Welcome to YRSA
Young Round Square of the Americas (YRSA) is a Junior level association of Round Square International schools, providing opportunities and challenges for students in Grades 7 through 9.
Round Square is a worldwide association of schools on five continents sharing unique and ambitious goals. Students attending Round Square schools are asked to make a strong commitment, beyond academic excellence, to personal development and responsibility. Students are empowered through community service, work projects, exchange programmes and adventure which can take them around the world.
Young Round Square of the Americas provides opportunities for Junior level students to engage in activities to help prepare them for International Round Square opportunities available to them during their senior years of school. YRSA encourages Junior leveled students to take an active role, engaging in leadership roles that promote activism within their schools and communities and inspiring others to partake in projects supporting service, adventure and the environment.
Round Square origins are derived from the philosophy of Kurt Hahn who believed that schools should have a greater purpose, beyond that of preparing students for college and university. He believed in educating young people for life in the fullest sense. Kurt Hahn’s vision of education for the student embraced the development of all aspects of the student and encouraged students take responsibility for their community and environment. Most importantly, Kurt Hahn wished to impart upon students that despite cultural uniqueness, students around the world share more similarities than differences and building alliances together makes the world a better place to share. Instilling these values in Junior level students empowers a new generation of leaders and better prepares them for the challenges of their senior years of education.