TRAVELS

Student Exchange Programs in USA 

Exchange programs in the United States

International exchanges are an extraordinary complement to the education of our young people at Holy Trinity College. They allow our students to open their minds to new experiences and gain a global perspective to apply to local situations. 

With this objective, in January 2020 we continued with our exchange program with private schools in the United States: we visited the schools Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA and college Avenues: The World School in New York City.  

Objectives: 

  • Be immersed in the daily activities of an American school and interact with its students and teachers
  • Experience the culture and traditions of American society through homestay accommodation
  • Embrace similarities and learn to live with differences
  • Acquire a new perspective and skills beyond language.

Trade details:

  • Full access to classes and activities within the school
  • Classes specially designed for exchange students: history of the country, its geography, economy, literature, art, traditions, customs and language
  • Exchange duration: three to four weeks
  • Accommodation in family houses
  • They travel accompanied by a school official.

Selection process:

  • 3rd graders participate. high school year;
  • Presentation of an application folder with your academic, sports, cultural and family history;
  • Individual interviews with foreign interns and school directors;
  • Descriptive essay about their interest in participating in the exchange, expectations, contributions of each of them to enrich the bond with American students;
  • Power Point presentation on some cultural aspect of the country of origin;
  • Selection based on their academic achievements and attitudinal aspects.

Delegation 2020

* January February: a delegation of twenty-two boys carried out the first stage of the exchange.

School visits:

  • Avenues: The World School in New York City: They attended class, made presentations about our culture and customs, our city, country and school. They toured the city and visited:

          Day 1: Midtown Manhattan: Empire State Building. Chrysler Building, Rockefeller Center. Walk along Broadway and Madison avenues. Central Park. American Museum of Natural History. Times Square. Broadway show: “Frozen”  

            Day 2: Uptown Manhattan: Chelsea Village. The Highline. We toured the Meatpacking District, and Soho. Fifth Ave. The National September 11 Memorial & Museum. Statue of Liberty. brooklyn bridge

  • The Westminster Schools in Atlanta, GA: They enjoyed an exceptional welcome at the school, attended various classes and presentations specially designed for them and made several cultural visits to the city of Atlanta. They will forever remember the kindness of everyone and the special atmosphere of this imposing American school that is among the best five private Christian schools in the United States: K12.niche.com/rankings/private-high-schools/best-christian/

 

Special classes:

  • Civil Rights / Civic Rights
  • Mandarin Chinese
  • STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics
  • Photography / Photography
  • Creative Writing Class / Creative writing class in English
  • American Literature / American Literature
  • Visit to Primary School. Participation in classes and presentation at the Lower School Assembly
  • Lacrosse class for men and women.

 

Field Trips / Recreational and cultural tours:

  • CNN
  • The World of Coca-Cola
  • The Center for Human & Civic Rights
  • Atlanta History Museum
  • Swan House
  • Aquarium
  • Sky View Atlanta
  • AGAPE Community Center / CAS Activity. Creativity, Action and Service in a center for disadvantaged children. The boys played games, helped the boys with their homework and shared dinner with them.

 

Covid-19 pandemic:

 

A few weeks back in Mar del Plata we were surprised by the Covid-19 pandemic, interrupting the second stage of the exchange: The visit of the Avenues: The World School and The Westminster Schools to our school in the months of March and June, respectively. .

 

Thus we begin a new exchange, this time virtually. They visited us and we worked as a team through Zoom and Google Sites to continue strengthening new ties of friendship and bridges of camaraderie between our schools and students.