Passport Exchange Programs

Passport’s exchange programs and partnerships offer a world of opportunity to both Laurel faculty and students.  As of 2011 we currently have exchange agreements with schools in three countries: China, Japan, and Botswana and we are in the planning stages of adding two more: Australia and Costa Rica.  What follows is a history and update on our current exchange programs.


Current Passport Exchange Programs

Botswana
Founded in 1972, the Maru-a-Pula School located in the capital city of Gaborone, is a world-class coeducational independent day and boarding school that focuses on providing an excellent education in a multi racial setting in the region of southern Africa.  The school has a diverse international makeup, a talented and highly educated faculty, and excels in academics, the arts, and in athletics.  In May and June of even-numbered years, Laurel and Maru-a-Pula exchange two students, with the students from Botswana arriving at Laurel in early May and returning to Botswana with two Laurel girls in June.

China
The High School Affiliated to Xi’an Jiaotong University (HSXJTU) is Laurel's flagship exchange program.  Both Laurel and Nanyang Public School, the predecessor of HSXJTU, had their beginnings in 1896.  The partnership between the two schools began in April of 2008 when Peidong Wang, Principal of HSXJTU, visited the University School and was introduced to Headmistress Ann Klotz. Ms. Klotz and Madame Wang formed a lasting friendship and in March 2009 Laurel sent its first ambassadorial group to Xi’an.  In the fall of 2009 two students from Xi’an began two years’ of study at Laurel and graduated from Laurel in June of 2011.  Two new girls begin their studies in the fall of 2011.  Our second group travelled to Xi’an in the spring of 2011 and celebrated the two-year anniversary of our friendship with HSXJTU on March 30.  During this trip we expanded our agreement with The High School Affiliated to Xi’an Jiaotong University that features additional opportunities for professional development for both Laurel and HSXJTU faculty at both schools.  Students from Xi'an will continue to spend a month in Cleveland each second fall in even years and a Laurel group will travel to China every other spring during odd numbered years.

Japan
Located in northern Japan near the city of Morioka, Iwate Joshi High School is a private girls' high school, much like Laurel School.  A Laurel alumna who attended Iwate Joshi as an exchange student facilitated our partnership with this school and we have had an outstanding exchange relationship with Iwate Joshi High School since the fall of 2008.  Each fall one student from Iwate studies at Laurel for about 12 weeks and every other summer in even year Laurel conducts a Passport touring trip to Japan that includes a short homestay and school visit to its sister school in Morioka City.


Passport Exchange Programs In the Planning Stages

The Passport Program is currently working on creating exchange programs with two schools, one in Australia and one in Costa Rica.  We hope to begin an exchange relationship with St. Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School near Perth in Western Australia with an Upper School Mathematics teacher exchange beginning in the 2012-2013 academic year.  In the fall of 2011 Laurel will partner with Western Reserve Academy to host for one day a delegation from St. Jude School in San José, Costa Rica at our Lyman and Butler campuses.  In the summer of 2012 a Laurel administrative delegation plans to visit St. Jude to create an agreement for a Middle School Passport student exchange program.