The Sharon Academy

Current Study Abroad Opportunities:

TSA encourages students to take advantage of the many “study abroad” programs offered to them. While some students choose to participate in outside programs like attending the Mountain School of Milton Academy or CityTerm for a semester, TSA particularly sponsors two programs:

1) The Vermont Intercultural Semester (VIS) in which students travel to Ladakh, India for a unique cultural, educational experience (Click HERE for a link to the VIS homepage), and
2) the Network of Complementary Schools which provides students the opportunity to do a brief exchange in the United States without incurring any cost other than travel (Click HERE for a link to the homepage for the Network of Complementary Schools). 

Students studying abroad/domestically in the 2007/2008 academic year are:

• Mookie Kristensen: France
• Khaelin Damm : Ecuador
• Otto Pierce and Duncan Nelson: Ladakh, India (Vermont Intercultural Semester)
• Nina Magini: Lichtenstein
• Danny Moore, Bobby and Brad Farrell: Ski Racing Academy
• Casey Jackson: Emma Willard School in NY, summer: Japan (Network of Complementary Schools)
• Heather Skehan: Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia (Network of Complementary Schools)

Students also have the opportunity to study abroad within their foreign language class. In 2007 alone, French IV students traveled to France for two weeks over their spring break, which included a homestay. Spanish students also had two opportunites to travel either to the Dominican Republic to do community service work or travel to Italy for two weeks of travel during their April break.

France Trip 2007	UK Trip Spring 2008	Service Trip to New Orleans Spring 2008 (Coming Soon)

Foreign Study Policy

The intention of the Board of Trustees is to set a policy that helps to maintain enrollment and financial stability at The Academy while encouraging study abroad for those who maintain good academic standing (B or higher). TSA will accept up to 4 students per semester who will be allowed to participate in an approved foreign study program and will guarantee those accepted a space at TSA upon their return.

A student planning to study abroad is required to notify the Head of School no later than February 1 st of the school year prior to travel. A charge of $500 is required from the family to cover administrative costs. In the event more than 4 students meet the requirement, priority will be established in accordance with the attached procedure.

Foreign Study Procedure

Participating in a foreign exchange program during your high school years is a very exciting and rewarding experience. However, it is not always the right move for every high school student.

Every year, TSA high school students study abroad. Some have gone for one semester, some for a year. Students have to make many decisions concerning high school credits, graduation and college. It is easier to keep up with graduation requirements if a student leaves TSA for a semester. Leaving for a year requires a lot of planning and work. In some cases, students decide not to travel during the school year and participate in summer study programs; others choose to travel between high school and college. It is essential that all TSA students wanting to leave TSA during the school year work closely with TSA to make sure the student's overall high school and college plans are thoroughly analyzed.

All students studying abroad must consider the following information:

I. Students who choose to study abroad may not receive credit at TSA for the school work completed abroad. It will be the decision of TSA whether or not credits can be applied to TSA high school graduation. Credits may be earned by studying abroad in a program sponsored by a specific US accredited school, such as Exeter or TSA's program, "Vermont Intercultural Semesters."

If your program is not accredited, there are several ways to earn credit upon your return to TSA:

• Do an Independent Study presentation centered on your time abroad for ½ - 1 credit.
• If you were in a non-English speaking country, you could receive up to 2 credits for foreign language depending on your proficiency and the amount of time you were away.
• If you were in an English speaking country, attended a school accredited in that country, received report cards and have course descriptions, TSA may be able to accept transferred credit but would attach that school's transcript for college application purposes.

II. Any TSA student wishing to study abroad must follow the TSA procedures listed below.

• Begin your planning at least a year before you plan to travel.
• Look at the TSA four year sequence of classes and note what classes you will be missing when you are not at TSA.
• Contact several colleges that you might be interested in attending and see what their entrance requirements are for math, science, history, etc. See if you will have enough credits to satisfy those requirements. If you will not, make a plan as to how you will make up credits missed while abroad.

Take into consideration the following:

• American History is a course required for graduation and only offered at TSA during 9 th & 10 th grade on a rotating yearly basis. Make sure you have that credit.
• If you will miss a junior or senior exhibition, set a plan to make this up.
• You might miss the SAT or ACT tests while you are gone.
• You might miss important opportunities to plan for college.
• You must have 4 years of English to graduate.
• Many students choose to travel during their junior year. Please note, you may miss all or part of your chemistry class. This is especially important for students interested in pursing science in college.
• Upon your return, if you were in a non-accredited program, you will have quite a bit of work to do to gain your necessary credits.
• TSA will grant permission for four students to participate in foreign study programs per semester and will reserve a space at TSA for these students upon their return. If more than four students meet all foreign study requirements, permission will first be granted by seniority and the remaining students will be chosen by lottery. Students who are not granted permission to study abroad may still do so, but TSA will not commit to reserving a space at TSA upon their return. Students who are not granted permission by seniority or lottery will be considered first the following semester. Students traveling for a year will be accepted for both semesters
• Factor all of the above into a plan and make a timely appointment with the Head of School to approve your plan.

III. Financing your study abroad

• Some programs offer scholarships.
• If you are from a sending town, it is possible that your program abroad will be approved by your town. In that case, your tuition would be forwarded to your program for the amount of time you are gone. You would need to make up the difference. If your town does not pay for study abroad, or will not allow TSA to approve your program, you will need to pay the entire fee.
• TSA will charge $500. to cover administrative costs and save a place for you upon your return.
• TSA offers two semester travel opportunities per year with Vermont Intercultural Semesters ( VIS ), a TSA approved and sponsored international travel/study program. All interested TSA students must apply directly to the program.