Press Release: Walkabout a Finalist in XQ: The Super School Project

You’ve probably already heard, but we have to keep spreading the word!!!

The Walkabout Consilient School has been selected as a finalist in the XQ: The Super School Project competition!

Read details about the competition below, in the official Press Release, then read (and follow) instructions at the bottom of the post to learn WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP…

— WAA — 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Walkabout Consilient School Selected as Finalist in XQ: The Super School Project, Currently in the Running for $10MM in Funding

Katonah, New York – The Walkabout Consilient School (WCS) has been selected as a finalist in XQ: The Super School Project, a national challenge to rethink high school. On July 20th, XQ officials chose fifty finalists from a pool of 700 applicants. On August 4th, each of the five winning applicants will be awarded $10MM to bring their schools to life.

“We couldn’t be more excited to see our work recognized by XQ. The Walkabout Consilient School builds on 37 years of success in experiential education and we believe it is the reinvention of the American high school.”   —Ben Wild,  Executive Director, Walkabout Education Foundation

The Walkabout Consilient School is the creation of faculty and alumni from the Walkabout Program, which was available to high school seniors throughout Putnam and Westchester counties. For almost 40 years, this program helped disengaged students take ownership of their education. The U.S. Department of Education recognized The Walkabout Program as one of the top 40 experiential education programs in the United States.

The Walkabout Consilient School is the team’s vision for the new American high school. Building on the original program’s proven success, this public high school model gives students the tools to grow into resilient, self-reliant adults with the critical thinking skills necessary to thrive in college and career. Students gain these skills by engaging in self-directed experiential learning as part of a rigorous, multidisciplinary curriculum in a supportive, inclusive and collaborative environment. The consilient curriculum engages students in 5 Challenge Areas: Wilderness Expeditions, Service Learning, Applied Academics, Career Internship and Presentation. This transformation occurs in a challenge-oriented culture that requires students to take risks and move beyond their perceived limitations.

For more information about The Walkabout Consilient School email info@walkabout.org or go to walkabout.org.

For an in-depth preview of this innovative school model watch the new video available here: walkabout.org/why.

For more information about XQ: The Super School Project visit xqsuperschool.org.

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WHAT CAN YOU (WI–WXXXVII ALUMNI) DO TO HELP? 

• Learn about XQ: The Super School Project
  • Then go to their social media profiles
  • Like & follow XQ if you like (Twitter is MOST important, then Facebook, then Instagram, etc.)
• POST ON SOCIAL MEDIA–DIRECTLY* TO/AT XQAmerica!!!
  • Share something PERSONAL – brief (especially on Twitter) 
  • Say WHY WALKABOUT should be a winner!
  • Congratulate Walkabout on being a finalist…
• TAG ON SOCIAL MEDIA–IN THIS ORDER:
  • #RethinkHighSchool – this is the competition tag, and MUST be in your post/tweet!
  • @XQAmerica – this is to tweet at/post to their attention, like a conversation – CRITICAL!
  • #WalkaboutWorks – this is OUR tag, which is growing fast now, as alumni and staff are posting… (ONLY include this tag if you have room within Twitter’s limits)
• SPREAD THE WORD–TO FELLOW ALUMNI!
  • Tell your former classmates, make sure they’ve heard the news…
  • Encourage your fellow alumni to POST/TAG to XQ as you’ve done!

*On WHICH social media platforms should you post to XQ? 

1. TWITTER = BEST
   • From watching XQ the past 4 days, they seem to watch and respond most on Twitter…
   • The main TAG #RethinkHighSchool is critical, along with tweeting @XQAmerica (must include the “@” sign!).
   • Also, using a variety of words/topics in your tweets seems to get their attention.
2. FACEBOOK = SECOND
   • NO responses to posts on/to the WAA/WEF pages, and XQ can NOT see into private groups (like Alumni, or New & Goods) so NO BENEFIT.
   • Instead, POST on your PERSONAL FACEBOOK FEED, including the THREE TAGS, or…
   • POST TO THE XQ FACEBOOK PAGE, including ALL THREE TAGS!!
3. INSTAGRAM = THIRD
   • Post in your personal feed WITH THREE TAGS
   • Direct MESSAGE to XQAmerica’s profile–you may have to follow them to be allowed to…
4. Google+, LinkedIn, etc.
   1. Post in your personal feed WITH THREE TAGS
   2. Post at/to the XQ page WITH THREE TAGS

THANK YOU FOR ANY EFFORTS YOU MAKE TO HELP WALKABOUT WIN THIS COMPETITION!

— WAA —