20 March 2026
Mrs Alison Alder, Sacred Heart Exchange Coordinator
In the last couple of weeks, Woldingham has welcomed two students from sister Sacred Heart schools overseas - Isabelle from Duchesne Academy in Houston in the USA and Yuiko from The International School of the Sacred Heart in Tokyo, the respective exchange partners of Year 10 students Rosie and Lexi. The girls were delighted to be reunited on this reciprocal stage of our Sacred Heart Exchange Programme, which saw Rosie travel to Texas and Lexi to Tokyo in the October half term break.
All four girls have enjoyed experiencing a different culture, as well as discovering the similarities and differences between their schools. They’ve all impressed teachers with their enthusiasm and willingness to participate in lessons, as well as extra-curricular clubs.
Isabelle and Yuiko have visited some of the London’s world-famous attractions, whilst a highlight of Lexi’s trip to Tokyo was taking part in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, and for Rosie, watching the Houston Rockets basketball team play at home.
As the exchanges conclude, it is clear that strong friendships have been formed and the girls have made some incredible, unforgettable memories, as well as gaining a greater understanding of cultural diversity and the importance of global connections, especially within our unique Sacred Heart Network.
We look forward to making this special opportunity available to more of our students as we launch the Sacred Heart Exchange programme for the 2026-2027 academic year to Year 9 next month.