LINKS Students and Staff Set to Leave for Germany.
by Arlene Cleveland
The LINKS German exchange program is in it's ninth year of school participation. The program was first started before that as a business exchange between Gratiot County and the area of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. These two areas are similar in the farming base of both of the local economies. Both are primarily rural areas. Former Beal City Schools Supt Bob Kjolhede and wife Patty, and former teacher Joan Gornicki first traveled to Grabow, Germany to gather information about the program and Beal City's possible involvement.
Since then Beal City students have participated in the exchange, hosting German students in the fall, and traveling to Germany to visit in the spring. Our first partner school, Grabow,closed due to dropping enrollment. Our current partner school is Hagenow.
This year Beal City is sending ten students, Monica Atkin,Renae Hines, Jackie Ovaitt, Jessica Shattuck, Whitney Smith, Katie Straus, Joe Streng, Lexi Wagner, Kristin Wilson and Kelli Zeien, and two chaperones, Mrs Cleveland and Mrs. Miller. Their departure date in Monday March 31 and they will return to Michigan April 15.
Included in their trip itinerary are six days visiting the Hagenow school where our students will answer questions about our state and country and help the German students practice their use of the English language. Students and chaperones will visit junior high and high school classrooms to talk to the various classes. Also included in the trip will be a tour of the county and a visit to the seat of county government. A day trip to the capital city of Berlin is also planned where our students will learn about German and central European history.
This is a wonderful learning opportunity that cannot be matched in a classroom. Our students and chaperones will live with German families for two weeks and see what life is like in another country and culture. They will be exposed to new points of view and attitudes.
LINKS Students and Staff Set to Leave for Germany.
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| Date | Subject | Posted by: |
|---|---|---|
| 03/20/2008 | I'm so glad to know that the program... | Ms. Gornicki |
