By Andreas Katsis

Since last spring, Menlo has set forth an initiative to spread the school’s influence abroad.  So far, Menlo has made connections with sister schools in China, Taiwan, England, Australia, Switzerland, and Botswana.  A central part of this initiative is to facilitate the foreign exchange program.  The program is envisioned for Menlo to welcome not only foreign students but also to send its own students abroad.

Last year, Menlo interviewed a group of in-house candidates for the position of Global Programs and Studies Coordinator, and history teacher Peter Brown was awarded with the job.  His new job, to “investigate and implement new ways to connect Menlo students with the wider world,” according to Brown, started this fall.

Brown hopes that within “the next few years, more of our students will be engaging in foreign exchanges.” The faculty has also been affected by the unique initiative.  This past summer, Mandarin teacher Mingjung Chen traveled to Taiwan to teach south Asian students a unit on earth science, designed by middle school science teacher Tammy Cook.  Both the middle school and high school are working together to form a more global Menlo community.  Brown believes that Menlo School is viewed very positively around the world. “It’s a testament to Menlo that other schools seek to replicate its environment and culture,” he said. “What impresses others most is our students’ records of achievement in academics, arts, and sports, as well as their attitudes.”

It is clear however, that this program is just getting started.  Foreign exchange student Duncan He, from China said, “I knew I wanted to come to the United States, and Menlo was one option my school gave me.”  Menlo is still not very well known in many other high schools around the world.  The entire exchange process to and from Menlo is still growing to include more schools in many different countries.  In addition, the new freshman class was not aware of Menlo’s global initiative during their admission process.  Freshman Chris Xi said “I don’t have any interest in studying abroad.”  The program is still in its first year and hopes that interest will grow.  Despite this, the GPS program, headed by Brown, is on the path towards a popular and efficient exchange program.  This is partly done by connecting with more and more new sister-schools abroad.

Menlo’s new relationships with schools abroad has “laid the foundations for what we hope will be continuing and growing relationships with schools abroad,” Brown said.  The global and studies program is on the path of growth, changing how Menlo students view other schools beyond the Bay Area. Already, there has been a spike of foreign exchange interest.  There is no telling to what extent Peter Brown and his GPS program will go, forever changing Menlo into a global, international community.