Global Studies and Exchanges Booklet

G lobal Studies and Exchanges

International Network of Sacred Heart Schools We are an international network with more than 140 schools around the globe. You will find Sacred Heart schools in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Congo, Egypt, England & Wales, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Scotland, Spain, Taiwan, Uganda, Uruguay, and the United States.

Sacred Heart schools reach from coast to coast in the US. Look for us in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington, as well as Halifax, Novia Scotia and Montreal, Quebec.

“To influence our world, we must understand it.” uMadeleine Sophie B arat, rscj

GOALS OF GLOBAL STUDIES AND EXCHANGES: •

Teach students a global outlook through exposure to different cultures, languages, and perspectives

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Equip students to gain a deeper understanding of the complex world in which we live

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Guide students as they build empathy for our sisters and brothers around the world

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Encourage students to develop cultural agility by seeking new opportunities to grow and building self-awareness

Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School approaches global education in an organic way by weaving it into the humanities and fine arts work in which our students engage. Through our curriculum, students in grades JK3-12 build a broader perspective of the world and its inhabitants. Our students have opportunities to explore the greater world from inside and outside of the classroom.

Global Studies Summer Seminars, available to students in grades 9-12, were developed to expose students to the questions and ideas they would encounter in their Social Studies courses in high school. The program is an academic and travel experience with students receiving .25 credit hours for completing the course.

The seminar is considered a Social Studies course, although teachers from different disciplines may co-teach the course with a Social Studies teacher. Domestic seminars are conducted for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, with past seminars having traveled to Chicago, New York City, and Santa Fe. Seniors can take advantage of an international seminar with trips to regions like China, Central Europe, Spain, and Morocco.

Our middle school students are offered domestic educational trips to cities like Chicago and Washington, DC.

Network Exchange Programs provide students in grades 7-12 the chance to live and study among students from one of the many Sacred Heart Schools in the United States, Canada, and around the world. For students in grades 7 and 8, network exchanges are done domestically while students in grades 9 through 12 are encouraged to consider an international network exchange with a Sacred Heart school in one of 30 countries around the world.

In solidarity and mutuality with the poor and marginalized, summer service projects offer students the opportunity to leave behind the materialism and commercialism of today’s world. In addition to serving, it is hoped that students will experience a personal transformation in a communal setting, practicing simply living and maintaining a positive and open attitude.

Our Oak Hill students participate in a wide range of curricular activities designed to expand their cultural awareness including an annual International Festival as well as art and cultural exchanges with Sacred Heart schools in nations like Uganda, India, Taiwan, France, and Italy.

J oin the J ourney Though more than 200 years have passed since Rose Philippine Duchesne crossed the Atlantic Ocean and established the first Sacred Heart School in North America, Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School along with more than 140 schools around the globe continue her mission.

Each boy and girl at Oak Hill and young woman at Villa Duchesne embarks upon a Sacred Heart journey. From a junior kindergartener exploring the classroom to a high school student climbing new academic heights—we partner with families to serve as trusted guides on this journey. A Sacred Heart education is not a destination but a lifelong call to keep moving, learning, and growing. Our graduates leave our home with open hearts, open minds, open eyes, and open arms—everything they need to open worlds.

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Villa Duchesne and Oak Hill School 801 S. Spoede Road | St. Louis, Missouri 63131 www.vdoh.org