Kent Place teaches
girls to see themselves as members of a larger community—and
to believe that they have the power to make a difference.
On campus, making a difference might mean rallying
their friends for Spirit Week, leading Morning Meeting or serving
on student government. Off campus, it could mean volunteering
at a senior citizen center or homeless shelter or with a Habitat
for Humanity project. In addition, Kent Place students take full
advantage of all that the New York City metropolitan region has
to offer, from museums and theaters to parks and historic sites.
In this way, they start to experience the richness of the world
beyond this campus, and come to realize that true learning is
never confined to the classroom.
Global Travel at KPS
Kent Place students have a number of opportunities for travel in Middle and Upper School. These experiences range from language and cultural immersion to student exchange and service learning options. Students view these experiences as life-changing and part of the process of preparing them to live as citizens of the world. Below are descriptions of the trips that have run over the past several years, as well as upcoming trip information.
Tanzania (Spring 2010)
The 2010 Global Service Learning Trip to Tanzania, Africa, was an opportunity to use the world as a living classroom and to explore new cultures with traditions and customs that stand in great contrast to our own. Students spent valuable time and experiences with the Tanzanian people, engaging in community service projects to assist the Faraja Primary School and its students with physical disabilities. In addition, students had the opportunity to learn about the Tanzanian and Maasai culture, history and language. Excursions included a safari tour of the Ngorongoro Crater Park and a visit to the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, as well as ample opportunities to learn about the ecosystem and wildlife of the Serengeti region.
Paris and Rome (Spring 2010)
The trip to France not only gave our Middle School students the opportunity to practice and develop their linguistic proficiency, but allowed them to experience a cultural immersion and become world citizens. The publication of the five standards: communication, cultures, connections, comparisons and communities, has encouraged world language teachers to create meaningful context for the learners. The France and Italy trip was an opportunity to reinforce these national standards and to open a window to a world our Middle School students were not familiar with. Our visit to Europe started with France. We enjoyed a morning excursion to Versailles and an afternoon sightseeing beautiful Paris. The trip also included a visit of the Louvre museum followed by an overnight train ride to Rome. We explored the streets of Rome along with our tour guide, and experienced the life of Caesar's gladiator in the Vatican. We concluded our Italian experience with an excursion to Pompeii.
Paris (Spring 2009)
Several Upper School students traveled to the Loire Valley and Paris with their French and art teachers. They were able to visit the Palais de Versailles and the Valley's chateaux to learn about the history and art of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Students also had time to visit museums, sketch scenes along the Seine and discover Parisian culture and cuisine.
Kenya (Spring 2009)
Both Middle and Upper School students along with KPS staff and faculty members traveled to Masaii Mara, Kenya, to work daily constructing a "pipeline" from the water source to the girls' dormintory at the Empopongi Primary School. Students were able to bring donations and teach classes at the school. Visits to an elephant orphanage and giraffe sanctuary, as well as two safaris were planned. Students spent time learning from each other through an assigned buddy program. Kent Place students attended daily classes with their Kenyan buddies.
Quebec (Summer 2008)
Middle School French students and their teachers traveled to Quebec City in Canada. The girls practiced their French every day while discovering the village of early settlers from France. Students toured the city and learned about French Canadian history, the province of Quebec and the rich cultural heritage.
Mexico (Spring 2008)
Middle School students, together with their teachers, traveled to the Yucatan peninsula and practiced their Spanish daily in shops, museums and restaurants. The girls focused on discovering how Mexican history has had such a tremendous impact on the nation it is today.
