The start of summer is a great time to reflect on the achievements and learning of the previous academic year. While it is important to read, write, research, and discuss in classrooms, AWS believes that active engagement in the wider world is also critical to developing well-educated, creative, and responsible citizens for a global society. In the 2024-25 school year, Gators again learned experientially on campus, around Tacoma, across the nation, and around the world as they continued to grow into young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Here are some highlights of this year’s experiential learning!

Language exchanges, which immerse students in schools and households speaking primarily another language, are the best way to improve acquired language proficiency. This year, three Grade 10 students studied and stayed with host families in Chapala, Mexico, for three weeks in January and then welcomed their exchange partners from Instituto Internacional Octavio Paz into their homes and the AWS community in February and March. Our AWS families hosted seven students from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and now seven new students will travel to our partner school, Colegio Pestalozzi, in June for three or four weeks. Families who have participated in these exchanges share that they've expanded their understanding of other cultures, and that they’ve developed a sense of “family” in other countries, which makes the world feel a little bit smaller and friendlier. 

Our partnerships with IB schools on other continents afford amazing opportunities for Grade 9 and 10 students to explore environments, cultures, and global issues in other parts of the world. This year, we hosted six students from Windhoek International School in Namibia, and four of our Grade 9 and 10 students spent three weeks there on exchange. We hosted one student from the International School of Western Australia, and two Grade 9 and 10 students spent three weeks in Perth in April. This spring, we welcomed NIST International School in Bangkok, Thailand, to the Global Alliance, and we look forward to supporting our first Thai exchanges next year. Global Alliance ambassadors report that their cultural exchange is among the most powerful learning experiences of their lives. 

Guest speakers, local field trips, on-campus collaborations and service, simulations, and hands-on experiences keep the learning in (s)Electives active and engaging, as students build community around shared interests and passions. From Sports Medicine students practicing what they’ve learned on the sidelines of athletics matches and Rocketry students experimenting with different designs to the Business (s)Elective running Chomp’s Bistro and Fashion students designing and creating beautiful wearable accessories and clothing, our students are learning through hands-on projects. 

Committed Grade 11 and 12 (s)Elective students participated in signature travel learning experiences to The Hague and Dachau, Tokyo, Seoul, Sao Paulo and Brasilia, Detroit, Long Beach, and Anchorage. Families and student participants reflected that from cooking and dance classes and university visits to expert-led workshops and visits with industry leaders, these travel experiences provided context and impactful connections to their year-long inquiry. 

The GOAT was busy exploring our beautiful local region, including a sea kayaking trip in Puget Sound, day hiking at Mount Rainier, snowshoeing in the Cascades, and backpacking on the wilderness Olympic Coast, to practice their backcountry skills and experience the awe and wonder of the Pacific Northwest. While on campus, GOAT members earned Wilderness First Aid certification, learned about bicycle maintenance and explored the neighborhood by bike, spent time in the AWS pool developing water safety skills, and explored backcountry culinary practices. 

Throughout the Lower School, teachers masterfully support in-class learning with real-world experiences during which students are immersed in the content they’re studying. Middle School journey farther afield: Grade 6 traveled to the Bay Area, Grade 7 explored the national parks of the southwest by foot, and Grade 8 stretched their comfort zones speaking Spanish and exploring the ecology of Costa Rica. This year’s Grade 10 students chose to discover either Iceland, Italy, or Belize with their peers. Each of these experiences, included in AWS tuition, is designed to support students in safe risk-taking, connection-making, reflection, and community-building.

Students and families interested in any of these opportunities in the coming year should stay tuned for announcements in the fall or reach out to Ms. Ward.