Verto Fall ’25 November Newsletter

Academic Updates:

In Buenos Aires this month, our students have embraced rich, immersive learning experiences that blend the classroom with the city. In Introduction to Psychology, students visited the Parque de la Memoria (Memorial Park) to explore how PTSD develops and how collective trauma can shape an entire nation’s history. This field trip deepened their understanding of memory, resilience, and the long‑term impacts of political violence.

The Diversity & Social Justice class traveled to the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), where they observed their professor in action and engaged in dialogue with first‑year Argentine students. This authentic cultural and academic exchange brought social justice themes to life within a different educational context.

In Environmental Science, students launched their unit on Mitigation & Adaptation to Climate Change and began designing their own Climate Response Plans. A visit to the Facultad de Agronomía de la UBA’s Botanical Garden offered firsthand insight into local biodiversity and sustainable environmental practices.

In Food & Cuisine, the class explored the “Políticas del Sabor” (Politics of Flavor) exhibition at the Centro Cultural Recoleta, examining how flavor, memory, and tradition shape culinary identity. As part of this module, students will be joined by the exhibit’s curator, Larisa Zmud, for a guest lecture and deeper discussion on food as political expression.

In Seminar in Academic Writing, students visited the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires (MALBA) during a unit on writing about place and art. The week prior, they completed their “Neighborhood Narrative,” a 3–4-page piece blending field notes, research, and reflection as they captured the spirit of a Buenos Aires neighborhood.

Supporting these academic experiences, we continue to offer peer tutoring across a variety of subjects and provide additional math help via our headquarters team. Last week’s workshop helped students create personalized study plans and complete remaining assignments ahead of finals. Students are also meeting regularly with Maia to discuss post‑Verto pathways—including continuing for a second semester, exploring partner schools, or planning other next steps.

Student Life Updates:

November has been full of fun, connection, and celebration in Buenos Aires. Students traveled to Colonia, Uruguay, for a day trip. Despite the rainy weather, they enjoyed a scenic ferry ride, guided walking tour, and lunch together.

The Care Team Competition wrapped up this month with an incredibly close race. Students earned points by participating in clubs, Verto events, and Spirit Week activities. Care Team Yellow, led by SSA Miguel, took the crown and celebrated with a high-energy drum performance.

Our Verto’s Got Talent show brought out nearly 90 students, with over 12 standout performances. The atmosphere was supportive and electric, with students cheering on their peers’ creativity and courage.

Presidential Scholar Gavin hosted a well-attended picnic at Las Heras Park, where students enjoyed a potluck-style spread, slacklining, volleyball, football, and a friendly game of capture the flag.

Looking ahead to Thanksgiving, our Dessert Social on November 27 will offer a sweet way for students to feel at home. We’ll serve a mix of American and Argentine treats to mark the occasion.

To close out the semester, we’ve planned a thoughtful ceremony in the same beautiful library where the semester began. Students will receive certificates, celebrate achievements, and head back to the Study Center for food, yearbook signing, and a photo booth.

Academic Updates:

As the semester nears its close, our students in Florence have remained deeply engaged in their studies while continuing to connect with the cultural richness of their surroundings. In Introduction to Comparative Politics, students visited the Archivio di Stato di Firenze, where expert archivists guided them through centuries-old civic documents—including the original birth certificate of renowned opera composer Giacomo Puccini. It was a powerful reminder of Florence’s enduring impact on global culture and history.

In Studio Art, students explored the expressive power of color. Through hands-on sessions with acrylic paints, they experimented with blending, tonal value, and pigment mixing to develop custom palettes and visual language. The activity encouraged creative risk-taking and personal expression.

Students in International Relations gained a new perspective on diplomacy and peacekeeping through a visit to the Istituto Geografico Militare. There, they explored how national borders are mapped and maintained, and how geographic tools play a key role in international collaboration.

These past few weeks have been filled with discovery, creativity, and meaningful connections between coursework and the world around us. As finals approach, our Florence team is fully committed to supporting students as they wrap up this transformative semester.

Student Life Updates:

From the Tuscan countryside to Rome, recent weeks have been full of community and celebration in Florence.

Students spent a day at the beautiful Farm of Maiano with their Care Teams for a peaceful, tech-free olive-picking experience. They learned how olive oil is produced, participated in a tasting, enjoyed a farmhouse lunch, and spent time exploring the grounds and visiting animals.

For Halloween, students got into the spooky spirit by carving and painting pumpkins at a local spot, while the Verto Center was fully decked out in festive decorations. Care Teams also gathered for their monthly pizza lunches, taking time to unwind and reconnect before finals.

A big congratulations to Care Team Red, who won the semester-long competition and celebrated with a special brunch and outing in Rome!

Looking ahead, we’re wrapping up with a few meaningful celebrations. Students will enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner at a local Florentine restaurant, followed by our Final Care Team Lunch featuring Pino’s sandwiches—a beloved local favorite. At our Farewell Event, students will receive certificates, small keepsakes, and the letters they wrote to their future selves back in Week One. Faculty and staff will join in the celebration as we reflect on a semester of growth, learning, and unforgettable memories.

Academic Updates:

As we enter the final stretch of the semester, we’re proud to reflect on everything our students have accomplished. Since September, they’ve taken part in over 200 experiential learning activities—exploring everything from the Natural History Museum’s world-renowned collections to the colorful street art and social commentary of Shoreditch. These hands-on experiences have brought coursework to life in new and engaging ways.

Our academic support systems have also been in full swing. With more than 200 tutoring appointments completed, students have shown incredible commitment to their learning. One-on-one coaching and small group study sessions are underway to help everyone finish the semester strong.

Final exams are just around the corner, and we’re excited to celebrate the incredible growth our students have shown—both inside and outside the classroom.

Student Life Updates:

The holiday season has arrived in London, and with it, a festive spirit has taken over the Study Centre. For many students, this is their first time experiencing a London winter, and despite the chilly temperatures, the city has felt warm and welcoming.

Students have been embracing the season through outings like ice skating at Somerset House, exploring Hyde Park’s magical Winter Wonderland, and wandering through the dazzling light displays at Christmas at Kew. These moments of joy and connection have been the perfect way to close out the semester.

A highlight throughout November was Verto’s Pub Quiz Nights, hosted weekly by our London staff—always a fun way to bring everyone together, test knowledge, and share laughs.

Coming up, Assistant Student Success Manager Mili will lead the final College Level Up workshop of the semester, giving students a last opportunity to boost their academic habits and earn extra credit.

We’ll wrap things up with our Farewell Party at Battersea Power Station on Wednesday, November 27. This final gathering will celebrate student achievements, hand out awards, and give students the chance to reflect and say goodbye before heading home.

Our London team couldn’t be prouder of this cohort. Their curiosity, resilience, and sense of adventure have made this semester unforgettable.

Academic Updates:

It’s hard to believe the semester is nearly over! As students begin final essays, projects, and presentations, we’re taking a moment to celebrate one of the most powerful elements of the Verto academic model: experiential learning. At Verto, we believe students learn best by doing—and our faculty makes Prague an extension of the classroom.

This semester, students participated in 141 experiential learning activities, heard from 53 guest speakers, and took part in 25 workshops. They visited galleries and museums to connect art, history, sociology, and philosophy; explored geological specimens at the National Museum; and learned how perception can be tricked at the Museum of Senses. Classes took walking tours to retrace the Velvet Revolution, examine medieval and baroque architecture, and explore themes of urban anthropology. One group even traveled outside the city to tour the Škoda car factory in Mladá Boleslav.

Workshops deepened the experience, offering everything from public speaking practice to stress management tools, career exploration, and insight into Jewish life in pre-war Prague. As the semester wraps up, these immersive learning opportunities have left a lasting impact—and we’re excited to offer even more in the future.

Student Life Updates:

The final weeks in Prague have been full of unforgettable moments—blending learning, cultural immersion, and celebration. Students spent a night at the State Opera watching Le Nozze di Figaro, cheered on a Praha hockey win amid roaring fans, and explored the historic town of Kutná Hora, including its striking Bone Church.

On campus, the community embraced the season. The Study Center transformed with Halloween decorations and now glows with festive holiday lights. Students joined in on Spirit Week, a ping pong tournament, and a unique tech-free scavenger hunt across the city—experiencing Prague in a new way, free from screens.

To close out the semester, we’re hosting a Re-Entry Circle to support students with their transition home, a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, final Care Team meals, and a Farewell Ceremony to celebrate students’ growth, leadership, and community engagement.

As departure day approaches, we’re incredibly proud of how much our students have accomplished—and already feeling the bittersweet reality of saying goodbye.

Academic Updates:

The past few weeks at Verto Seville have been filled with meaningful academic activities that continue to deepen and enrich students’ learning experiences. We recently held our Partner Summit, which showcased the dedication of our faculty, the creativity within our classrooms, and the strong engagement of our students. The summit offered university partners a behind-the-scenes look at how instruction in Seville incorporates Experiential Learning and connects coursework to the local community.

During the event, faculty members Dimitra Aivazoglou (English Academic Inquiry) and David Becerra (Math & Physics) presented thoughtful strategies for supporting students during times of uncertainty and in an age of rapidly evolving AI tools. Students also participated in a Student Experience Panel, where they shared powerful reflections on their academic and personal journeys in Seville. They spoke about cultural immersion, their growth throughout the semester, and impactful experiences such as volunteering, peer tutoring, housing in both the residence and host families, and the program’s three-week Morocco trips.

Students also enjoyed a special cultural highlight when Pepa Sánchez (Introduction to Music) delivered a dynamic Flamenco lecture-performance that blended Andalusian history with live demonstration.

Experiential Learning continues to be a cornerstone of academics in Seville. Cultural Anthropology students have been participating in themed anthropological walks throughout the city. Introduction to Psychology students attended a meaningful plenary session titled “Understanding Su*cide,” led by guest speaker Javier Saavedra, which encouraged thoughtful discussion and reflection. Introduction to Music students took part in a hands-on percussion workshop that explored body percussion, African instruments, and Andalusian rhythms. Meanwhile, Introduction to Business students toured the Goya factory, gaining insight into how business concepts operate in a company with national and international reach.

We are deeply grateful for the dedication of our faculty and staff, whose work helps create a vibrant and supportive learning environment for all Vertoans.

Student Life Updates:

As the semester comes to a close, our community in Seville continues to grow closer while preparing for finals and the upcoming holiday season. The city is buzzing with anticipation, and the atmosphere at the Study Centers reflects a blend of excitement and nostalgia.

Our on-site college counselor and Post-Verto Planning advisor has been working closely with students to finalize next steps—ranging from navigating recent admissions decisions to completing matriculation tasks or beginning future enrollment processes. Regardless of their path, students have strong support as they prepare for life after the program.

The past few weeks also included our final day trip, a beautiful visit to the mountains of Aracena, where students enjoyed a fall nature walk and took in the scenery of the season. Our final Care Team Lunch offered a moment to reflect, share gratitude, and enjoy time together before the end-of-semester rush.

Next week, we will host our Thanksgiving celebration. Since Thanksgiving is not traditionally celebrated in Spain, our Student Success Team works hard to create an atmosphere that feels warm and familiar, complete with comforting food and festive details. Students will also gather for a rooftop breakfast with hot chocolate and buñuelos, joined by residents from the San Juan de Dios care home, one of our volunteer partners.

To welcome the holiday spirit, we are preparing for the lighting of our Christmas tree, complete with sweets and carols—a joyful way to celebrate together before students head home.