<p>Boarding schools offer great travel and enrichment opportunities for their students away from campus. Often, these are available to students on financial aid at the same discount as the child receives for their tuition. With Spring Break just a week or so away, here are some interesting offerings that SPS kids will be taking advantage of this year (there are many more options available for year long, term and summer travel and learning): [St</a>. Paul’s School ~ Overview](<a href=“http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=117166]St”>http://www.sps.edu/podium/default.aspx?t=117166)</p>
<p>Germany – Humboldt Gymnasium in Leipzig
(March 5–18, 2011)
German language students have the opportunity to participate in a term exchange with the Humboldt Gymnasium in Leipzig, Germany. Located in the former East Germany, Leipzig was the home of Bach and Goethe, and where the first protestors gathered calling for reforms that eventually brought down the Berlin Wall. During the two week exchange, students live with local host families, attend classes and activities with their hosts, explore the city, and take day trips to Dresden, Weimar, Potsdam and Berlin.</p>
<p>England – Eton College and St. Paul’s Girls’ School
(March 5–19, 2011)
Each year, St. Paul’s School students have the opportunity to participate in a cultural exchange with partner students from two of the most prestigious and well-regarded independent secondary schools in England. Founded in 1440 and located just west of London near Windsor, Eton College is perhaps the most famous of the English independent schools for boys. Located in the bustling Hammersmith district of London, St. Paul’s Girls’ School is independent school for about 700 girls. As an exchange student with each of these schools, SPS students attend classes, participate in regular school activities, and take excursions to local cultural and historic sites. At Eton, SPS students live in a student dormitory, while SPS students at St. Paul’s Girls’ School live with their exchange partner’s families.</p>
<p>Sweden – Sigtuna School
(March 5–19, 2011)
Situated in one of the oldest cities in Sweden, Sigtuna School (SSHL) is a co-educational day and boarding school of about 550 students. St. Paul’s School students have the opportunity to spend two weeks in in the land of Stieg Larsson’s thrilling trilogy and memorable characters as part of a cultural exchange with a partner student from Sigtuna. While in Sweden, SPS students experience the life of a Sigtuna student by attending classes, living in a student dormitory, and participating in regular school activities.</p>
<p>Cuba – Madrigals and String Orchestra Tour
(March 6–13, 2011)
This spring, the Madrigal Singers and a select group of string players will tour Cuba, pending the approval of both the U.S. and Cuban governments. Cuba is an exceptionally beautiful island nation with the largest, most diverse, and perhaps the most vibrant population and culture in the Caribbean. Because of the country’s political history, most Americans no longer are able to visit due to travel restriction imposed by both the U.S. and Cuban governments. Owing to our cultural and educational intentions, SPS is eligible to apply for permission from both countries for this exciting tour. Both ensembles will be based in Havana to enjoy a rigorous performance schedule and collaborative opportunities with local Cuban ensembles and conductors. In addition to musical performances, we will spend time performing service learning with various charitable organizations. While this group will have many sightseeing opportunities, we will also spend considerable time with the Cuban people and learn about Cuban culture and music. This tour provides an exciting opportunity for our young musicians to experience a new culture and create bridges to this vibrant island nation with their music. </p>
<p>Kentucky – Timothy’s Appalachian Mission
(March 6–12, 2011)
This spring, St. Paul’s School is sponsoring a service trip during the first week of Spring Vacation to work with St. Timothy’s Appalachian Mission on Barnes Mountain in rural Estill County, Kentucky, a county known for its natural beauty and its deep poverty, being the third poorest county in the United States. In recent years, the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington and the people of St. Timothy’s have established clothing and food banks, a Reading Camp, a summer day camp, Girl Scouts, and craft activities that meet the needs of this mountain community, as well as host service teams working on the construction and rehabilitation of local residences in the spirit of Habitat for Humanity. Our service team will work on the “rehab” construction of an existing residential structure in the community with the possible option of participating in a reading camp for local students. We will live in a spacious and comfortable dormitory, cook our own food, work with and get to know local residents, and share in the community building that is at the heart of St. Timothy’s Appalachian Mission. We have space for fifteen students and at least two adult chaperones. Please consider joining us for this important and enriching experience.</p>
<p>Mississippi – Habitat for Humanity
(March 6–12, 2011)
This March will be an opportunity for SPS students to work with Habitat for Humanity in Jonestown, Mississippi. This transformative experience is a great opportunity for students to act out Gandhi’s call to “be the change they wish to see in the world.” Students from last year returned feeling grateful to have worked directly with the families who would reside in the home they built. This experience placed community service in a more authentic and meaningful context for both students and faculty. Habitat’s mission is to “eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action.” While in Jonestown, the SPS Habitat team will work in groups on a couple of specific housing projects. In addition to this labor, the students will assist in meal preparation for the group on a rotating basis and will be responsible for organizing evening activities and group reflections. There will be a mid-week break in which the group visits Memphis Tennessee’s National Civil Rights Museum. Former students from this important trip report wanting to return again this year and to make this ministry a part of their future lives as well. We invite you to come and see what it’s all about! Per Habitat for Humanity’s policies, all participants must be 16 years of age as of March 6, 2011.</p>
<p>Nicaragua – Bridges to Community
(March 6–13, 2011)
During the Spring Vacation, SPS students will have the opportunity to spend one week in Nicaragua with the nonprofit organization Bridges to Community. During this experience, students will work with members of the local community and Bridges staff to build two, one room cinder block homes. The SPS group will reside in a dormitory and eat meals prepared by local community members. While in Nicaragua, SPS students will immerse themselves in the local community through service projects while also having the advantage of excursions to various nearby sites of cultural importance. Bridges to Community hosts approximately 800 volunteers of which 25% are high school age. Bridges to Community’s mission is "to create a world where basic needs are treated as human rights: shelter, nutrition, education, healthcare, and employment, which is accomplished by bringing groups of volunteers to live in materially poor communities where they work on our ongoing community development projects.</p>
yiiiikes</p>
BUT all five clubs unite, on the playing fields, at the bonfires, in the stands or on this blog… SPS is better than anyone who thinks they are our rival!</p>