Carrollwood Day School is thrilled to announce that we have been accepted as a Round Square Candidate School and look forward to being part of this vibrant international network. Simply said, Round Square is a world class approach to character education. With Carrollwood Day School’s enduring commitment to “Education with Character” and our mission to cultivate principled global citizens, becoming a Round Square school is a natural fit for CDS. Round Square schools connect and collaborate to develop global competence, character, and confidence in students. This unique network of schools promotes six shared IDEALS of global citizenship: International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Awareness, Adventure, Leadership and Service.

Acceptance as a Round Square Candidate School follows an extensive application process which included an examination of how we currently approach the Round Square philosophy and IDEALS in addition to how we intend to further the RS IDEALS in our school. In February, CDS hosted Duncan Hossack, RS School Support Director for the Americas, for a site visit to meet with groups of administrators, parents, students, and faculty. All schools that join Round Square begin as Candidate Schools for a period of up to two years. During this introductory period, we will have access to all the same networks, resources and opportunities as a Global Member School. Once the Round Square IDEALS are fully embedded in a school’s culture and programming, they are invited to apply for Global Membership. CDS is the 21st Round Square school in the United States and is one of only 3 RS schools in Florida. 

Being a Round Square school will enable CDS to provide increased authentic, experiential learning opportunities for our students through international student exchanges, work projects, student conferences, community service and adventure activities with students from like-minded schools around the world in locations across the globe. Additionally, Round Square will connect our faculty with a supportive international network of like-minded teachers that share their aspirations, challenges, opportunities and successes and provide access to professional development opportunities both as workshop delegates and presenters, as well as the chance to visit – and learn from – other RS schools. While CDS already has developed opportunities around similar principles, Round Square offers a whole school structure and rich collaborative experiences for students and faculty across all three divisions that advances these priorities through immersive and meaningful involvement. Having worked in Round Square programs before, our Head of School, Sara Rubinstein, speaks from experience when she says, “Round Square facilitates transformational experiences for students and faculty. Watching students develop into authentic global citizens through their participation in Round Square events has been an exceptionally meaningful moment in my career, and one I am excited to share with our students at CDS.”

In the coming weeks, CDS will build the infrastructure to support our Round Square program. The program will be rolled out first in the upper school but will expand over the next year to engage middle school and lower school. Applications are now being accepted for a faculty Round Square Representative to lead our school’s Round Square initiative and coordinate with Round Square. A Round Square Student Committee will be formed to fully engage the student body in the development of Round Square themes within our school.

CDS is already registered to attend its first international conference! Sara Rubinstein will accompany student delegates to the Round Square International Conference 2022 which will be held in Oxford, UK from September 19 to 25, 2022. The theme for this year’s Conference is Take Less, Be More. Take a moment to meet some of the remarkable students who are planning and will be hosting this student-run event.