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GATEway

Cultural and Academic Enrichment

Through hands-on and experiential education, GATEway prepares our students (our “GATEmates”) to be lifelong learners and true global citizens. The program has taken students on experiences in numerous countries across Europe, South America, the Caribbean and Asia in the past.
GATEway, Global Access to Education, is first and foremost an academic program. It differs from other travel programs because it is designed and executed by educators, for the benefit of students.
As a homegrown program, we offer students the opportunity to earn academic credit in the Upper School for their time abroad. Students can also use their experiences abroad to work toward earning a Global Studies Endorsement on their Miami Country Day School diploma at graduation.

    • Gateway > Cultural and Academic

    • Explore your world!

6
years. 8 Global Learning Experiences.
255 lives changed
95
educational hours on a summer GATEway experience
$135,105
Scholarship awards by private donors since 2017 to support GATEway students
0
programs in the U.S. like GATEway’s 4-week summer academic and cultural program
Our GATEway Jr. students (grades 6-8) participate in cultural seminars during their time abroad, while our Mini GATEmates (grades 3-5) participate in educational and cultural activities right here in Miami.
  • Contact Glen Contact Glen
    “One’s Destination is Never a Place”
    - Henry Miller
     
GLEN TURF Director of Global Studies & International Programs
“The fall of my junior year, I was fortunate to live in Madrid, Spain with my study group from Colgate University. I grew up near New York City, but I was always raised to fear "The Big Apple". While at Colgate, I lived in the shelter of a small town with one stop light in central New York state. When I arrived in Madrid with only the address of my host family’s house, I was forced to do things I had never done before – like use Spanish in a native-speaking environment, hail a cab, use an apartment intercom system, and figure out how to plug my Walkman charger in an outlet that did not look like the ones back home. And that was day one! When I think about what we can do for our students now to prepare them to be global citizens in the future, I am rooted in my own experiences of being a fish out of water. ”
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The Global Experiences That Start at MCDS

Mission Experiences

Students not only learn about other cultures, but also have opportunities to give back to the world.  We look to improve the quality of life of others, while also learning about ourselves.  Currently, MCDS supports the Hogares Nuevo Paraíso (HNP) home for abandoned children outside of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. HNP instills in its residents a sense of citizenship and ethics and we are proud to be a part of this noble global mission. 

Academic Experiences

GATEway is first and foremost an academic program. Students in the Upper School can earn academic credit for their time abroad and our Middle School GATEmates participate in a week-long academic and cultural seminar that enhances their onsite exploration. A GATEway experience entails far more than visiting sites and taking pictures. Instead, it is hands-on and experiential program designed and run by our educators to help students experience firsthand the wonders of the world.  

Student Exchange Programs

GATEway offers a multifaceted approach to helping our students interact with their peers from around the world.  From sister school and partner school exchange programs to facilitating individual study abroad experiences, we encourage our students to see the world, interact with their peers and form lifelong friendships all over the globe.  

Diploma Program

The Upper School offers a pathway to earning a GATEway Global Studies Diploma Endorsement which prepares our graduates to be culturally competent global citizens. To be a part of this prestigious program, students complete five components on world language, travel, community service, curriculum and global project.

Click here to download GATEway Global Studies Endorsement Diploma Program

Adult Language Classes

True Beginner Spanish

This course is designed for true beginners who yearn to be fluent one day. Class participants receive intensive instruction on the basics of Spanish grammar and vocabulary with the goal of preparing for more advanced coursed in the future, as well as everyday conversations here in Miami.

Intermediate Spanish

Intermediate Spanish is a course designed for the individual who has a basic understanding of the Spanish language but needs a refresher. Class participants receive instruction that suits their ability level in preparation for more advanced courses in the future.

The Possibilities GATEway Enables

Register for Life-Changing Exploration

Our variety of courses and experiences within GATEway allow students and even parents to discover different cultures and perspectives and to embrace a global community. Sign up for a language course, exchange program or cultural activity.

Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going

UKIrelandItalyGreeceSpainFranceIcelandFinlandGalapagosPeruHondurasCosta RicaColombiaBermudaDominicanRepublicPuerto RicoArgentinaSouth AfricaCanadaChinaSwitzerland
GATEway will head to the British Isles to immerse ourselves in cultures steeped in tradition, yet living with an eye toward a progressive future. We will explore DUB/LON by dividing our time between quaint Dublin and vibrant London to learn about a part of the world that gave us our language, an array of wonderful writers, theatre and a special relationship that we share to this day.
From history to the arts, and from food to politics, this unique corner of the world will provide our GATEmates with an experience that will last a lifetime. GATEway DUB/LON is open to current MCDS and non-MCDS 9th, 10th and 11th grade students in good standing.
girl listening to the trumpet
boy looking up
girl smiling
red telephone call-box
old house
GATEway Service brings our students to the Nuevo Paraíso orphanage in Honduras where they open up their minds to a new culture and also their hearts. During the six-day life-changing experience, our GATEmates roll up their sleeves and help the Honduran community with projects that make their life just a little bit better.
Students who are interested in hard work and making a difference are encouraged to participate. While earning an estimated 28 hours of community service, the smiles of the children they help will be all the reward they need.
students with children
students with children
students with children
girl making photo
students with children
From the Aurora Borealis to an incredible food scene, natural beauty and some of the most friendly people you’ll ever meet, what’s not to love about Finland?
This incredible opportunity charts a new path for Miami Country Day School - a sister school partnership with The English School of Helsinki. Students can experience life like a Finn! Live with a Finnish family, attend some classes and get to know everything about Helsinki and its surroundings. Plus, take a day trip to Tallinn, Estonia. This is a chance to truly sink your teeth into a culture unlike any other!
old house
old house
old house
Since its first explorations of the 16th century, France has maintained a special relationship with the province in Canada currently known as Québec.
As one of the largest francophone areas outside of France, Québec offers a unique blend of French culture and architecture, mixed with a British flair and influence from its southern neighbor, the United States. With its two major cities of Montréal and Québec City, the region offers travelers the opportunity to feel the cobbled stoned streets of Europe one moment and the hustle and bustle of the New World the next.
group of students in Québec
group of students in Québec
group of students in Québec
group of students in Québec
student in Québec

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601 NE 107th Street | Miami, FL 33161

PH: 305.779.7200 | F: 305.397.0370

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