Global education opportunities are powerful learning tools that surround a student with a particular culture and intense experience. Through local, national and international immersion experiences, students will be empowered to work effectively with diverse populations in a variety of settings to build global perspective, cultural competency and cultural fluency.
Why Global Education at NDSJ?
St. Julie Billiart and the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur model a commitment to education for life. Notre Dame women have “hearts as wide as the world.”
Immersion is a powerful learning tool that surrounds a person with a particular culture and intense experience. It develops human relationships and creates understandings of stewardship, solidarity, relationship, and compassion between individuals, communities, and nature. Immersion moves people to confront essential questions of peace and justice, freedom, the human condition in our world.
Global Education Program Components
- Education - Learn about different facets of a community (social, political, cultural, etc.)
- Community - Develop relationships with students, adults and members of the community.
- Reflection - Reflect and discern personal discoveries about self, others, and God.
- Action - Challenge self to live simply, stretch beyond comfort zones, see things previously invisible, and value each person.
- Witness - Witness and advocate for justice and social change.
2018-19 NDSJ Global Education Opportunites
Students have the opportunity to experience culture, service, and language through a variety of unique local, national and global trip offerings. From rebuilding neighborhoods and snacking on beignets in New Orleans to serving the underprivileged while learning about the Tenderloin's storied history in San Francisco, there is a trip for everyone. Detailed information about all of 2018-19's trips can be found here, or click the links below to learn more about each individual offering. Note that at this time financial assistance is available only for justice immersion travel.
| Trip Name |
Location |
Grade Levels | Approximate Trip Fees |
Date |
| Justice Immersion | ||||
| Urban Plunge: San Francisco/Tenderloin | San Francisco, California | All Grades | $350 | April 18-20, 2019 |
| Central Coast Plunge: From the Grasslands to the Fisheries | Santa Cruz, California | All Grades | $450 |
October 25-27, 2018 |
| Urban Plunge: New Orleans, LA |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
Juniors Seniors |
$1,400 | April 20-26, 2019 |
| Neighborhood Plunge: San Jose - Women Facing Poverty | Downtown San Jose, California | Freshmen only | $35 | Jan. or Feb. 2019 TBA |
|
Urban Plunge: East Los Angeles - |
Los Angeles, California | All Grades | $450 |
January 17-19, 2019 |
| Sisters in El Salvador | Yancolo, Morazan and San Salvador, El Salvador |
Sophomores |
$2,400 |
June 15-23, 2019 |
|
CULTURAL/LANGUAGE OPPORTUNITIES |
Contact | |||
|
Japan |
TBD |
|||
| London Theater | hilaryorr@ndsj.org
|
$4,700 | June, 2019 | |
| Costa Rica | bnielsen@ndsj.org | $2,800 | August, 2019 | |
|
LEADERSHIP IMMERSION OPPORTUNITIES |
||||
| Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice | Washington DC | Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors | $1,500 | October 31-Nov 5, 2018 |
Alternative Immersion Trips
Though not endorsed by or connected to Notre Dame High School, we have had students report good experiences with these organizations:
- Santa Clara Valley Amigos: a community program that offers immersion experiences that are not connected to the Notre Dame Immersion Program.
- Rustic Pathways: "We empower students through innovative and responsible travel experiences to positively impact lives and communities around the world."
The online application for the 2018-19 school year is available here.
Please note that financial assistance is available only for justice immersion trips.
This application is for justice immersion trip applicants only. Students interested in other travel opportunities must contact the faculty member. If you have additoinal questions, please email John Bracco at jbracco@ndsj.org.
Please fill out and submit the online application and, if desired, the request for financial aid. Students are encouraged to apply for their top two or three choices to increase chances of placement on a trip. Every effort will be made to place students in their first choice but space is limited. Applications are due by Friday, August 31, 2018. Trips fill up quickly, so submit your application as soon as possible to increase your chance of being placed in your first choice trip. Justice Immersion placements will be announced in early September.
The Global Education team reviews all applications to determine trip placement. Special consideration will be given to first time participants, especially Seniors. A lottery system will be used to determine trip placements when interest exceeds trip capacity.
Eligible students not placed on a trip will be placed on a wait list. Global Education will continue to accept applications as space allows.
If you have questions, please E-mail John Bracco at jbracco@ndsj.org.
Once you have received notification of placement on a justice immersion trip, you must confirm your acceptance within one week to guarantee your spot.
To confirm your placement, please complete all three of the following steps.
- READ the justice immersion policy and procedure information provided with your acceptance.
- Fill out and SUBMIT the online registration form. Registration forms will not be considered until they are complete.
- Arrange for payment. Payment for Justice Immersion trips will be automatically deducted through your FACTs account at the time of registration. Checks are no longer accepted, unless special arrangements are made with the Business Office. No money will be accepted in the Campus Ministry Office. Families registering before the 23rd of the month will have the registration fee deducted through their FACTS account on the 1st of the following month. Payments can be made in one or three payments. The Business Office will contact families who do not have a FACTS account to set up a payment method. Registration is not complete until payment has been made. Also, please note: $150 of the initial payment will be held as a non-refundable deposit towards holding your spot on the trip.
Registration is complete only when all three steps are finished. Students who do not confirm placement within one week are at risk of losing their placement. If you are unable to accept placement for any reason, please inform the Global Education team as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to another student.
If you have questions, please E-mail John Bracco at jbracco@ndsj.org.
Costs are designed to cover the full experience— transportation, housing, meals, trip leaders and any additional program costs. The costs are reflective of “simple living” and cover basic living needs. Financial aid is available, depending on need. Financial aid request information is included at the end of the application form.
Payment arrangements will be set up once a student registers for the Justice Immersion trip on which she has been placed.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding justice immersion applications, please contact John Bracco via E-mail at jbracco@ndsj.org.
Students are expected to have open hearts, minds and hands to the FULL process and experience, including simple living, reflection and prayer. Each student must be in good standing and up-to-date with all academic, service and discipline obligations. Each student must attend all pre-trip meetings and complete paperwork by set deadlines. All immersion students will participate in the Solidarity Dinner, as well as post-trip advocacy and witness activities. If you have questions, please E-mail John Bracco at jbracco@ndsj.org.
Parents should be willing to support their daughter with prayer and encouragement and must be willing to make the financial commitment, and/or request supplemental financial aid for their daughter's trip. Parents must complete paperwork by set deadlines and support and attend the Solidarity Dinner. If you have questions, please E-mail John Bracco at jbracco@ndsj.org.