At Oak Knoll, Our students don’t just study global cultures; they experience them. Among various travel offerings throughout the year, Spring Break allows students to further their global citizenship meaningfully and intentionally through participation in a student exchange or international cultural experience. 

During the most recent break, students stayed with host families in the second half of a reciprocal exchange with Sant Ignasi School in Barcelona and Mayfield School in East Sussex, England. In addition, a large group of 29 students in grades seven to nine ventured to London as enthusiastic participants in the annual international trip organized for those grades.

Students in grades 10 to 12 can participate in a reciprocal student exchange. While living with host families and experiencing the day-to-day routine of students in those schools, attendees also enjoy the culture, art, entertainment, and scenery in the surrounding vicinity. Three students spent their break living with host families and attending school at Mayfield, and one student stayed with a host family and attended school in Barcelona. Mayfield is our Holy Child sister school in the UK, and it is part of an exchange program that encompasses Holy Child Schools in Ireland and California as well. The exchange is just one of many facets of our globally connected academic program.

Our younger London visitors enjoyed a day trip, walking tour, and punting on the Cam in Oxford. They visited Royal Albert Hall for a High Tea, saw the changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace (with a surprise appearance by Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales), toured Westminster Abby, the Churchill War rooms, Warwick Castle, Stratford Upon Avon, the Tower of London, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and many more shopping excursions to markets and the city center. The daily agenda also featured a British pub dinner, a traditional fish and chips meal, and a picnic in St. James Park. They also spent an afternoon visiting the Mayfield School and seeing the resting place of Holy Child founder Cornelia Connelly.

Last year, almost 40% of students in grades seven to nine enjoyed a cultural trip to Iceland during the break.

“London is a country full of history and culture, which I always enjoy learning about,” said 

Abigail Paulos ’30. “I loved how we went to many unforgettable places and even saw Princess Kate Middleton in person during the changing of the guards. I had so much fun sightseeing and trying new things with my friends. I am excited to see where the next country will be in a year.”

“It was great to interact with the boarding students at the Mayfield, UK school and see how their Holy Child experience differs from ours,” said Kelsey Wincko ’29. “The whole trip’s highlight, however, would be going into London and seeing the sights. We walked across the Tower Bridge and saw Big Ben at Elizabeth Tower.”

Maxine Rivera ’30’s highlight “was spending time with my friends, exploring London, and seeing Princess Catherine for the Saint Patrick’s Day Ceremony.”

For more information on Oak Knoll’s robust international travel opportunities, visit the Global Studies section of our website.