Through its global programs, King School strives to further develop students’ sense and understanding of shared humanity while they investigate and experience the world. The interdisciplinary collaboration of our Global Studies and Service Learning programs, along with our Athletics Department, plays a significant role in helping students appreciate and embrace the cultural diversity of their local and global environments.
Combining authentic learning, leadership, and relationship building opportunities, these truly unique travel programs unite diverse student groups as they share in experiencing new cultures through immersive language and cultural activities, service, and athletic training and competitions. These pursuits also highlight the power of bringing people together through sport, help participants find common ground with their Chinese and Colombian counterparts, and allow students to go beyond a focus on just winning to discover the inherent and impactful value of friendly competition. The combined areas of experience provide a richer immersive program that is valuable for building relationships and community abroad and at home.
“Even though we lived in different countries (Colombia and the United States) and had different experiences, we were still able to play soccer for 10 hours a day. The bonding was incredible."”
— Santi S., Upper School student
“Traveling to China is an experience that I will never forget. I learned so much about Chinese culture and everyday life, like how different traditional Chinese food is from "American" Chinese food, having to live with censorship, and Chinese academic pressure. I'm still in contact with kids we met in China and really enjoyed having friends on the other side of the globe whose life is so different than mine.”
— Taylor P., Upper School student
The King China Trip begins this week as King Global Studies and Mandarin Language students embark on a global studies and world language trip from March 7 – March 17 in Shanghai, Chengdu, Xi'an and Beijing, and features the Vikings Varsity Boys Basketball team competing in three exhibition games in Shanghai and Beijing.
Nearly two dozen King School students will use their Mandarin and basketball skills to experience life as students in a major Chinese city for the next two weeks.
The students, who hail from across lower Fairfield County, including Greenwich, Stamford, Norwalk and New Canaan, were leaving for Beijing early Wednesday morning and will spend 12 days there.
In March, students from King School will be going to China as part of a decades-old exchange program between King School and a school in Beijing. In December, 19 students from the Chinese school visited King to experience a day in the life of a King student.
To round out Homecoming weekend, student-athletes from the fall sports teams welcomed over 125 runners, volunteers, alumni, family members, and friends to the 6th Annual King Cares 5K. The event benefits two non-profit organizations, the Orphaned Starfish Foundation (OSF) and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Stamford and Greenwich.
A group of soccer players from Colombia spent the week at King enjoying activities with host families, participating in soccer practice with the Varsity Vikings, attending Homecoming, and running in the King Cares 5K.