Featured Story
Exciting Exchange Experiences
Just days after classes ended last June, Jacqui Holzberger ‘18 and Emma Tregellas ‘17 embarked on a three week adventure on the other side of the world in New Zealand at St. Luke’s partner school, Rangitoto College. They were welcomed by their host student’s family: Jamie Ellery (Emma’s host) and Gemma Morpeth (Jacqui’s host). Jacqui and Emma also immersed themselves in the Rangitoto College community in Auckland. With 3000 students and a sizable international students population, Rangitoto was a whole new experience unto itself. Jacqui and Emma jumped right in, wearing the uniforms to auditing classes to participating in sports activities.
Jacqui reflected, “My time in New Zealand was amazing. I learned that people in New Zealand really value family time and schools gives very little homework. Sports teams meet just a once a week so many students play several sports.” In their free time, Emma and Jacqui also got to explore a bit of New Zealand with their host families. They learned that when a rugby game was on, people stopped to watch—much the way Americans do for football and the Super Bowl. So the girls quickly learned the rules of rugby and cheered along.
In January and February, Emma and Jacqui had the chance to welcome their hosts here. Jamie came first, spending most of January with the Tregellas family (and a few days with Beaumonte family too). While on the Hilltop, Jamie jumped right into some math and science classes as well as US History. She played basketball with the JV Girls team and participated in the Debate team. Gemma arrived next in late January and stayed through mid-February with the Holzberger family. With an interest in the arts, she spent quality time at the Art House as well as taking US history, Latin, French, and science classes. Their St. Luke’s host families took them to explore New York City and beyond including a Broadway show, ice skating in Rockefeller Center and sledding on a snow day. Both of our New Zealand exchange students shared that they loved their time on the Hilltop and being here during our wintertime.
Director of Global Education Beth Yavenditti said, “It’s a great opportunity for students to have a truly cultural immersion experience. Because we only select two students and the students travel on their own to each community, it requires students to be even more independent and self-reliant. They get to make their own adventure and get out of it exactly what they put into it.” Yavenditti continued, “Even though the language is not a barrier, it’s a fun challenge to join a larger school, mid-year and immerse yourself in their culture.”
St. Luke’s looks forward to sending two students this summer and welcoming more students from Rangitoto College in 2018. If students are interesting in being an exchange student or host family in future years, they should contact Director of Global Education Beth Yavenditti. St. Luke’s has continuing exchange programs with schools in Argentina, China, France and New Zealand.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
