Case Study: Round Square Exchanges, Fountain Valley School, USA

Fountain Valley School of Colorado, USA, runs a carefully curated Round Square exchange programme, sending and hosting four to five students each year. Partnerships span Australia, South Africa, France, Germany, and South America, giving students the opportunity to experience life, learning, and culture in different parts of the world.

For Simon Walker, who oversees Round Square at Fountain Valley, the success of any exchange begins long before students travel. It rests on trust built slowly and deliberately with partner schools across Australia, South Africa, France, Germany, and South America.

“I work with admissions, the academic office, the residential office, the athletic office,” he says. “The first thing is making the matches – that takes trust and relationships that build over years.”

That trust is what enables Fountain Valley to do things differently. Incoming exchange students are not required to shadow a host partner through the school day. Instead, they work with the school to create independent academic schedules, choosing classes that reflect their interests and strengths, allowing them to fully engage in classes and activities.

Exchange students live in boarding houses, join sports teams, and take part in everyday routines. Integration happens quickly.

“The two Australians and the South African student from St. Cyprian’s have been here for a week. They just sat on the couch hanging out as if they’ve been here the whole time. It’s home away from home,” says Simon.

Visiting students integrate seamlessly into the school community. In classes, they bring fresh perspectives that enrich discussions and challenge local students to think differently. For example, an Australian student applied her experiences with Aboriginal populations to a paper on the American West, giving classmates a new lens on history and identity.

Outbound students also experience deep immersion in their host communities. Simon notes:

“Our students living in France with families, navigating the metro, attending school every day… it’s mind-blowing for them. They return more motivated, engaged, and independent. “The French students were already really engaged, but the ones who did the exchange were just on another level. Two of them actually spent the summer in Paris with their exchange partner, completely independently of the school.”

The institutional framework creates the conditions, but the relationships sustain themselves.

Alumni experiences underline this long-term impact. Braulio Valenzuela remembers arriving on exchange feeling nervous, unsure how he would adapt academically and socially. Rather than retreating, he chose to explore, both internally and externally.

“I was nervous, but I took it as an opportunity to try new things. I took a geography class, which isn’t standard in the US. I pushed myself socially as well.”

What mattered most was encountering the reality of another country beyond textbooks or second-hand narratives.

“Seeing it in person, not just hearing about it or learning about it, but actually talking to people, faculty and families who had lived there their whole lives, and hearing their personal experiences. I found that incredibly valuable.”

That experience shaped Braulio’s academic direction. He is now studying international relations, a choice he traces directly back to the exchange and the global perspective it gave.

For current students, the impact is just as personal. Sydney describes how boarding life during her exchange pushed her beyond her comfort zone and reshaped how she learns.

“The house I stayed in gave me the chance to interact with people from all over, not just in my classes. The girls I lived with became my best friends. It pushed me to try new things, even when I was scared.”

She also noticed a shift in her relationship with learning. “Classes were more hands-on than anything I’d done before. It gave me a new perspective on asking for help and engaging properly in class.”

Alongside academic growth came cultural immersion: new food, new landscapes, new routines, and friendships formed 10,000 miles from home. “Don’t be afraid. Everyone is just as excited to meet you as you are to meet them,” she says.

For Simon, the complexity is worth it.

“Don’t wait. Dive in. Build relationships with other adults. Make sure you’re legally and logistically covered. It’s a lot of moving parts, but it’s fantastic. It’s absolutely worth it.”

At Fountain Valley School, Round Square exchanges are not about travel for its own sake. They are about trust, independence, and lived experience. By giving students real responsibility in unfamiliar settings, the programme develops confidence, empathy, and global awareness that endure long after the exchange ends — and often long after school itself.

Three things to consider about exchanges with Round Square schools:

Step 1: Build relationships early

• Start by connecting with trusted Round Square partner schools.
• Develop personal relationships with the staff responsible for exchanges; trust is earned over years.
• Understand their culture, expectations, and operational style.

Step 2: Plan logistics carefully

• Identify the students who will participate, ensuring academic readiness and social adaptability.
• Map out visa requirements, insurance, travel, and accommodations.
• Coordinate internally: admissions, academic office, residential life, and extracurricular teams.

Step 3: Empower student autonomy

• Allow incoming students to create their own schedules rather than just shadowing hosts.
• Encourage outbound students to engage fully with host families, classes, and activities.
• Facilitate opportunities for students to continue relationships independently after the exchange.

Step 4: Encourage students to say “yes”

• Cultivate a mindset of openness: encourage students to take on every opportunity, even if it feels unfamiliar or challenging.
• Support students in trying new classes, activities, or cultural experiences outside their comfort zone.
• Emphasise reflection: learning comes not only from success but also from navigating uncertainty.