – 13). Rooted in the essence of being experts in girls’ education, this transformative programme is meticulously crafted around three pillars: curriculum, pedagogy, and transition – all tailored to magnify the unparalleled advantages of an all-girls educational environment. This initiative stands as an exceptional, peerless opportunity within our community. It paves the way for them to access advanced content, establishing a direct pathway to higher-level learning in senior school; a roadmap guiding girls towards intellectual empowerment, acting as a preparatory cornerstone in advancing their learning.

Presenters: Emily Codling, Headmistress; Christina Bird, Assistant Headteacher | Bromley High School, GDST (United Kingdom)

Audience: Elementary/Primary/Lower School; Middle School; Upper/Senior/High School; Heads of School/Principals/Presidents/Headteachers; Teachers/Faculty; Admissions/Enrollment; Communications/Marketing; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Practitioners

Beyond the Brochure: Recruiting at the intersection of Vision, Values and Access
Does your student population reflect your vision, mission and values? Are you truly providing access to all? This session is for leaders seeking to elevate their recruitment strategies. Participants will delve into the intersection of vision/mission/values, exploring how these elements can shape and define the success of recruitment outcomes. We’ll navigate the complexities of ensuring the student populations we attract not only mirror but contribute to our organizational vision and mission, and we will explore innovative strategies to enhance diversity, equity, and access in the recruitment process, fostering an inclusive environment that reflects the vision of your organization.

Presenters: Berta Fogerson, Chief Academic and Accountability Officer; Janna Burns, Executive Director of Teacher Development and School Support | Young Women’s Preparatory Network (United States)

Audience: Elementary/Primary/Lower School; Middle School; Upper/Senior/High School; Heads of School/Principals/Presidents/Headteachers; Senior Administrators; Admissions/Enrollment; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Practitioners

Empowering Girls for PostSecondary Readiness
Our session will focus on the intersection of youth education and social science that promotes the empowerment of girls. We will delve into research, methodologies, and practical approaches we implement at our all girls Brooklyn high school that results in graduates who are more readily prepared to succeed in their postsecondary ventures. We’ll discuss how decisions from curriculum design to mentorship programs support students for achievement and resilience. The aim of the session is to spark conversations among fellow educators and provide insight into the unique challenges girls face in postsecondary education.

Presenters: Alexis Harris-Bates, Alumni Success Counselor; Mandi Osei, IB Teacher and Educator | Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy (United States)

Audience: Upper/Senior/High School; Teachers/Faculty; Alumnae Relations

Unlocking Student Potential Through Integrated Math Instruction
Delve into the transformative power of Integrated Math Instruction and its profound impact on unlocking the untapped potential of all students. Learn practical strategies to connect math concepts with real-life applications, fostering critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Together, let’s unlock the boundless potential within each student and pave the way for a future of mathematically literate and confident individuals.

Presenter: Anna Kachmarski, STEM Curriculum Coordinator | Stuart Country Day School (United States)

Audience: Middle School; Upper/Senior/High School; Heads of School/Principals/Presidents/Headteachers; Teachers/Faculty

Empowering young women through interdisciplinary collaboration in community health
Robust community engagement opportunities encourage young women to envision themselves as architects of change and to develop essential leadership skills. In this session, Sasha Klevytska (Science Dept) and Sandy McCain (History Dept) of The Bryn Mawr School discuss their interdisciplinary approach to developing an experiential learning project that empowers young women to explore the growing fields of Public Health and Social Psychology. In this project, students collect and analyze community health data and, ultimately, deliver a messaging campaign. In addition to sharing their iterative process for project development, time will be given to workshopping similar interdisciplinary opportunities at attendees’ schools.

Presenters: Sasha Klevytska, Upper School Science Teacher; Sandy McCain, Upper School History Teacher | The Bryn Mawr School (United States)

Audience: Upper/Senior/High School; Teachers/Faculty

What happens when a high school eliminates cell phones completely?
It has been well established that screen time and access to social media have impacted the adolescent brain and teenage engagement in their communities. In an effort to prioritize distraction-free learning, and genuine social engagement, our school piloted a policy that required students to surrender their cell phone for the entire school day for a four week period. This full adoption of this policy will go into effect in fall 2024. Our session will share feedback and data points collected during the pilot period and insights and observations that will further guide implementation of the policy this coming school year.

Presenters: Sarah Leonard, Upper School Dean of Students; Alison Monzo, Director of Programs, Center for the Advancement of Girls | The Agnes Irwin School (United States)

Audience: Middle School; Upper/Senior/High School; Senior Administrators; Teachers/Faculty; Student Life

Sitting Alone on the Schoolbus: Using Data to Measure and Strengthen Belonging
Which students have the most connections with other students? The fewest? How can we use data to measure belonging and intentionally strengthen community? This session is a case study of a collaboration between Nightingale’s teachers, administrators, Office of Diversity and Equity, and Office of Institutional Research. You will learn how to 1) collect sociogram data for any constituency group in your community and 2) turn that rich data into meaningful action to deepen relationships.

Presenters: Rebecca Oshins, Head of Lower Middle School (5th-6th grade); Christine Javier, Director of Institutional Research | The Nightingale-Bamford School (United States)

Audience: Elementary/Primary/Lower School; Middle School; Upper/Senior/High School; Heads of School/Principals/Presidents/Headteachers; Senior Administrators; Teachers/Faculty; School Counselors; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Practitioners; Institutional Researchers/Data Analysts

Being a Bright Light for Girls: Nurturing Personal Development to Enhance Impact
As seasoned educators, we continue to evolve and grow in response to the needs of our students, school and community but sometimes our energy wanes and our light dims. Creating a healthy sense of well-being, belonging, and engagement in schools starts with supporting administrators and teachers alike to bring their best selves to the school setting. Join us to learn the simple language of Captain and Poet and how they work in partnership to heighten our self-awareness and highlight our unique contribution to the education of girls. Walk away with a renewed sense of purpose and ready to deepen and energize your practice.

Presenters: Jan Frolic, Co-Founder; Jennifer Johnson Co-Founder | Captains & Poets (Canada)

Audience: Elementary/Primary/Lower School; Middle School; Upper/Senior/High School; Heads of School/Principals/Presidents/Headteachers; Senior Administrators; Teachers/Faculty; School Counselors; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Practitioners

Breakout Session A – 2024 ICGS Conference

<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-33320 alignright img-fluid" src="https://girlsschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ICGS_logo_Baltimore24-e1706721762137-300x242.png" alt="" width="300" height="242" />Breakout Session A Monday, June 24 2:20-3:10 p.m.

Breakout Session A
Monday, June 24
2:20-3:10 p.m.