Round Square

• active leaders in Sedbergh's community
• possess a commitment to share their learning with their peers
• be willing to represent Sedbergh within the global network of schools.

Exchanges Service Projects Conferences

Exchanges are very popular with both students and faculty and are definitely encouraged among member and regional schools. Each school's Round Square co-ordinator is usually the person through whom these exchanges are organized, whether they are for several weeks, a term, or longer.

Schools arrange several student exchanges a year of one student for another. This is worked out on a school-to-school basis and no tuition money changes hands.

Exchanges also give young alumni, who may be interested in a career in education, an opportunity to participate in a GAP year (pre-university - post-secondary) to experience internships at member schools as teaching aides. It is an honour at any Round Square school to be sent on exchange.

Service projects provide students and teachers with an opportunity to participate in meaningful activities that support people around the world. Round Square students offer non-skilled manual labour as their contribution to a service project. They also collect donations within Round Square schools to fund international projects. Round Square students and villagers work side-by-side to complete projects.

School based projects are organized, staffed and logistically supported by one member school. In recent years such projects have taken place in Turkey, Kenya, Thailand, Indonesia, India, Niger, Dominican Republic and Russia - to name a few.

Conferences occur each year, are five days in length and held at a member school. Round Square schools send staff and student representatives to participate. During the conference the prior year's collaborative activities are reported on and evaluated, and new projects are planned. Discussions, related to the theme of the conference, examine topics of importance to the member schools and the world.

Programmes initiated by Round Square help institutionally and culturally different, but like-minded students meet and share their points of view. Friendships are made through activities, expeditions and events organized by the host school. Visitors are introduced, not only to the host school, but also the country, the culture and the environment.

The 2003 conference was hosted by St. Cyprian's School and St. Stithians College in South Africa. The 2005 conference was held at Ivanhoe Grammar School, in Melbourne, Australia, the 2006 conference was held at Gordonstoun in Scotland. The 2007 conference was held at the Daly College in Indore, India.