Students From Notre Dame Get First-Hand International Education

Six Notre Dame Prep students returned last week from a nine-day trip to Costa Rica designed to bring a global perspective to the school's international curriculum. The NDP students, who traveled with two other high-school groups from Washington, Illinois and Philadelphia, included sophomores Mina Kambakhsh, Alexis Lawroski, Katherine Nachazel and Marshall Weimer, junior Joseph Hanna and senior Gus Guthrie. International Baccalaureate coordinator Brenda Kambakhsh accompanied the group on the trip, which was organized by EF (Education First) Tours.

 

Notre Dame Prep student Joseph Hanna is with students in Escuela Agua Azul in Costa Rica.

The group spent time in San Jose, which is the capital of Costa Rica, and several national parks and regions, where they hiked, kayaked, zip-lined above the cloud forest, swam beneath the La Fortuna waterfall along the Pacific coastline and in natural hot springs. They planted trees in a bio zone, viewed howler monkeys, toucans, sloths and a variety of flora and fauna while learning about biodiversity and ecotourism. 

 

The group also visited a rural school in Costa Rica where they donated school supplies and sports equipment to needy students.

 

“I really enjoyed learning about Costa Rican culture and traveling to a country I knew so little about," student Nachazel said. "My favorite part of the trip was zip-lining! I also enjoyed swimming in the hot springs and in the waterfall, and kayaking. Every part of the trip was both educational and adventurous.”

 

No word yet on another trip for next summer, but Kambakhsh says, "stay tuned!"

 

More information on Education First Tours available at eftours.com.

 

Follow Notre Dame at @NDPMA.

 

About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy

Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.