Sacred Heart Academic Exchange Program, or SHAEP, is a two-week program
during the academic year that is integrated into the 10th Grade
Curriculum.
Students have gone on exchange to cities all over
the United States, Mexico,
Peru and Canada. In 2010-2011 Stuart Sophomores spent time in
Newton (MA), Chicago, New Orleans, Mexico City and Lima, Peru. This year the program will expand with travel to Europe.
SHAEP is a unique academic immersion program which takes
place for two weeks prior to Spring Break. Sophomores have
the opportunity to go to one of the numerous national or international Sacred
Heart schools and attend classes as they would at home. Students may also be involved in various
programs, live with Sacred Heart host families or as boarding students at a
Sacred Heart boarding school.
During these two weeks, there will be no new coursework at
Stuart to allow the girls on exchange to fully focus on the experience and stay
at another Sacred Heart school. They will also have the the opportunity to host a
visiting exchange student from the school they have visited, or will visit.
The goal of this unique experience is to broaden our
students’ horizons socially and academically by sharing the life of other
Sacred Heart students, and to inspire them to become increasingly active,
informed, and responsible members of our international community.
The Middle School Network Experience is an opportunity for students in the 8th Grade to spend a week or
two during our Spring Break in the home of a student and family from another
Sacred Heart School in the United States. The Stuart family then reciprocates by hosting their counterpart here at Stuart during the Winter or Easter Break of the partner school.
Last year Stuart 8th Graders exchanged with students in New Orleans, St. Louis, Miami and Seattle. While they are away, our students attend classes, wear their uniform and
immerse themselves in the life at another Sacred Heart School.
Individual exchange programs can be a few weeks, a trimester, or a year long. Students have recently studied in Australia, Spain and New Zealand.
Individual exchanges are available with other Sacred Heart schools in the United States as well as around the world. If a student is
interested in participating in a stay in another school, Stuart facilitates the connection and assists in making arrangements for her visit. This program is flexible, and an exchange can be for a few weeks, or as long as a trimester or a year.
International trips for Upper School students usually take place during Spring Break. Past destinations have included Peru, Italy, Argentina, Mexico and France.
This year Stuart faculty will be taking international language student groups to Segovia, Spain and Paris, France. These programs will focus on global language, culture and visiting points of interest.
In addition to visiting a new country, students may spend time living with a host family, attend classes at the host school and tour major
sites of the city/country. On occasion Stuart will host students from those same schools. The guest students are integrated into the Upper School in the same
way our students are abroad.