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Alternate Break/Immersions
Immersion experiences, both local and global, are designed to help students see the world with new eyes, to recognize unjust suffering of marginalized communities and to allow those experiences to inform their college and career choices.
Students on immersions and alternative breaks have traveled to Costa Rica and Tonga, among others. Each experience has staff, faculty and student leaders who receive pre-launch training. Details regarding applications, deadlines and destinations are below.
All immersions embed principles of social justice, civic engagement and celebrating diversity, as well as substantial reflection. In addition, All experiences have pre-immersion meetings and a post-immersion gathering on-campus in the SLC.
Immersion Locations
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Immersion Locationstitle
Arizona/Mexico Border
POSTPONED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
BorderLinks: Arizona/Mexico Border
Dates: June 8 - 13, 2022 (6 days, 5 nights) Due to COVID 19 Restrictions this immersion has been put on hold.
Cost: Approx. $1,100 + flight to Tucson, financial need grants possible
Group size: 10 students, 2-3 chaperones
Description: BorderLinks has been facilitating educational immersion trips for delegations in the Arizona-Sonora region and beyond the border to Chiapas. On this immersion, students will become intimately aware of challenges of immigration and how policies, borders and trade agreements impact people and by raising awareness, inspiring action for social transformation.
Cost: Approx. $1,100 + flight to Tucson, financial need grants possible
Group size: 10 students, 2-3 chaperones
Description: BorderLinks has been facilitating educational immersion trips for delegations in the Arizona-Sonora region and beyond the border to Chiapas. On this immersion, students will become intimately aware of challenges of immigration and how policies, borders and trade agreements impact people and by raising awareness, inspiring action for social transformation.
Note: Spanish not required, but certainly a plus.
For more information, visit borderlinks.org
East Palo Alto
East Palo Alto: Black History and Politics
Dates: Upcoming (2021)
Cost: Free*
Group size: 15 to 30 students
Description: We will explore the history East Palo Alto and the city's legacy of Black community activism. Teachers will use the documentary, Dreams of a City: Creating East Palo Alto as a springboard to contextualize the area's rich history of social activism and to connect to current activism in the city today.
San Francisco
Faithful Fools: San Francisco Tenderloin
Dates: TBD 2022 (1 to 3 days) Postponed during Covid
Cost: $50 per day, financial need grants available
Group size: 10 students, 2-3 chaperones
Description: Street Retreats are foundational. We introduce and teach students to be present in the Tenderloin Neighborhood. So many places around the world carry a similar burden. We project onto the people and streets myths about poverty and all that goes with it and by having conversations with those in our community, we begin to make meaningful change in hearts and minds.
Cost: $50 per day, financial need grants available
Group size: 10 students, 2-3 chaperones
Description: Street Retreats are foundational. We introduce and teach students to be present in the Tenderloin Neighborhood. So many places around the world carry a similar burden. We project onto the people and streets myths about poverty and all that goes with it and by having conversations with those in our community, we begin to make meaningful change in hearts and minds.
For more information, visit faithfulfools.org
Application Process
Immersions are open to all students and all grade levels. However, summer immersions are not available to seniors that have just graduated.
Apply here: forms.gle/tBixusTy8HoM8Cni6
Teacher, Staff or Parent and want to attend as an Immersion Leader? Reach out to us in the SLC in P-5.
Application Timeline
- To apply for M-A Immersions, you will use a single online application and rank your preferences on level of interest
- All applications will require signed parental consent (form available to print on online application) and are due in the SLC (P-5) before the deadline
- Trip payment will be done in two equal installments before the trip unless another arrangement has been discussed
- Trips costs do not include cost of airfare (Arizona/Mexico), train (San Francisco)
- Grants to partially or fully cover cost of attendance are available (including airfare, train, bus, etc.) and can be indicated on the application
- There will be one or two pre-departure meetings and one or two post-immersion meetings held in the SLC
- The deadline for submission will always be the first Monday of December beginning in 2021.
- 2021-22: December 6, 2021
- 2022-23: December 5, 2022