Dozens of students return to campus this fall with new European insights and perspectives—global art, literature and historical influences shaping their learning and future outlook.

Fresh passport stamps and a deeper understanding of European history, art and the two world wars is what Spartans are bringing back to The Hill. This past June, faculty and staff led three educational travel experiences: a United Kingdom Literary Tour, a Theatre Focus trip to London and a World War I and II exploration.

Middle Schoolers Journey Through the UK’s Literary Landscape

26 Middle School students along with four faculty chaperones journeyed across the pond on a United Kingdom Literary Tour of Scotland and England. Cooler temperatures welcomed students to Edinburgh, where they tried traditional haggis, visited the Palace of Holyroodhouse and strolled down Victoria Street — the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley.

After leaving Scotland and traveling by bus through the picturesque countryside, students visited the birthplace of Shakespeare in charming Stratford-Upon-Avon and spent a lovely day exploring the majestic York Minster. Literary connections were also made at the University of Oxford, where students walked the paths and hallways of great authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis and Lewis Carroll.

After arriving in London, the tour hit the theatre, seeing performances in the historic West End (“Les Misérables”) and at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre (“Romeo and Juliet”). 

A short trip to mystical Stonehenge capped off this unforgettable summer adventure.

Theatre Focus Explores London
Theatre Focus Director Lindsay Brustein, Film Instructor Mike Dolan and SSES costume designer residential community member Shane Oberle guided 16 Theatre Focus students through a whirlwind, seven-day theatre immersion in London.

The trip was packed with unforgettable experiences: four spectacular shows — “Romeo and Juliet,” “Cabaret,” “Operation Mincemeat” and “The Play That Goes Wrong” — plus a hands-on acting workshop at the legendary Globe Theatre.

“We try to expose our Theatre Focus students to theatre beyond Austin as much as we can, and this was a special opportunity to explore theatre in one of the best theatre cities in the world,” said Brustein. “It was a blast!”

From Shakespeare to comedy, West End glamour to historic stagecraft, it was a trip that left students inspired and more cultured.

Spartans Retrace the Footsteps of WWI and WWII
In other parts of Europe, a group of St. Stephen’s students in grades 7-11 embarked on a journey that brought the pages of their history textbooks to life. Led by faculty sponsors Charlton Perry, Anna Armentrout and Jin Chung, the 16-day trip took students across Great Britain, France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, immersing them in pivotal moments of the 20th century.

Highlights included standing on the storied beaches of Normandy, where Allied forces landed on D-Day in 1944, and visiting historic sites that illuminated the causes, course and consequences of both world wars. The experience offered a way to connect with the History 11 curriculum, transforming lessons into tangible encounters with the past.

First organized by Perry in 2004, the trip has become a tradition for Spartans, providing countless students with a deeper understanding of the sacrifices, resilience and humanity that shaped modern Europe. For those who walked these historic grounds this summer, the journey was more than a field trip — it was a step into history.

Education Travel Program at St. Stephen’s
St. Stephen’s sponsors educational co-curricular global trips each year. These optional trips consist of fine arts performances, language immersion, varsity sports competitions, service learning and academic enrichment tours. Trips can vary in length between a few days to multiple weeks. Learn more here. 

Members of the St. Stephen’s community can learn about and sign-up for upcoming trips here.