On April 6, six Academy high school students will be spending the day visiting high school students at The Kansas Kickapoo Tribe Reservation to discuss cultural and religious topics.

Clayton Lucas, MYP Coordinator, recruited juniors Suzanne Galblum, Aron Mandelbaum, Richie Schlozman and Hanna Sorkin and seniors Jill Bratt and Shira Newman to attend the Reservation. These students will act as representatives for our non-denominational Jewish day school.

Lucas believes Academy students will both teach others about Judaism and learn something about Native Americans.

According to Lucas, the purpose of this trip is to “dispel any stereotypes that we might have about Native Americans and to answer any questions that they might have about the Jewish religion and culture.”

After the trip, Academy students will have the opportunity to create one reflective essay about their experiences with the Kickapoo Indian Tribe. This essay will describe their conversations and the conclusions they drew from their time spent together.Lucas will then submit the essay to a magazine compiled and distributed by Teaching Tolerance, a nationwide educational organization that “provides educators with free educational materials that promote respect for differences and appreciation of diversity in the classroom and beyond.” (teachingtolerance.org).

This is not the first time Academy students have had the opportunity to branch out and interact with other religiously affiliated schools in the Kansas City area. In previous years, senior Jill Bratt and juniors Suzanne Galblum and Hanna Sorkin have attended Journey to Understanding, a program aimed to bring together high school students with a variety of religious backgrounds for a day of sharing and learning.

Students who have experienced such programs say they know the educational and personal fulfillments they provide.

“I have experienced Journey to Understanding in the past, so hopefully I can use that experience to help guide me in asking questions and building relationships with these students,” said Galblum, “I have learned so much from Journey to Understanding, and hopefully this trip will just be another time to learn, share, and make friends.”

For half of the students attending, this will be a first time meeting with other students in this type of open dialog. They have never experienced this kind of question and answer forum. Mandelbaum is excited to be a part of this excursion.

“This will be a great opportunity to experience another culture, I am excited to learn how their everyday life is and I am excited to hear any preconceived thoughts they have about us.”

For more information on Teaching Tolerance organization visit www.teachingtolerance.org.