As we near the end of the semester, New Civics: Leadership for the Common Good has proven to be much more than a traditional civics course. This upper school class reimagines civic engagement as something embedded in everyday choices, challenging students to see how their actions can shape the communities around them. Inspired by Evan Weissman’s Vote Every Day, students have explored what it truly means to be “civic,” and recognizing that civic engagement extends far beyond the voting booth.
Earlier this month, students had the incredible opportunity to journey to Colorado’s State Capitol to witness a two-hour House Judiciary Committee hearing, where students watched SB26-11 pass unanimously. The bill requires social media companies to have a 24/7 way for law enforcement to contact them and to respond quickly to search warrants when investigators request information. The bill passed committee and continued to the House floor the following day, now sitting on the governor’s desk for approval. Seeing the legislative process unfold in real time offered a powerful, concrete understanding of how ideas move toward becoming law.
After the hearing, the class stepped out onto the Capitol steps for a photo and had a surprise encounter with Governor Polis and his dog, Gigi! In a moment that made the experience even more meaningful, he shared that he had served on the founding board of trustees for Watershed School, an unexpected and exciting connection for our students. They took a group photo with him and followed up with an email upon returning to school, encouraging him to sign the very bill they had just seen move forward.
Experiences like this reflect what the class has been building toward all semester: putting learning into action. Whether engaging with policymakers, observing government in action, or following up with advocacy, students are seeing that their voices matter now.
All in all, this course not only naturally extended beyond the classroom into meaningful, hands-on experiences; it was a reminder that civic life is active, accessible, and something our students are already a part of.
