Independent Day School­Corbett Campus’ Global Explorers Become Water­Wise and Sweden­Savvy

For immediate release: December 10, 2010 Tampa, Fla.

Nine IDS Middle School global explorers, along with IDS teachers Kim Fields, Jennifer Jagdmann, and Ted Richter, traveled to Sweden to attend the International School Connection (ISC) Water Wise Conference. Together with students from nine countries and six continents, IDS students explored the global issue of water resources along with the importance of international youth leadership and collaboration.

The four day long International School Conference was held in Nyköping, a picturesque, historic city in southeastern Sweden.
ISC’s third international student conference allowed students the opportunity to team with like­minded students from around the world as they participated in an assortment of activities.

Students ranged in age from 11 to 18, and while sixth grader Gabriel Paggio was at first slightly intimidated by the age difference he later stated, “It was really beneficial working with older kids. It made me feel important when they listened to what I was saying.” Highlights for the participants included hands­on science experiments involving water, a half day excursion to Stendorren, a beautiful nature preserve bordering the archipelago in the Baltic Sea, and a Swedish school visit in the beautiful town of Nyköping.

(Left) Independent Day School and Vasa Real students gather outside at The Royal Palace in Stockholm. (Right) Avi Baskin (l) and Katie Bernstine investigate water using the microscopes at the ISC conference.

Throughout the four­day conference, there were numerous opportunities for students to share cultural experiences. Jordan Fuller, an eighth grader at IDS, and her partner from Stockholm, Sweden were pictured in the local Nyköping newspaper’s feature about the international conference.

The IDS Global Explorers included eighth graders Avi Baskin, Reed Berlet, Katie Bernstine, Jordan Fuller, Sean Murphy, and Daniela Silva; seventh grader, Sam Goetz; and sixth graders Morgan Graff and Gabriel Paggio.

Independent Day School­Corbett Campus’ Global Explorers Become Water­Wise and Sweden­Savvy

After the conference, IDS students traveled back to Stockholm, for four more days. There they met face to face with friends from their sister school, Vasa Real.

Over the past three years, the connection between Vasa Real and IDS has blossomed to include weekly live teacher videoconferences for the purpose of planning monthly live student videoconferences. Many of the traveling IDS students had previously met their Vasa Real peers through this collaborative curriculum.

Selected families from Vasa Real hosted IDS’s Global Explorers, who found that their experience living with host families was superior. Together with new friends, this group continued to explore many of Stockholm’s highlights, including the Vasa Museum. The six­story museum housed a salvaged Swedish war ship, which is on display after being submerged in the brackish water of the Baltic Sea for 333 years.

Eighth grader Sean Murphy said, “Staying with a Swedish family was awesome. It gave me a great insight into what their life is like. Many Swedish families don’t have cars, so when they go shopping, they have to stock up and make each trip count.”

(Left) Gabriel Paggio (left) studies samples in the water lab. (Right) Reed Berlet begins to grow bacteria in the science lab.

The IDS Global Explorers also spent time in Skansen, the oldest and largest outdoor museum in the world. This site is where 150 traditional homes and buildings depicting life in Sweden before the industrial era have been relocated. An additional cultural highlight for all was attending a traditional Swedish Fall Festival in the center of Skansen.

The students gravitated toward the glass blowing exhibition where many bought souvenirs. For some, the traditional Swedish sweets sold in the bakery and candy shops held appeal. Students experienced stilt walking, and a game breaking glass plates, and for the adventurous eaters, sampling traditional foods such as reindeer stew, dumplings filled with reindeer meat and lingonberries.
The IDS explorers returned to Tampa to the cheers and smiles of waiting families, tired, but exhilarated, by this wonderful global adventure.

Founded in 1968, Independent Day School­Corbett Campus is a fully accredited, nonsectarian private school located on Orange Grove Drive in northwest Hillsborough County with over 500 students from PreK3 through 8th grade. At IDS, all children experience the International Baccalaureate Programme in a highly academic and nurturing environment focused on excellence and excitement in learning. IDS­CC has become recognized as an exemplary school with over 6,500 visitors observing and learning from IDS­CC teachers. For more information, visit www.idsyes.com or contact the Admissions Office at 813­961­3087 for a personal tour.

Contact: Dr. Jennifer Morrow, Director of Admissions Independent Day School­Corbett Campus Telephone: (813) 961­3087 jmorrow@idsyes.com