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Internationalism: I


nternationalism has been a hallmark of the Bergen Catholic experience since it became a Middle States goal and a consideration for our accreditation in the mid-2000s. It was at that time that a Middle States


committee was formed to look at ways to increase inter- nationalism in the curriculum and, on May 5, 2006, Bergen Catholic celebrated its inaugural International Day in conjunction with its annual Founders Feast. The initiative to include internationalism in our cur-


riculum gained momentum when Br. Brian M. Walsh, CFC, returned to Bergen Catholic as president in 2009. At that time internationalism, along with technology and leadership, became one of the three flagships upon which Br. Walsh built his Bergen Catholic revolution. Since then, Bergen Catholic has developed several


new programs that aim to emphasize internationalism in our curriculum. Among these is a study-abroad program with one of our fellow Christian Brothers schools in Buenos Aires, Argentina. For the last four years, stu- dents, teachers, and administrators from Bergen Catholic have traveled to Argentina during the summer to experi- ence a two-week, total immersion into Argentinian cul- ture and the Spanish language. Students reside with host families for the duration of their trip, and attend classes at the prestigious Colegio Cardenal Newman, an es- teemed high school in Buenos Aires. Just like Bergen, Colegio provides a rigorous secondary school curriculum and challenges its students to attend top-tier universities. In the fashion of a true student-exchange program, stu- dents from Argentina come every spring to experience the culture of the United States, the English language, and the academic excellence of Bergen Catholic while residing with our host families.


A FLAGSHIP OF A BERGEN CATHOLIC EDUCATION In addition to our Argentina program, Bergen


Catholic students, faculty, and administrators take an an- nual mission trip to Peru to assist the Christian Brothers in their work with the poor. Bergen Catholic students also have the opportunity to participate in a study-abroad pro- gram in China, where they have the opportunity to ex- perience the culture and language of the Far East. Finally, the International Club presents an annual Cul- tures Around the World event—an opportunity for stu- dents and community members to learn about each of the seven continents—which has become a highlight of the Bergen Catholic calendar. Participants hear presen- tations and watch performances related to the many cul- tures of the seven continents while sampling cuisine from around the world. All of these experiences are coordinated with global


initiatives in Bergen Catholic’s curriculum, faculty and administration, and admissions. Each class taught at Bergen is required to address internationalism, and all courses include assessments that target students’ global awareness; faculty and administrators attend periodic trips to Seoul, South Korea, and Beijing, China, for edu- cational development training; and in addition to the wealth of knowledge, international experience, and di- versity embodied in our faculty, nearly 7 percent of our students hail from countries other than the United States. We at Bergen Catholic are mindful of the Christian


Brothers’ goal to prepare students to contribute to the creation of a more just society—a goal we fulfill by pro- viding an education that encourages “advocacy and edu- cation for peace and justice, care for the earth, and global awareness”—and are proud to be at the forefront of the educational movement to integrate internationalism into the student experience.


FALL/WINTER 2014


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