Last week, we welcomed nine students from our sister school in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, Colegio Sagrado Corazon. These young learners and their chaperones, Sandra Ortiz and Carolina Martínez, experienced a busy week at the Academy, from classes to Congé. They made new friends and felt truly at home at the Academy.
The six young women stayed in the Duchesne Center, formerly the cloister for the nuns on the top floor of the Primary Wing. The three young men were welcomed into homes by Academy families. We share some of their reflections.
I loved the school, the way they treated me, and that I was able to practice my English. In the classrooms, they divide us into girls’ and boys’ classes, and SLP is mixed. I really enjoyed the activities we did during the classes, Congé, and all of my ASH friends.
— Ximena
I really liked that in each class we changed classrooms and that everyone gets along well with each other … You can eat in class and use laptops instead of books. I will remember the school facilities and the students. Everyone was very kind and friendly. And my host family was amazing.
— Sergio
I loved spending time with the ASH students. I got along with all of the students. I also really liked how they use technology to make activities easy in their day-to-day. I really liked sleeping in the dorms, it was so much fun. In ASH, they have fewer students than we do in SLP, also the schedules change a lot. And there is a classroom for each of the subjects. What I’ll remember the most is lunchtime and also spending time with all of the students from the Academy, and I will also remember all of the teachers.
— Miranda
I liked the way they work and the teaching techniques they use in their classes … all the students already know what they have to do in each class, and they do most of their work on laptops. Everyone was very kind. I will remember the people who treated me the best and with whom I shared this week full of new adventures, especially the family that welcomed me into their home.
— Emiliano
I loved that all the students are very friendly. I made friends regardless of my language and my country. Everyone pays a lot of attention during the classes, and there aren’t as many students as in my school.
— Ana Pau
I loved how everyone treats each other like family. The teachers are always there to help us, and they really care about how we feel. There are also a lot of fun activities and events. ASH is different because it has a lot of history. The school is over 200 years old and was founded by Saint Philippine Duchesne, which is really cool. Also, there are many classes with advanced technology … I will always remember the people. I made amazing friends, and the teachers were always really nice to me. I will also remember the special moments, like the masses, celebrations, and events where the whole community comes together. What surprised me the most was how they mix old traditions with new technology.
— Juan Carlos
I will remember the people AND their personalities … They’re very friendly and also very nice, they made us feel like it was our school, as part of the ASH family/community.
— Nicole
I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Timothy Horner, Head of School, for his leadership and for welcoming our students so warmly. I would also like to thank Mr. Vincent Ratchford for his kind invitation to be part of the St. Charles City Council meeting — it is a testament to the incredible hospitality and generosity of the St. Charles community.
— Sandra Ortiz
