One of our most important objectives in the Upper School is to bring knowledge and understanding of the world to our students. What an active week we have had in that regard! First and foremost, we welcomed five students from Hutcheson's Grammar School in Glasgow, Scotland, as part of our exchange program.  These students (three girls, two boys) will be spending two weeks in the homes of five of our juniors and their families, enjoying CA and the Denver metro area. In return, our students will go to Glasgow to spend two+ weeks at "Hutchies" at the end of February. Last Friday, we also enjoyed a visit from Zimbabwean drummer and musician Patience Munjeri. English teacher Betsey Coleman made a connection with this performer last summer and then brought her to campus to work with multiple age groups throughout the day, including a performance for our freshman class, which had just completed a unit on African folk tales. Next, we welcomed Agnes Igoye, who works for the Ugandan Ministry of Internal Affairs as an expert on the global problem of human trafficking. We learned about Ms. Igoye through senior Isabelle Fries, who spent time in Uganda this summer working with the Global Livingston Institute. A survivor of civil war herself, Igoye has started several programs, including the Huts for Peace Program, which helps women in Northern Uganda who have been displaced due to civil conflict in that country. 
Journalist Sonia Nazario, best known for her non-fiction book Enrique's Journey, is an expert on immigration, specifically in the US, and has also written on several other social issues, including drug addiction and child poverty for the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. On Wednesday she spoke first to 9th graders who had read portions of her book, and then to a full Upper School assembly.  That evening she presented as part of our acclaimed SPEAK series in an event that was open to the public. That same day, Dr. Mike Davis welcomed U.S. Army Special Forces Captain Patrick Higgins to the "War on Terror" class.  Higgins, son of former CA college counseling office assistant Sally Higgins and brother of current admission office assistant Paige Siemers, described his three tours of duty in Afghanistan and his extensive training both at home and abroad. He shared with students a photo of his Green Beret team with whom he worked during his most recent tour.
Quite a week for bringing the world to the students!