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3月21日，美國(guó)哥倫比亞大學(xué)教育學(xué)院院長(zhǎng)Thomas Bailey一行訪問啟明星。

我們的中學(xué)生向客人們介紹了他們各自的社會(huì)創(chuàng)新項(xiàng)目；

正在啟明星執(zhí)教的哥大教育學(xué)院校友分享了自己的職業(yè)經(jīng)歷和對(duì)教育的思考；

學(xué)校領(lǐng)導(dǎo)團(tuán)隊(duì)展示了啟明星的課程體系和獨(dú)具特色的社會(huì)創(chuàng)新項(xiàng)目架構(gòu)——

啟明星執(zhí)行校董許尚杰和哥大教育學(xué)院院長(zhǎng)Thomas Bailey

所有這些都深深感染到Bailey院長(zhǎng)：他親眼看到啟明星學(xué)生對(duì)學(xué)習(xí)的投入和熱愛，也了解到是什么樣的“藤蔓”結(jié)出了這樣的“果實(shí)”。

訪問結(jié)束，Bailey院長(zhǎng)說，“啟明星的社會(huì)創(chuàng)新項(xiàng)目讓我印象非常深刻！......此次訪問中國(guó)，我們一直被問感覺如何。現(xiàn)在我想說，真希望帶上啟明星的學(xué)生一道出訪，展示他們的學(xué)習(xí)成果?！?br/>

“果實(shí)”

3位學(xué)生的社會(huì)創(chuàng)新項(xiàng)目是啟明星教育成果實(shí)實(shí)在在的展示：

1. 發(fā)電6530度的太陽(yáng)能板

太陽(yáng)能板項(xiàng)目是12年級(jí)的胡靜恩（Kelly Hu）和同學(xué)從9年級(jí)就開始計(jì)劃的。這個(gè)項(xiàng)目的構(gòu)想是幫助校園減少能量消耗，減少碳足跡。

她們精密計(jì)算，搭建模型，還自行籌款落實(shí)項(xiàng)目，終于在3年后的夏天，把太陽(yáng)能板搭到了行政辦公樓的屋頂上。

“這個(gè)項(xiàng)目鍛煉了我的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)力、創(chuàng)新能力和團(tuán)隊(duì)合作技巧，也幫助我為大學(xué)學(xué)習(xí)做好了準(zhǔn)備。這些收獲是我沒有想到的！”Kelly說。

太陽(yáng)能板效果顯著，每年能發(fā)電6530度！

2. 熱鬧的農(nóng)場(chǎng)和嗡嗡的蜜蜂

10年級(jí)學(xué)生Bayan Changizi的項(xiàng)目是農(nóng)場(chǎng)FROOT和他飼養(yǎng)的蜜蜂。

幾年前，為了呼吁大家支持本地農(nóng)場(chǎng)出產(chǎn)的綠色農(nóng)產(chǎn)品，來減少碳排放。對(duì)抗全球氣候變暖；也為了鼓勵(lì)人們定期去農(nóng)場(chǎng)勞作，避免久坐在電腦前、書桌前的不健康生活方式，Bayan和他的朋友開創(chuàng)了有機(jī)農(nóng)場(chǎng)FROOT。

在農(nóng)場(chǎng)里，大家種下制作感恩節(jié)南瓜燈剩下的南瓜子，收獲依靠純有機(jī)肥成長(zhǎng)的蔬菜，撿拾走地雞產(chǎn)下的蛋.....去年開始，Bayan又在農(nóng)場(chǎng)里飼養(yǎng)蜜蜂，讓蜜蜂成為農(nóng)場(chǎng)生態(tài)的一環(huán)。

FROOT農(nóng)場(chǎng)不只在啟明星內(nèi)外收獲了忠實(shí)用戶，也成為大家參加可持續(xù)發(fā)展理念的工作坊和社區(qū)活動(dòng)的場(chǎng)所！

前不久，Bayan還作為唯一的學(xué)生嘉賓，前往The Sustainable Futures Collective大會(huì)介紹FROOT項(xiàng)目！

3. 他把目光投向新疆

10年級(jí)學(xué)生黃吉瀚的項(xiàng)目走出校園、得到了更廣大社區(qū)認(rèn)可——

他的項(xiàng)目是改善鄉(xiāng)村口腔健康問題。通過全國(guó)范圍幾千人的層層選拔，項(xiàng)目入選了由啟創(chuàng)中心和哥倫比亞大學(xué)北京中心合作舉辦的2024年力求改變的英才計(jì)劃（FFC）。

從2019年，吉瀚就開始設(shè)計(jì)改善鄉(xiāng)村兒童口腔健康的計(jì)劃。他在新疆吐魯番做志愿服務(wù)時(shí)意識(shí)到，因?yàn)槿狈镜慕】岛托l(wèi)生教育，當(dāng)?shù)氐暮⒆悠毡橛兄谇唤】祮栴}，而且隨著年齡的增長(zhǎng)，這些問題可能會(huì)變得越來越嚴(yán)重，他決定把服務(wù)的重心放在這里。

入選FFC項(xiàng)目之后，吉瀚學(xué)習(xí)了系統(tǒng)性變革的知識(shí)，和同樣入選FFC的、來自全國(guó)各地的優(yōu)秀同齡人討論計(jì)劃，彼此啟發(fā)。

他意識(shí)到必須讓學(xué)校、家庭、診所甚至企業(yè)都參與進(jìn)來，才能找到可持續(xù)的解決方案。他決定在新疆繼續(xù)鄉(xiāng)土調(diào)查，訪談當(dāng)?shù)貙W(xué)校和診所，找到解決問題的一攬子方法。

對(duì)于孩子們的項(xiàng)目，Bailey院長(zhǎng)很有興趣。他說：

在變化如此之快的今天，你們正在做的這些——在現(xiàn)實(shí)環(huán)境中的練習(xí)和經(jīng)歷，投入服務(wù)你們的社區(qū)——都非常重要，會(huì)最終讓你們做好應(yīng)對(duì)未來的準(zhǔn)備?！?/strong>

胡靜恩、黃吉瀚、Bayan和哥大嘉賓

“藤蔓”

啟明星融于課程和社區(qū)活動(dòng)之中的社會(huì)創(chuàng)新項(xiàng)目，滋養(yǎng)學(xué)生結(jié)出了自己的學(xué)習(xí)“果實(shí)”：

我們的創(chuàng)新教育從小學(xué)階段開始引入，在中學(xué)階段和IB課程框架和諧一體；同樣抱有社會(huì)創(chuàng)新熱情的老師，陪在學(xué)生身邊，和他們一道探索這條不同尋常的學(xué)習(xí)之旅。

北皋校區(qū)的心理輔導(dǎo)老師劉星、三里屯校區(qū)數(shù)學(xué)老師張玥媛都畢業(yè)于哥大教育學(xué)院，她們作為哥大校友也來到現(xiàn)場(chǎng)，分享自己在啟明星工作的感動(dòng)和收獲。

張玥媛老師說：“在啟明星我了解到，社會(huì)創(chuàng)新始于孩子的好奇心，也始于教師勇敢地將教學(xué)和現(xiàn)實(shí)生活相聯(lián)系。即使是10歲的孩子，也能通過自己的學(xué)習(xí)推動(dòng)社會(huì)變革。在快速變革的時(shí)代，學(xué)生不僅僅是在求解，他們也在重新定義可能性！”

劉星老師是孩子們的心理按摩師，無(wú)比理解孩子們。她說：“教育對(duì)我來說是改變?nèi)松臋C(jī)會(huì)，為我打開了新的世界。我希望，我的學(xué)生也像我一樣，借由啟明星的經(jīng)歷，為開啟新的世界做好準(zhǔn)備！”

Bailey院長(zhǎng)一行訪問啟明星的當(dāng)天，是學(xué)校尋常又特別的一天：有日常的課堂，也恰好趕上學(xué)生們每月一次的腦力激蕩活動(dòng)“Idea Corner”，和IBDP學(xué)生的視覺藝術(shù)課程畢業(yè)展！

我們歡迎哥大嘉賓再次訪問啟明星！

On March 21, Thomas Bailey, President of Teachers College, Columbia University, and his delegation visited Daystar Academy—

Three of our high school students introduced their Social Innovation projects to the guests;

Two Teachers College alumni currently teaching at Daystar shared their career journeys and reflections on education;

The school leadership team showcased Daystar’s curriculum and the unique structure of its Social Innovation Program.

Jack Hsu, Daystar Executive Board Member and Thomas Bailey, President of Teachers College, Columbia University

All of this left a profound impression on President Bailey. He saw firsthand the dedication and enthusiasm for learning among Daystar’s students, and discovered what type of systems and nurturing led to such exceptional outcomes.

At the end of the visit, President Bailey remarked that Daystar’s Social Innovation program impression him and wished that Daytar students could come along with them so that they could be presented as well.

The Fruits of Innovation

The Social Innovation projects of three Daystar students provide a tangible demonstration of the school’s educational achievements:

1. Solar Panels Generating 6,530 kWh of Electricity

The solar panel project was initiated by Kelly Hu (twelfth grade) and her classmates when they were in ninth grade. Their vision was to help reduce the school’s energy consumption and carbon footprint.

Following three years of meticulous calculations, model-building, and independent fundraising, they succesfully installed solar panels on the administrative office building’s roof this past summer.

"This project honed my leadership, innovation, and teamwork skills, and also prepared me for university studies. These were outcomes I hadn’t expected!" said Kelly.

The results have been significant—generating an estimated 6,530 kWh of electricity annually!

2. A Thriving Farm and Buzzing Bees

Tenth-grade student Bayan Changizi founded an organic farm project FROOT, and started beekeeping.

A few years ago, Bayan and his friends launched FROOT to promote locally sourced organic produce, help reduce carbon emissions, and combat global climate change. They also wanted to encourage hands-on farming as a way to counter sedentary lifestyles spent in front of screens.

At the farm, they plant pumpkins from leftover seeds used for Thanksgiving decorations, harvest organically grown vegetables, and collect eggs laid by free-range chickens. Last year, Bayan introduced "beekeeping", allowing the bees to pollinate crops and produce honey—integrating them into the farm’s ecosystem.

FROOT Farm has gained a loyal following within and beyond the Daystar community. It also serves as a venue for sustainability workshops and community events!

Recently, Bayan was invited as the only student speaker at The Sustainable Futures Collective conference, where he presented his FROOT project!

3. A Project Recognized Nationwide

Tenth-grade student Jihan Huang’s initiative has extended beyond Daystar and gained national recognition—

His project focuses on improving oral health in rural communities and was selected through a competitive national process for the 2024 FFC program, co-hosted by Qi Center and Columbia University’s Beijing Center.

Since 2019, Jihan has been developing strategies to address children’s oral health issues in rural areas. While volunteering in Turpan, Xinjiang, he realized that due to a lack of basic health education, local children suffered from widespread oral health problems, which could worsen with age. He decided to focus on this issue.

After being accepted into the FFC program, Jihan learned about systemic change and exchanged ideas with other outstanding students from across China.

He realized that creating a sustainable solution required engaging schools, families, clinics, and even businesses. He plans to return to Xinjiang for further research, interviewing local schools and clinics to develop a comprehensive action plan.

President Bailey was particularly intrigued by these projects. He remarked:

In today’s rapidly changing world, what you are doing—learning through real-world experiences and serving your community— will truly prepare you for the future.

Kelly, Jihan, Bayan and guests from Teachers College, Columbia University,

The Educators Behind the Innovation

Daystar’s Social Innovation program is deeply embedded in both its curriculum and community activities, nurturing students to produce such remarkable outcomes.

This innovative approach to education is introduced as early as elementary school and is seamlessly integrated with the IB curriculum in middle and high school.

More importantly, these programs are brought to life by passionate educators. These teachers, who are just as committed to social innovation as their students, serve as mentors and collaborators—guiding students on their unique learning journeys.

Two such educators, Liu Xing, a counselor at the Beigao Campus, and Zhang Yueyuan, a math teacher at the Sanlitun Campus, are both alumni of Teachers College, Columbia University. They shared their experiences working at Daystar and their passion for education.

Zhang Yueyuan reflected: "At Daystar, I learned that social innovation begins with a child’s curiosity and a teacher’s courage to connect learning with real life. Even ten-year-olds can drive social change through their studies. In today’s fast-changing world, students aren’t just solving for X—they are redefining what’s possible."

Liu Xing, a dedicated student counselor, shared: "For me, education is a life-changing opportunity—it opened up a new world for me. I hope that my students, like me, will also be prepared to embrace new possibilities through their learning at Daystar."

President Bailey’s visit happened on an ordinary yet extraordinary day at Daystar—

- Regular classes were in session,

- Students were engaged in their monthly Idea Corner brainstorming event,

- And the IBDP art students were holding their graduation exhibition!

We look forward to welcoming President Bailey and his team back to Daystar Academy in the future!