<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0Yk6lK_0vknuxey00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Yk6lK_0vknuxey00" width="432" height="337" ><figcaption>Capt. Mark Turner collaborated with his wife Coleen to create an international studies program that would open students to a “world of possibilities.”</figcaption></figure>For the past decade, Rogers High School students have seen the world from their classroom. The school’s International Studies and Leadership Program, an elective course open to all stu­dents, is celebrating its 10th year. The program was founded in 2014 by Coleen Turner, the department head of social studies, after hearing from her history students that they wanted to discuss more current events in class.Turner said this presented the perfect opportunity to work with the Newport community, partic­ularly with the U.S. Naval War Col­lege. Since then, Rogers High and the college have collaborated to bring international officers into the classroom to speak with students about current events, their culture, and how the world is globally con­nected. “I always said this class was like lightning in a bottle,” said Turner. The curriculum is centered around current events that officers are available to speak about. The students then research the officer and current events that involve the officer’s country to ask questions. Turner said the learning becomes a “two-way street” because the officer also learns about American culture and education. “I tell the kids, before someone comes in, ‘Don’t forget you’re rep­resenting Rogers High School and you’re also representing the United States of America,’” she said. Retired Navy Capt. Mark Turner, who collaborated with his wife to create the program, said the goal is to connect as many officers from around the world with students to open them to a “world of pos­sibilities.” The class has welcomed officers from South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Ukraine. “We’re trying to build ships, just not ships of iron and steel, like most people think about,” said Mark Turner. “If we do our job right, we’re building friendships and partnerships and relationships that go well beyond the classroom.” He said speaking with the offi­cers from a variety of backgrounds gives students the confidence to talk about current events, and en­courages them to make an impact on the world, drawing on the class philosophy of “One Rise, All Rise.” “I can’t say enough about the international officers who come in and how inspiring they are and how unique and how much they’ve helped the students in Newport,” Coleen Turner said. Over the years, the class has become a favorite of students and the community. On Aug. 13, the Newport School Committee offi­cially accepted a $10,000 donation from Ambassador John L. Loeb Jr. for the program. Turner said Loeb has been a benefactor to the pro­gram for years. Loeb described his continuous support as a “natural extension” of his commitment to public educa­tion. He said he hopes his support of future field trips to Washington D.C. will encourage students to pursue public service “as both a calling and a career path.” The program has also received support from the Naval War Col­lege Foundation in applying for grants. Funds for the program are dedicated to supplies and hands-on learning experiences, such as trips to Boston, New York, and tours of the War College. “The [program] brought the world to us every Friday, and repre­sented the best of what’s possible in Newport public schools,” he said. Adriyonna Lockhart, a Rogers senior who took the course last year, said connecting with offi­cers about difficult topics was her favorite part of the class. She felt most connected with an officer from Panama, who came from a tough neighborhood but was able to persevere. “Even though those hardships happened in [another] country, I think a lot of what he said reso­nated with a lot of us, because we went through similar things that he did,” she said. Lockhart has seen the impact of poverty on her peers, and taking the class, adopting its philosophies and speaking with officers showed her that the cycles can be broken. She said the class inspired her to pursue college in Washington, and to study abroad in the future. “In my opinion, it’s the only class we have in school that’s not just [about] being a good student, but is also about being a good person,” she said. The effects of the class have resonated years after students graduated. Hannah Davis, who was in the first International Studies class, said it gave her a new understanding of what community means, and she has taken that into her adult life. “Being welcomed into a Colin Martin, a 2016 Rogers graduate and now a Marine Corps first lieutenant, said he will always be grateful for the doors the class opened, and that it led to pursue a career in the military. </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Rogers’ International Studies Program Celebrates 10 Years

For the past decade, Rogers High School students have seen the world from their classroom. The school’s International Studies and Leadership Program, an elective course open to all students, is celebrating its 10th year. The program was founded in 2014 by Coleen Turner, the department head of social studies, after hearing from her history students that they wanted to discuss more current events in class.