Upper School

Upper School students currently enrolled in French may apply to the French exchange program with the lycée Joseph Vallot located in Lodève, France, in the Occitanie region of the country. Student applicants must be able to host a French student for a 10-day visit in October and travel to France over spring break. Travel to France includes an overview of Paris's major sites and neighborhoods followed by a week-long homestay in Lodève where McDonogh students will attend school with their host and explore the surrounding region. Hosts and travelers are expected to engage in post-program reflection by sharing their learning with the community, and they are strongly encouraged to participate in the Global Dialogues series in advance of the exchange to get to know their potential partners.

Interested Upper School students may apply to host a student from our partner school, Seijo Gauken, located in Tokyo, Japan, after spring break in late March and early April. Hosts receive priority application status to travel to Tokyo in June after commencement. Graduated seniors are not eligible to travel with the school. In addition to exploring a student-generated research question connected to the World History curriculum, exchange participants will immerse themselves in Japanese culture by participating in tea ceremonies, learning calligraphy, and preparing Japanese cuisine. Students will explore Tokyo with their host families and travel to Kyoto or Naral. Travelers are expected to engage in post-program reflection by sharing their learning with the community, and they are strongly encouraged to participate in the Global Dialogues series in advance of the exchange to practice perspective-taking and intercultural communication skills.

Upper School students currently enrolled in Spanish may apply to the Spanish exchange program. We are currently exploring a new partnership which we look forward to announcing in the fall of 2024. Student applicants must be able to host a Spanish student for a 10-day visit in September (beginning in the fall of 2025) and travel to Spain in June of 2024. Graduated seniors are not eligible to travel with the school. Travel to Spain includes an overview of Madrid's major sites and neighborhoods followed by a homestay in which McDonogh students will attend school with their host and explore the surrounding region. Hosts and travelers are expected to engage in post-program reflection by sharing their learning with the community, and they are strongly encouraged to participate in the Global Dialogues series in advance of the exchange to get to know their potential partners.

Senior students enrolled in the Vietnam History elective may apply to travel to Vietnam over spring break. During this two-week, curricular immersive program entitled “War, Healing & Reconciliation,” travelers will experience firsthand the curriculum they have been studying on campus. Students explore multiple perspectives on how different countries commemorate war,  and they will engage with local communities through service learning. Travelers are expected to engage in post-program reflection by sharing their learning with the community, and they are strongly encouraged to participate in the Global Dialogues series in advance of the program to practice perspective-taking and intercultural communication skills.