Learning Around the Globe

Over spring break, school-sponsored trips set off to Italy/Greece, Ghana, Taiwan, and Washington, DC. where students experienced new things, learned by doing, and immersed themselves in their surroundings. 

Teachers Ted Freeman, LJ Scurfield, and Ellen Abbott led 18 Latin students on the trip to Greece and Italy, where they explored the relics of the ancient world. Freeman shares, “We first spent several days exploring the city of Athens, Greece. We took in the grandeur of the Parthenon resting atop the acropolis of Athens. We roamed the Athenian agora, as did so many of the great philosophers and statesmen of antiquity. Our group went into the Greek countryside to visit the fascinating sites of Delphi, Mycenae, and the theater of Epidaurus. 

“We then flew to Rome, Italy, and continued our exploration of the ancient world there. We climbed several of Rome’s hills, including the Capitoline and Janiculum. We spent a day in Vatican City exploring St. Peter’s Basilica and the endless halls of the Vatican museum. We travelled to Ostia Antica, the ancient port city of Rome that is now an expansive set of ruins. Throughout our trip, students read a variety of Latin passages relevant to each site. Students also enjoyed delving into the cultures, languages, and food of modern Greece and Italy.” 

Abbott reflected on their journey: “Aside from group sharing and time for journal writing, we had two amazing Meetings for Worship, one on a promontory overlooking the Aegean and in sight of Poseidon’s temple at Sounion, and one in a Mithraic bath in the abandoned Roman city of Ostia Antica. Both were highlights of the trip. I think the thing that struck me most, particularly in the Ostia Antica Meeting, was the number of tributes shared regarding LJ and Ted, their teaching, their commitment to the students and their love of Latin. These students have found a home in the Classics that is central to their education at Westtown.”

Lynette Assarsson and Marissa Colston led a small but mighty group of students to Ghana to work with our sister school, Heritage Academy, in the village of Essiam. Students gained experience in the classroom teaching Heritage middle schoolers various arts, crafts, and games, which were very popular among Heritage students! Westtown students also led small reading groups daily, where students read aloud together to improve English reading, pronunciation, and comprehension skills. A special time was set aside for our all-girl group to talk with sixth grade girls to discuss education, leadership, and to share about their lives; impactful moments for all. The group engaged in a service project at Heritage: making cement blocks to be used in the completion of a middle school building. Westtown students have been making blocks for this project over the past several trips to Ghana and to honor that work, Heritage will call the new building Westtown Hall! 

Living in a guest house in the village of Ajumako, just down the road from Heritage, afforded students the opportunity to know our neighbors, enjoy authentic Ghanaian cuisine (and pound fufu!), and to join in the hustle and bustle of “market days” in local villages and towns. At the markets, they learned to barter and even got to use a few words of Fante! 

The group traveled to Cape Coast to learn more deeply about the transatlantic trade of the enslaved and had powerful tours of Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castles, both former trading posts. They also spent time on the beautiful coast and braved the canopy bridges of Kakum National Rainforest. Finally, in the capital city of Accra, they toured the home of author, historian, and civil rights activist W.E.B. du Bois, learning about his life, work, and legacy. All of the elements of this journey are unique and a truly immersive cultural experience for our students. We are ever grateful for the longtime partnership with Heritage Academy, who has been welcoming Westtown students since 2008!

Bei Zhang, Fran De la Torre-Shu, Kyle Layne-Allen, and Megan Williams and a large group of students journeyed to Taiwan. Their adventure began with a tour of Taipei where they explored history, art, and culture through iconic landmarks like the Grand Hotel, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, National Palace Museum, National Revolutionary Martyrs’ Shrine, Longshan Temple, Presidential Square, and Cheng’en Gate. They experienced Shilin Night Market, a sensory delight that showcases Taiwan’s culinary diversity. The group had several hands-on learning experiences such as Taiwanese cooking, where they made dumplings and boba for tea, a sky-lantern making workshop, and more! The group ventured into Taroko National Park to take in the natural wonders, and to Yehliu Geopark, known for its unusual rock formations. They also visited the Li Chuan clam aquafarm (and dug for clams!) and Toucheng Farm to observe sustainable agriculture practices.

A very special highlight of the trip was meeting with Westtown alums Steven Wu ’86 and Richard Wu ’87. The Wu brothers gave the students personalized tours of their department stores and learned about their business philosophies and models, and had insightful conversations about their Westtown experiences. Students were also treated to specialty foods such as soup dumplings, bubble tea (from the store that created the first bubble tea in the world!), dried guava and starfruit, and almond cookies. We are grateful to Steven and Richard Wu for sharing their time and insights with our students, and to Amanda Young in the Advancement Office who helped facilitate this wonderful visit!

Religion teachers Lara Freeman and Jonathan Ogle ’88 led a group of students to Washington, DC, to partcipate in the annual Friends Committee on National Legislation’s (FCNL) Spring Lobby Weekend training. FCNL is a Quaker lobby group that “connects historic Quaker testimonies on peace, equlity, simplicity, and integrity with issues and legislation in Washington. Our community brings together Friends and tens of thousands of like-minded individuals, sharing a belief in relationship-based change making to advance the world we seek, one lobby visit at a time.”  

The Westtown contingent joined hundreds of other students from across the country as they learned and lobbied together. The training sessions this year focused on lobbying for The Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act. After they finished their training, students visited the offices of both Pennsylvania senators as well as Representative Chrissy Houlahan. One student, a resident of NJ, visited her representatives, including Senator Cory Booker’s office.  Freeman reports that the students were committed, engaged, and phenomenal participants.