Home and Abroad

This past year, as Upper School students embarked on their annual character trips, the deeply rooted past and the future merged as alumni met students in the field to exchange shared experiences, values, and a wealth of support. 

Duffle bags line the halls of Principia School on Sunday afternoons as students preparing for this year’s Simunye service trip spend hours categorizing, packing, and sorting the voluminous mountain of donated clothes they’ll bring to kids in South Africa.  

Students embark on a weekend getaway where fresh powder, pizza, and an indoor pool set the stage for their annual ski trip to Chestnut Mountain Resort in Illinois.

In a world where classrooms often mean desks and textbooks, Principia School takes education to new heights—literally—with a trip to Yellowstone National Park.

For over 125 years, international students have been a vital part of the Principia community, starting with our first Australian student in 1899.

Principia School's senior class eagerly anticipates their upcoming Senior Retreat where they’ll journey—without their phones—to the Leelanau Outdoor Center.

At this year's fourth annual Lower School Festival of Cultures, students explored cultures ranging from Bosnia to Taiwan.

At Principia, field trips are not uncommon, but this one was special. In October, Principia middle schoolers and 18 upper schoolers embarked on an eye-opening journey to Memphis, Tennessee. 

Principia Upper Schoolers spent 15 days exploring Israel’s biblical landmarks. Led by Bible teacher Evan MacDonald, the pilgrimage included Mount Nebo in Jordan, Petra, Galilee, Mount Humon, Jerusalem’s Old City, and Bethlehem.

It may sound surprising that a group of teenagers opted to spend their spring break in school, but practicing your Spanish skills at the Maravillas International Program in Málaga, Spain, isn’t such a bad gig. 

On a recent Sunday night, nine Principia Upper School students celebrated the Lunar New Year in a private karaoke room in New York City’s Chinatown district, belting out tunes in Mandarin Chinese. 

Travel has always been a powerful teaching tool at Principia. Service trips, in particular, can have a lasting impact on students. After the sophomore trip to the Dominican Republic, for example, upper schoolers reflect on their week of service to the residents of the island and how they—even as high school students—can make a positive difference in the lives of people around the world.

Each fall, Upper School students embark on Character Trips to grow, explore, and build community. This year, sophomores combined adventure with service, helping construct four homes in the Dominican Republic.

Upper Schoolers spent a week in September on four different character trips—one for each grade level—whitewater rafting, building houses in the Dominican Republic, living on and crewing pulling boats along the Maine Coast, and exploring leadership in Northern Michigan. Enjoy this brief video compilation from all four trips.

During spring break, Upper School students took Principia learning abroad to Israel and South Africa. Advanced Bible Seminar students explored the Holy Land, while juniors and seniors joined a service trip with The Simunye Project. Both trips offered new learning experiences and opportunities to make an impact.