Schools are transitioning away from strict, content-based curriculums.

While students are still taking part in rigorous academic courses, progressive schools are finding new ways to teach students skills that will prepare them for success in an uncertain future.

WAB is preparing to launch an innovative Leadership Toolkit, a 17-part workshop series for students focused on teaching them skills that will help them thrive in their extracurricular activities, future workplaces, and society as a whole. It's the product of a partnership between Lorraine McMullen, WAB's CAS & Global Citizenship Coordinator, and Steve Sostack, the Co-Founder and Director of Inspire Citizens and Global Youth Media.

"Things like this allow students to literally step outside the classroom and take their learning to the next level through their leadership skills and through creating projects they feel there is a need for in the community," Lorraine said. "It's about moving with the times and preparing our students for the world we now live in."

The program will launch for Middle and High School students this Friday, as an optional workshop for students. A Leadership Toolkit skills workshop will be offered every Day 9, a unique WAB program that gives students the freedom to choose what they study and when on every ninth school day.

Throughout the series of workshops, students will be able to study things like data literacy, media consumption and information overload, empowering others, and civil discourse. 

"These are real-life issues. This type of learning sets students up to answer questions that we think are very important in 2020: What do you care about and why?" Steve said. "Part of this program is geared toward helping students have a toolkit that is going to show that they can solve problems that we're living through right now -- like intercultural competence, sustainable development, and holistic well-being."