Engaging the World
The only high school in the world to present at a conference on character at Oxford, Montrose hosts international visitors eager to learn about our character education approach.
Montrose welcomed a group of 16 students and chaperones from the University of Birmingham School in the UK in February. The British students attended a sampling of classes, received campus tours from Red Key Club members, met with Student Government and with groups of juniors and seniors and even cheered on the Mavericks at the IGC semifinal basketball game!
Both Montrose and the University of Birmingham School (UoBS) are part of an informal network of schools that situates character education at the heart of all they do. As one of the first 10 National Schools of Character in the U.S. and an internationally recognized school of character, Montrose is often asked to host school administrators, college professors and others seeking to learn best practices for fostering character and leadership.
UoBS is a coed lab school run by the University of Birmingham in the UK, home of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtue – one of the leading think tanks on character development in the world. Montrose has a longstanding relationship with the Jubilee Centre. The Centre hosted the recent conference at Oxford University, “Character and Virtues in Professional Practice”, where Katie Elrod and Barbara Whitlock presented papers. Montrose was the only secondary school in the world featured. In addition, seven Montrose faculty members either have earned or are earning a Master’s degree in character education from the University of Birmingham, a program funded by foundational support.
Montrose has previously welcomed administrators from Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia who visit to learn about our character education approach and impact. March will bring a visiting team from Spain that is working to build a network of schools focused on character education.
"As a school that encourages girls to engage the world, it’s a priority for us to welcome international visitors and facilitate international exchanges," said Associate Head of School Mary Jo White. "We know that when our girls engage with peers who are immersed in similar character and leadership programs, they learn how to unify diverse groups by fostering civic friendship."
This school year’s global experiences include:
This school year’s global experiences include:
- A group of 18 juniors and seniors visited Ireland over February break, where they were hosted by students at Rosemont School, our sister school in Dublin.
- 10 students from our French sister school, Les Vignes, joined us in late February as they returned the visit our students paid to Paris in the fall.
- Montrose hosted 6 students from Izaga School in Pamplona and one student from Entrevalles, Guatemala City last fall.
- In March, students will travel to Pamplona, Spain for language immersion.
- During April break, a group of upper school students will head to the Dominican Republic to serve people in need with our partner Mustard Seed Communities.
"It is an honor that international visitors from around the globe are eager to visit Montrose to meet our students and experience our mission in action," said Ms. White.
An independent school for girls in grades 6-12 guided by the teachings of the Catholic Church.
