Last week, seven students and two teachers attended Elmwood's first-ever Round Square conference, hosted by RGS Surrey Hills. It was a unique and enriching experience for both the students and the supervisors!
Their first full conference day was full of introductions to other schools and learning about their baraza groups. They focused on the IDEAL of Adventure by participating in an 8km hike up Box Hill. While the weather didn’t quite cooperate, as is to be expected in the UK, everyone was still in good spirits and made a ton of new friends and connections. They also heard from two keynote speakers on the first day, both of whom reminded listeners of the importance of leadership and adventure.
On Wednesday, our Elmwoodians spent the day exploring Greenwich and taking a river cruise down the Thames to Westminster where they saw the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, among other iconic landmarks.
The final two days consisted of discussions surrounding democracy, internationalism, and environmentalism, as well as activities to support their understanding of the Round Square IDEALS.
The final afternoon was a chance to celebrate the various cultures through the cultural performances. Students were treated to songs and dances from India, Romania, Australia, Germany, Ghana, and Tanzania, among others. Finally, the conference ended with a dance party!
Overall, the connections made among the students and teachers with people from all over the world can never be forgotten or replicated. They learned about new cultures, new languages, and education systems in other countries.
Thank you to Ms. Walsh and Ms. Senf for supervising this trip, and to our wonderful students for their enthusiasm and remarkable representation of Elmwood abroad!
We are looking forward to more Round Square conferences and opportunities in the future!