Exchange Program Builds Bonds
On a Saturday in February, three Crescent families arrived at Pearson’s Terminal 3 to send off Sam, Stanley, and Freddy, the boys they’d been hosting for two weeks from Aylesbury Grammar School in the U.K. as part of Crescent’s International Student Exchange Program. The families escorted them through the baggage checks and took the last few moments to take photos, embrace each other, and say goodbye. Hopefully, not forever.
Engaging in a student exchange program is hard work, but it offers incredible rewards for students and the families who host them. For the students leaving on an exchange, it takes courage to get on a plane, adaptability to live with a new family and experience a new culture, and a growth mindset to push themselves outside their comfort zones. The students and families hosting an exchange student sacrifice time, effort, and personal space to welcome someone into their home and introduce them to our city. Both experiences offer invaluable growth opportunities and create lifelong connections between students and their partners abroad.
Crescent's international student exchange program allows students to experience a different culture and educational system. In the process, they often establish lasting friendships with a peer and his host family. Participants build confidence and resilience from living outside one’s familiar home setting and becoming globally-minded citizens as they navigate different cultures and customs. Our students typically return with fascinating stories and life experiences wherever they go.
Crescent’s International Student Exchange Program is still in its infancy. We continue engaging new school partners and encouraging more Upper School students to participate in the program. These are exceptional opportunities, and we are honoured to be able to partner with excellent schools like Westlake Boys High School in Aukland, New Zealand, Scotch College in Melbourne, Australia, and Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, U.S.A. Striving to build men of character, we know the Crescent Exchange Program will offer opportunities to expand horizons and create meaningful life-long connections for our boys.
