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3月21日，美國哥倫比亞大學教育學院院長Thomas Bailey一行訪問啟明星。

我們的中學生向客人們介紹了他們各自的社會創(chuàng)新項目；

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

學校領(lǐng)導團隊展示了啟明星的課程體系和獨具特色的社會創(chuàng)新項目架構(gòu)——

啟明星執(zhí)行校董許尚杰和哥大教育學院院長Thomas Bailey

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

訪問結(jié)束，Bailey院長說，“啟明星的社會創(chuàng)新項目讓我印象非常深刻！......此次訪問中國，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生一道出訪，展示他們的學習成果。”

“果實”

3位學生的社會創(chuàng)新項目是啟明星教育成果實實在在的展示：

1. 發(fā)電6530度的太陽能板

太陽能板項目是12年級的胡靜恩（Kelly Hu）和同學從9年級就開始計劃的。這個項目的構(gòu)想是幫助校園減少能量消耗，減少碳足跡。

她們精密計算，搭建模型，還自行籌款落實項目，終于在3年后的夏天，把太陽能板搭到了行政辦公樓的屋頂上。

“這個項目鍛煉了我的領(lǐng)導力、創(chuàng)新能力和團隊合作技巧，也幫助我為大學學習做好了準備。這些收獲是我沒有想到的！”Kelly說。

太陽能板效果顯著，每年能發(fā)電6530度！

2. 熱鬧的農(nóng)場和嗡嗡的蜜蜂

10年級學生Bayan Changizi的項目是農(nóng)場FROOT和他飼養(yǎng)的蜜蜂。

幾年前，為了呼吁大家支持本地農(nóng)場出產(chǎn)的綠色農(nóng)產(chǎn)品，來減少碳排放。對抗全球氣候變暖；也為了鼓勵人們定期去農(nóng)場勞作，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)了有機農(nóng)場FROOT。

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

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

前不久，Bayan還作為唯一的學生嘉賓，前往The Sustainable Futures Collective大會介紹FROOT項目！

3. 他把目光投向新疆

10年級學生黃吉瀚的項目走出校園、得到了更廣大社區(qū)認可——

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

從2019年，吉瀚就開始設(shè)計改善鄉(xiāng)村兒童口腔健康的計劃。他在新疆吐魯番做志愿服務(wù)時意識到，因為缺乏基本的健康和衛(wèi)生教育，當?shù)氐暮⒆悠毡橛兄谇唤】祮栴}，而且隨著年齡的增長，這些問題可能會變得越來越嚴重，他決定把服務(wù)的重心放在這里。

入選FFC項目之后，吉瀚學習了系統(tǒng)性變革的知識，和同樣入選FFC的、來自全國各地的優(yōu)秀同齡人討論計劃，彼此啟發(fā)。

他意識到必須讓學校、家庭、診所甚至企業(yè)都參與進來，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?shù)貙W校和診所，找到解決問題的一攬子方法。

對于孩子們的項目，Bailey院長很有興趣。他說：

在變化如此之快的今天，你們正在做的這些——在現(xiàn)實環(huán)境中的練習和經(jīng)歷，投入服務(wù)你們的社區(qū)——都非常重要，會最終讓你們做好應(yīng)對未來的準備。”

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)活動之中的社會創(chuàng)新項目，滋養(yǎng)學生結(jié)出了自己的學習“果實”：

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

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

張玥媛老師說：“在啟明星我了解到，社會創(chuàng)新始于孩子的好奇心，也始于教師勇敢地將教學和現(xiàn)實生活相聯(lián)系。即使是10歲的孩子，也能通過自己的學習推動社會變革。在快速變革的時代，學生不僅僅是在求解，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，無比理解孩子們。她說：“教育對我來說是改變?nèi)松臋C會，為我打開了新的世界。我希望，我的學生也像我一樣，借由啟明星的經(jīng)歷，為開啟新的世界做好準備！”

Bailey院長一行訪問啟明星的當天，是學校尋常又特別的一天：有日常的課堂，也恰好趕上學生們每月一次的腦力激蕩活動“Idea Corner”，和IBDP學生的視覺藝術(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!