The
Tiger HI-LINE
Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012
Volume 53 Edition 3
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District explores connections with CF’s Chinese sister city The school board discussed July 2014 our students will go to Superintendent Mike Wells’ plan China with the same type of host to create a sister city exchange family. program at Cedar Falls High Before coming to Cedar School last night. In 2013, stu- Falls, Wells served as the superdents from Laibin, China, will intendent of Winterset schools, come here for two weeks. A a district with a sister city exgroup of 13 to 17-year-olds from change program with Mini Alps, the Cedar Falls school district Japan. would travel to Laibin, China, for Wells’ daughter Beth, a two weeks in July 2014. sophomore at CFHS, went on “First the city signed a sister the Winterset exchange last city agreement. The first ele- summer.“The Japanese culture ment of the is more sister city is polite “The Japanese culture a student than we exchange are. It is more polite than we program. makes are. It makes you think The Chiyou think nese would a b o u t about how you treat like to have how you people and how people treat peoa full year exchange, ple and with different backbut I didn’t how peogrounds react to what think that ple with Cedar Fall different you say to them.” students b a c k Sophomore Beth grounds would want to give up react to a full year,” what you Wells said. say to Wells and Principal Dr. Rich them,” Beth said. Powers may travel to the city to “As long as you’re indepenassess the safeness of the envi- dent, social and creative you’ll ronment. “Once the program be really good there and have a is organized it becomes a com- good experience,” Beth said. munity organization, but we will “I just think it was a great help get each trip organized, experience because it opened and we may go on the first trip my eyes to a new culture, and I to make sure things go well,” hope other students are able to Wells said. experience the same thing I exAll eligible students will re- perienced,” Beth said. ceive a flyer about the program. Wells and his daughter agree Those interested and their par- there are many advantages to a ents will attend a meeting dis- world class school. “I think it cussing the requirements. These would provide a wonderful opinclude each family hosting a portunity for students to gain Chinese student. Students trav- understanding for another culeling will raise money to cover ture, a culture very different the cost of about $2,000 to fly from ours. I think it would also to China. reinforce how blessed we are in “During the day, we will do America. We have so much. An large group activities like visit- immersion program allows you ing the state capitol, Mall of to experience how other people America and at night the host live and hopefully a greater refamily will provide dinner and a spect for other people. One place to sleep. They will be here component of a world class for 10 days. The middle week- school is global citizenship. We end the host family will take have very limited global experithe exchange student and do a ences in Cedar Falls, so this will fun ‘family’ activity,” Wells said.
WELLS
Submitted Photo
Spanish teacher Monica Jarchow and students from the 2009 Spain trip.
Spanish teachers planning trip Students interested in travelling across seas have the opportunity to do so the summer of 2013. Spanish teachers Monica Jarchow and Vic Ochoa will be the chaperones on a 15-day trip to Spain. The self-guided itinerary is available from either teacher explaining day by day details of the trip. So far, 15 students have expressed interest. Plans are to fly out of Minneapolis and land in Madrid. From there, students will travel to Sevilla, Toledo and Granada. During the middle of the trip, students
will take a six-night family stay where they will get to know the everyday life of a Spanish family. “Taking this trip is the best way to learn how to use language,” Jarchow said. “Immersion is something you can’t strongly get over here, so travelling to Spain is very effective.” Thus far, Jarchow has travelled abroad with students eight times. The cost to attend the Spain trip will tentatively be $4,115. This price includes round-trip airfare, in-country transportation, overnight accommoda-
tions, family stay and insurance. There may be extra costs involved for spending money, passports, activities, etc. This travel program boasts that students will gain confidence in their language skills and that they will be challenged by new, unfamiliar experiences. As for Jarchow, “I just love watching kids converse and interact with shop vendors and native people. It makes me proud.”
provide such opportunity,” Wells said. “The greatest benefit is gaining an understanding of other people, to gain an appreciation of other people. Understanding others will help us develop respect for the Chinese and them for us. It is very possible that many of our graduates will have professions that will be global, and this will help them to be suc-
cessful,” Wells said. There are many differences between the American and Chinese cultures. “The Chinese want to come to America to study, why? Because we have the greatest educational system in the world. Our students will gain an understanding of the Chinese educational system, the communist government and the Chinese culture. When
I send an email to China it often takes weeks to get a response, why? Because it is a communist government and it runs through a government filter system and then to individuals. We take privacy for granted in our country; the Chinese do not experience the same rights as we have,” Wells said.
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