Media Hub

Welcoming Our Friends from Seijo

From March 24 through April 4, McDonogh School had the joy of hosting seven students and two teachers from our sister school, Seijo-Gakuen, in Tokyo, Japan. Their two-week visit was part of our long-standing exchange program and brought a renewed sense of curiosity, connection, and cultural learning to our entire community.

During their stay, the Seijo students became a vibrant part of daily life at McDonogh. They attended Upper School classes with their student hosts, forming friendships and experiencing the rhythm of American school life firsthand. In addition to shadowing in the Upper School, they spent time in Lower and Middle School classrooms, where they engaged younger students through Global Connections lessons and shared elements of Japanese culture. They joined Ms. Pongratz’s dance class, participated in an English lesson with Mr. Doherty, made pizza with Ms. Crooks’ food science students, and explored global issues in Ms. Weng’s Middle School class.

The group also had the opportunity to explore beyond campus with trips to Washington, DC and Gettysburg, gaining a deeper understanding of American history and culture. These off-campus adventures added a layer of context to their experience and offered memorable moments of learning and exploration.

Throughout the two weeks, the presence of our Seijo guests sparked moments of joy, discovery, and meaningful exchange. Their visit reminded us of the importance of global connection—of learning from one another, sharing across cultures, and building friendships that stretch far beyond the boundaries of a school campus.

We are deeply grateful to the students and teachers of Seijo-Gakuen for visiting McDonogh and for being such an inspiring and joyful part of our community.