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Australian Students Hit the Books |
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They may not own kangaroos or live near Crocodile Dundee, but that hasn't stopped three students from St. Margaret's School in Berwick, Australia, from bringing a little bit of Down Under to Tappahannock. Year 10 students Brittani Damiani and Allie Ross are spending 10 weeks living in the dorms and taking classes as part of the student exchange program facilitated by the Queen Margaret of Scotland Girls' School Association. Samantha Gash is taking a "gap" internship year between her recent graduation from Berwick and performing arts studies at Monash University. To win the honor of representing their school, the two younger girls had to write an essay about why they wanted to visit the US. For Britt, it was the chance to see new people and places, and to experience a different educational system. Allie hopes to learn about herself and become more independent. |
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These students from St. Margaret's in Berwick, Australia, bring perspectives from a sister school to our campus. |
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All three girls have quickly found that they know more about American culture than most Americans know about Australia. (Well-meaning US students really did ask them about pet kangaroos and celebrity neighbors.) They've found that some things are different here. At their 650-student pre-K through 12 day school, classes are grouped by grade rather than ability. They aren't allowed to wear makeup or jewelry with their uniforms, but they typically have less homework and more relaxed deadlines. Other things are much the same. Students who break the rules in Berwick receive infringements (marks) that can result in detention. There's a spirit competition between the three houses of the school that's much like SMS Tappahannock's traditional Blue and Grey. And, said Sam, "It's really easy to make friends here." |
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