News from the German LINKS program
by Arlene Cleveland
Beal City is again participating in the GIRESD LINKS German Exchange program. Many schools in the intermediate district are matched with schools in Germany to exchange students for two weeks in October and two weeks in the Spring 2009. Beal City families will host eight German students and two teacher chaperones October 15-27. During that time the German students will live with their American host family and experience daily life here. The students will have several days at Beal City High School where they can participate in their host student's classes or act as "guest speakers" to teach students in other classes about life in Germany. Not all week days during the visit will be school days for our guests. A trip to the Michigan Historical Museum and a visit to the State Capitol are planned. German students and chaperones will also visit the MPATC and the CMU campus. A trip to Mackinac Island is scheduled to give the Germans an opportunity to see that unique Michigan attraction.
Weekends are filled with activities planned by each host family and may include a cross country meet, football game, trip to Lake Michigan or Huron or shopping at an American mall.
In Spring 2009 eight Beal City students and their teacher chaperones will travel to Germany to visit their new German friends and experience life in Germany. The Beal City students will stay in the German homes and attend school there, as well as have trips to Hamburg and Berlin.
