Knightly News

From cooking lessons in QUEST to a swamp tour and a Pelican’s home game, it was a busy two weeks for the Chilean exchange students. Episcopal students and families were thrilled to welcome the 14 students and two teachers from Colegio Concepcion de San Pedro. This summer, the Knights will complete the exchange during their visit to Chile.

This is the first Chilean exchange since January 2020. Episcopal Global Travel Coordinator Amy Rome says the format is similar to the Spanish exchange, except that the Episcopal students won’t visit Chile until the Episcopal school year is over. She hopes all of the students involved see that they are more alike than they are different. “They have similar interests, hopes, and dreams,” she says. “I hope that they learn that people from other countries are kind and generous, especially when you show that you are traveling for the purpose of learning about another culture.”

Spanish teacher and Chilean native Chantal Castille agrees and can’t wait to join Episcopal students in her home country this summer. “I am originally from the Chilean Patagonia but lived in Concepcion for many years before moving to Louisiana as a teenager,” she says. “I was their age when my family and I relocated to the United States. Words cannot describe how excited and thankful I am to be able to share this experience with our students. I get to share my culture in my classroom every day but it’s especially wonderful to bring our students to these places we learn about and give them the real-life experience of being part of it for two weeks. I pray this trip inspires them and creates a cultural bridge as they navigate both their home culture and the exchange context. I wish to humanize the idea of ‘home’ and show our students how identity evolves over time, the beauty within adaptability, and the importance of resilience as life takes us on journeys we never planned for ourselves. This trip is such a gift.” 

Bravery in Action

When the Chilean students were in Baton Rouge, there were numerous opportunities for students to learn from one another. As Episcopal students and faculty shared landmarks such as the Louisiana State Capitol, LSU’s campus and the New Orleans French Quarter, the Chilean students also shared their culture. Dressed in traditional garments, the exchange students presented La Cueca, the Chilean national dance, and spoke before Episcopal student assemblies. Rome points out that it takes courage to present before your peers, especially given that the Chilean students had varying levels of English proficiency.

“The exchange students have to make themselves vulnerable, knowing they will likely make mistakes, but must trust in the kindness of their audience to overlook small errors,” she says. “The outcome is that the audience gets to learn about the Chilean culture and see bravery in action and hopefully is inspired to engage in a similar exchange or travel experience in the future.”

This summer, Episcopal students, led by Castille and Middle School Dean of Students Stephen Anderson, will visit classes and showcase Louisiana’s rich culture. They will also participate in sports and after-school activities with their host siblings and enjoy afternoons and evenings with their host families. “They will have a front row seat to the way of life in Chile in the safety of a home of highly vetted families who are also invested in learning about our culture from our students,” says Castille. “This is a beautiful experience for all involved, truly.” 

Broadening Perspectives and Becoming Global Citizens

Castille says this exchange is a valuable learning experience. “One of my favorite things about our school is the unique opportunities we offer our students and the genuine support we encounter from those who want to see programs like this grow,” she says. “As a parent and a teacher here at school I have always felt this. I am deeply grateful to have been part of the experience when the Chilean students and their teachers were here. It made me so happy to know they left our school with fond memories, sweet friendships, and with dreams they didn’t know they could have. Seeing them leave at the airport full of hope to one day come back was nothing short of emotional.” 

Castille says experiences like this organically broaden student perspectives and allow them to truly feel like citizens of the world. “Maintaining and strengthening our partnership with Colegio Concepcion de San Pedro will allow our school community to continue to enjoy the unique aspects of traveling in an exchange program,” she says. With preparing students to thrive in a global workforce a key component of the school’s strategic plan, exchanges and travel will continue to be a part of the Episcopal experience for years to come. To learn more about Episcopaltravel opportunities, click here.

The Episcopal School of Baton Rouge 2025-2026 application is now available! ​For more information on the application process, to schedule a tour, or learn more about the private school, contact us at [email protected] or 225-755-2685.