![Grade 8 Network Exchange Program Launches at Newton Country Day]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1780511620/newtoncountrydayorg/jcgbhfcrxagecbpvtc7y/image022.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1780511620/newtoncountrydayorg/jcgbhfcrxagecbpvtc7y/image022.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1780511620/newtoncountrydayorg/jcgbhfcrxagecbpvtc7y/image022.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1780511620/newtoncountrydayorg/jcgbhfcrxagecbpvtc7y/image022.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1780511620/newtoncountrydayorg/jcgbhfcrxagecbpvtc7y/image022.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1780511620/newtoncountrydayorg/jcgbhfcrxagecbpvtc7y/image022.jpg","width":2200}])
Newton Country Day’s new Grade 8 Network Exchange Program is giving students a meaningful first step into independent travel and deeper connection within the Sacred Heart Network. Launched this year as a pilot initiative, the program invites Grade 8 students to spend one week living with a host family at another Sacred Heart Network school and to welcome a visiting student into their home and Newton Country Day in return. The program is designed to help Grade 8 students stretch beyond their comfort zones, experience another Sacred Heart community, grow in confidence as they navigate time away from home, and serve as a stepping stone to the Upper School International Exchange Program. Natasha Jané-Leonardis ‘30 reflected on how the experience expanded her confidence: “Thanks to this program, I had the opportunity to travel to a new place alone for the first time, and even though it was only for a week, it opened my eyes to what to expect from the Upper School Exchange and how I can enjoy it to the fullest.”
The decision to launch this program was inspired in part by hosting a Grade 8 student from the Sacred Heart School of Halifax last year, demonstrating how powerful these exchanges can be. The inaugural program is spearheaded by Assistant Head of Middle School, Catherine Barber and Associate Head of School Nicki Noel, with support from World Languages Faculty Lily Kumi. Together, they designed a small, intentional model that prioritizes student readiness, strong partnerships, and meaningful experiences. In its first year, ten participants were selected through an application process. The ten students selected this year were assigned to exchanges in pairs, allowing them to share the experience with a classmate while still embracing the independence the program is designed to cultivate.
Newton Country Day partnered with schools this year that already had an existing Exchange program, or were eager to start one. The 2026 partner schools include:
- Academy of the Sacred Heart (New Orleans, LA)
- Villa Duchesne (St. Louis, MO)
- Sacred Heart Greenwich (Greenwich, CT)
- Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart (Bethesda, MD)
- Sacred Heart School of Halifax (Halifax, Nova Scotia)
The program is designed to help students grow in two directions: as travelers and as hosts. When visiting another school, students immerse themselves in that environment, navigate new routines, and experience how the Sacred Heart Goals are lived out in a different community. Lucy Cannata ’30 shared, “I enjoyed attending and exploring a new Sacred Heart school and meeting new people. I loved learning about new teachers’ teaching styles and seeing the differences and similarities in our campuses.”
As hosts, students practice hospitality, communication, and leadership skills as they help make their guests feel at home and introduce them to life in the Boston area. Charlie Mitchell ‘30 reflected on her friendship with her Exchange sister: “The bond I created with her was so special. Whether it was sitting together in class or exploring each other’s cities, we had the best time.” Reyna Bekarian ‘30 had similar sentiments: “I will always remember when I first met her. She ran out of the car, as did I, and immediately went into a hug like we’ve done it one hundred times before. After that moment, I knew we were going to be great friends.”
The pilot year of the Grade 8 Network Exchange demonstrates what makes a Sacred Heart education unique. As the program continues to grow, it will further strengthen relationships across Sacred Heart communities while preparing students to build independence and confidence through meaningful experiences away from home.