Hudson Barnett

The lower school Passport Club is a parent-led club where lower school students are tested on their knowledge of geography. Students are challenged each month by having to learn about different countries around the world. The students are then tested according to their level and rewarded with a certain amount of world bucks depending on their accuracy. These world bucks are used at the World Market that takes place at the end of the year to buy toys and gadgets from the countries they studied throughout the year. This is a way that students can learn and be stimulated at the same time. Lower school parents, students and faculty are very involved and passionate about Passport Club, as this is the sixth year of the program at Wesleyan.

College Advising Assistant Dayna Thomson was one of the founders of the lower school Passport Club. The club started because Stephanie Powell, one of the three founders, became aware of a club in Hong Kong that was teaching kids about geography with the idea of using a passport to help them learn. She gathered up a few parents to help her come up with a way that this could be a part of Wesleyan School. It was modified and made specific to Wesleyan, and the Passport Club was then made.

A committee of six chairs, with the help of 20 parent volunteers makes Passport Club possible each month. Students from grades one to four participate in the club each month at different levels. Thomson was passionate about getting the club started because she knew this would be a fun and rewarding way for students to learn geography. She said, “The students learn that there is more to the world than Peachtree Corners, and they gain proficiency in geography. I think one of the biggest benefits is the students’ exposure to other cultures.”

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