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Travel Opportunities
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As today's society becomes increasingly globally-minded, the
ability to appreciate and understand other cultures becomes extremely
important. In order to function in this world, one needs to step
outside the boundaries of his life and see things from a different
perspective. Montgomery Bell Academy recognizes this need and
offers international exchange opportunities for both students
and faculty at peer institutions in England, South Africa, Australia and
New Zealand. These
programs add depth and scope to the overall MBA experience by offering
participants a unique perspective on international education and broadening
their cultural horizons. |
Application Deadlines
- For Eton College (Lenten term):
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October 21, 2005
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For Winchester College, The
Southport School, The King's School, LindisfarneCollege,
- Michaelhouse, and Eton College
(Summer term):
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Experience
Another Culture
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MBA's formal exchange program began in the 1997-98 school
year with the British boarding schools of Eton College and Winchester
College. It expanded in 2000 with the addition of exchanges to
The Southport School in Australia and Michaelhouse in South Africa; in 2002
MBA initiated an exchange program with Kearsney College in South Africa
through 2004. In 2004 The King's School in Australia and Pan American High
School in Costa Rica (through 2005) were added. In 2005, an exchange program
with Lindisfarne College in New Zealand was iniated. These exchange opportunities
are available for both students and faculty and range in length from three
weeks to three months. At each of the host schools, participants stay on
or near the campus in "houses" (dormitories)
or other appropriate housing.
As exchange participants, MBA students and faculty serve as
the school's ambassadors to institutions abroad representing
the school while having the experience of a lifetime. MBA is
fortunate to have endowed money provided through the generous
sponsorship of supporters like Dudley Warner '61 to offset a
number of the expenses of these exchanges.
In addition, MBA has a history of participation in international
programs beginning with the ASSIST (American Secondary Schools
for International Students and Teachers, Inc.) Program in 1995.
ASSIST participants are foreign exchange students who spend a
year at an independent American school. MBA's participants have
come from such countries as Germany, Spain, Sweden, Czech
Republic, and Azerbaijan and stayed with MBA families while attending the school.
Another international program in which MBA students have participated is the
Experiment in International Living.
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Application Process
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Students: To be considered as a candidate for
any of the exchanges, students must complete an application form, available
as a pdf file (requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader) by clicking here, which includes
an essay on why they want to be a part of the exchange, as well as academic
honors, extracurricular activities, and other accomplishments.
Return the completed form to Mrs. Warner in the Exchange Office
(in Carter Hall). Decisions are based upon a student's reasons for wanting
to participate in the exchange, academic performance and ability, intellectual
and emotional maturity, and overall openness to experiencing another educational
system and culture.
Faculty: Faculty must complete an application form, including
an essay detailing their reasons for wanting to be a part of the exchange
program. The faculty application is available as a pdf file (requires Adobe
Acrobat Reader) by clicking here. Decisions are made based on interest
in a particular program and tenure. During the exchange, participants are
expected to observe/attend classes in their discipline to facilitate information-sharing
and to develop ideas.
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Schedule of Exchanges
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School Length of Program
Dates of Exchange
Eton College (Lenten term) 3 months January - March
Eton College (Summer term subject
to availability) 6 weeks Late May to early
July
Winchester College 6 weeks Late May to early July
Michaelhouse 3 - 4 weeks July/August
The Southport School 3 - 4 weeks July/August
The King's School 3-4 weeks July/August
Lindisfarne College 3-4 weeks July/August
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: Who chooses the exchange participants?
A: A committee including faculty and students
who have participated in past exchanges and the headmaster select
candidates who will be good representatives of MBA abroad.
Q: What grade must a student be in to participate
in an exchange?
A: Students must be juniors to apply and
participate in the exchanges (with the summer exchanges immediately
following the junior year). This requirement ensures a certain
level of maturity and also gives participants the opportunity
to serve on the selection committee for the following year's
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Q: Are any of the exchanges more demanding than others?
A: Academically, no program is more demanding
than any other. However, the Eton exchange that takes place during
the "Lenten term," from January to March, tends to
be the most challenging because of its timing - preceding the
MBA first semester exams and into the beginning of the second
semester. The MBA student chosen for the exchange is expected to
work with his MBA teachers and the Academic Dean to facilitate
the taking of his exams and coordination of his courses.
While students are granted some flexibility in terms of their
MBA workload, they are expected to be dedicated and academically
capable of keeping up with their studies. |
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| Information
About the Exchange Schools
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Winchester College
One of the oldest of the great public (public is the British
equivalent of America's private schools) schools of England,
Winchester College dates from 1382, when it was founded by Bishop
William of Wykeham to prepare boys for his new college, Oxford,
known as St. Mary College of Winchester in Oxford. The organization
of the school, established as a self-governing and sovereign
body, was the pattern for Henry VI's foundation at Eton College
and, more generally, the pattern for other English public schools. For
further information, visit the web site at www.winchestercollege.org.
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Eton College
Eton College was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI for the
worship of God, and for the training of young men to the service
of the Church and State. His aim was to have seventy so trained,
first at Eton, then at King's College, Cambridge. These were
his Scholars. Today, there are now some 1280 boys at Eton. For
more information regarding Eton, consult their website at www.etoncollege.com. |
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Michaelhouse
Michaelhouse, founded in 1896 by Anglican Priest Canon James
Cameron Todd, is situated in the heart of the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands
in South Africa. Michaelhouse aims to give boys a holistic education
which encompasses all that they do. The school currently has
an enrollment of over 530 boys. For more information, visit their
website at www.mhs.kzn.school.za
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The Southport School
The Southport School (TSS) was founded as a boys private school
in 1901 - the same year Australia became independent from the
British. Located on the Nerang River about a quarter mile from
the Pacific Ocean on the east coast of Australia, TSS has grades
K-12 on two separate campuses located across the street from
each other. There is a very British influence at the school,
and about one-third of the students are boarders with a number
of them coming from foreign countries and western Australia.
For more information, visit the school's website at www.tss.qld.edu.au |
The King's School
Founded
in 1831, The King's School is Australia's oldest independent school.
Located in Parramatta, a suburb of Sydney, King's has always enjoyed
a particularly close relationship with the rural sector. These close
links with the country have combined with many enriching international
ties and strong links with the city to result in King's being one of
the largest boarding schools in Australia with some 400 students and
40 families living on site. To this number is added several hundred
day students who make their way during term time to what surely must
be one of the most impressive school grounds in the country. Spread over
300 acres of woodland in the geographical heart of Sydney, it represents
an oasis of learning in Australia's largest city. For more information,
visit the school's website at www.kings.edu.au |
Lindisfarne College 
Lindisfarne College, founded in 1953, is a Presbyterian Boys School
located in Hastings, New Zealand. The school proudly takes its name from
the early monastery, established in 634 A.D. off the Northumbrian Coast
of England by St. Aidan. Each boy at Lindisfarne is placed in one of
4 'Houses'; Oswald, Durham, Aidan and Cuthbert - each named after early
Christian martyrs or saints, and Christian worship is a vital element
of College Life. The beautiful park-like surroundings of the school grounds,
and the gracious old 3 storeyed "Homestead" building, have been nurtured
and well maintained so that the College environment is a peaceful and
pleasant educational environment for pupils and staff. The old tennis
court area, dating from the 1900's, has evolved into the sweeping Homestead
lawn, edged by flower beds, native ferns bordering the trickling stream
and many marvellous old English trees. The College Council marked the
new millennium with extensive renovations of the Homestead building,
managing to keep its "Olde World" charm
by employing skilled craftsmen to renew the wooden panelling, leather
armchairs and tiled roofing. The "Homestead" now houses the staffroom,
Rector's office, Boardroom and administration areas. For more information,
visit the school's website at http://www.lindisfarne.school.nz
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2005 Exchanges
| MBA Students on
Exchange |
Taylor Shope |
Eton College, England |
Kevin Seitz |
Winchester College, England |
Bracey Wilson |
Winchester College, England |
Lewis Brown |
The King’s School, Australia |
Kafkas Everest |
The King’s School, Australia |
Joseph Alexander |
The Southport School, Australia |
Nick Power |
The Southport School, Australia |
David Syverud |
The Southport School, Australia |
Hunter Armistead |
Michaelhouse School, South Africa |
Read Ezell |
Michaelhouse School, South Africa |
Erik Swanson |
Language study in Costa Rica |
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The Experiment in International
Living
Since 1999, MBA students have had the opportunity
to participate in special programs offered by the Experiment in International
Living. These special programs take place during the summer, and students
are invited to apply for programs, some of which carry scholarship
awards. The special summer programs usually last 5-6 weeks and often
consist of home-stays and projects alternating with opportunities to
see the country visited. In the past, students have traveled to France,
Poland, Switzerland, Chile, and Argentina. Application information
is available in February (due date around March 1), with awards announced
in April. For further information, please contact Dr.
Gaffney at MBA. In February, an assembly program (often coupled
with a visit by a representative from EIL) will be held, after which
applications may be picked up. The EIL web site may be visited at www.usexperiment.org.
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