46 • Thursday, November 28, 2013
Sweet Home Alabama
SCHOOLS
German Exchange Student Is Glad She Came to America By Taylor Burgess Journal intern
A
lthough Amelie Kraaz had never stayed in America before she traveled from her home in Germany to live in the Over the Mountain area, the Goldfarbs of Mountain Brook weren’t complete strangers to the 15-year-old. The Goldfarb family and Kraaz aren’t related to each other but have close ties. The Goldfarbs have hosted the German exchange student in their home for the fall semester. “I’ve known her father, Armin, since 1986,” Preston Goldfarb, head men’s soccer coach at Birmingham-Southern College, said. “I saw her grow up in Germany from pictures he sent over. Our families are very close.” Even though her family and the Goldfarbs are close, Kraaz’s decision to study in America was unusual. Many German students study overseas, but most go to countries other than the U.S., like England. Kraaz, however, is confident she made the right choice. “The ones who go to England can only talk about the food, but not anything else,” she said. “I like it much more here.” Kraaz, who is in the 10th grade and attending Mountain Brook High School during her stay, said she values the cultural experiences she
has had in Alabama, including her first football game. “There aren’t really as many sports in Germany as there are here,” Kraaz said. Cultural immersion is, in fact, the primary reason for her time abroad, as German students do not receive academic credit for classes taken at foreign high schools, she said. “In Germany, our schedule is different—we always have two days for homework and classes only on certain days like college,” she said. “I can’t get credit, so it’s more of a cultural experience.” Although she has focused on seeing as much of Alabama as she could, Kraaz has still applied herself to her studies, Preston Goldfarb said. “She does well in school, even though it won’t count,” he said. After completing her classes, Kraaz will return to Germany on Dec. 22. Kraaz said she hopes to come back to the U.S. after she graduates from high school. “In Germany, college is free. If I went to the University of Munich, it would be free,” she said. “But Munich is a very expensive city, so it would be cheaper for me to live in America, go to the University of Alabama and pay tuition.” The Goldfarbs said they will be sad to see Kraaz go, even if it will only be for a few years. “We would love to have her back,” Marie Goldfarb, Preston’s wife, said. “She’s melded
OVER THE MOUNTAIN Journal
From left: Marie Goldfarb, Satch the dog, Amelie Kraaz, Aly Goldfarb and Preston Goldfarb in their Mountain Brook home. Journal photo by Keysha Drexel
into the family. She feels like one of us.” Aly Goldfarb, Preston and Marie’s daughter, said she agrees. “It’s been different, having a sister,” she said. “I got to relive high school a little bit.” Aly, a former professional athlete in Israel, will soon begin physician’s assistant school. Kraaz said she hopes to return to the U.S. before starting college. “I’ll come back and spend summers, and I won’t go on vacation,” she said. “I want to stay longer, but I’d have to repeat high school if I did.” Marie Goldfarb said even though she knows her family will see Kraaz again, she’s not ready for the exchange student to go. “We want her to stay,” she said. When Kraaz does return to Germany in
December, she said she is uncertain about adjusting. “I can’t imagine going back now,” she said. “I’m hesitant about it.” Kraaz said she is so accustomed to living in Alabama and attending an American high school that she’s not sure moving back into the German school system will be easy. The Goldfarbs said the host family experience has been a positive one for them and that they’re open to hosting international students again in the future. “This is the first time we’ve been a host family, but I’m sure Amelie’s sister will want to come,” Preston Goldfarb said. The Goldfarbs said Kraaz and her family have an open invitation to visit them in Mountain Brook. ❖
School Notes
Brookwood Forest Elementary School fifth-graders help out at the school’s blood drive. From left: Catherine Taylor, Megan Lee, Ethan Seller and Grant Tincher. Photo special to the Journal
Brookwood Forest Helps Red Cross Blood Drive Teachers and parents at Brookwood Forest Elementary School in Mountain Brook recently rolled up their sleeves for a good cause. The school hosted a blood drive for the Red Cross on campus on Sept. 30. More than 55 friends, parents and teachers donated blood to help replenish the supplies at the Red Cross. The event was spearheaded by Julie Hudson, a fifth-grade teacher at the school.
ACS Honors Mountain Brook, Vestavia Although their schools’ football teams battled it out on the field on Oct. 25, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills High School students teamed up to help the American Cancer Society. Both schools were recognized at the Oct. 25 football game for their nationallyacclaimed contributions to the fight against cancer through their successful Relay for Life fundraising events held
earlier this year. The Mountain Brook and Vestavia Relay for Life events were both named a Top Five Youth Event in the country this year, raising a collective $468,000 for the American Cancer Society. More than 150 high schools nationwide held Relay for Life events this past spring. The Mountain Brook event is ranked second nationally, and the Vestavia event is ranked fourth. Mountain Brook also received recognition as the top per capita youth event in the country, and Vestavia was fourth. ACS Mid-South Division leaders Kelly Doss and Samantha Taylor attended the game and presented the student leaders, advisors and principals of each school with awards for their service and dedication to help in the fight against cancer.
Gwin Students Raise Money with Race Students at Gwin Elementary School in Hoover laced up their sneakers and hit the track to help raise money for their
school. The students raised more than $43,000 at the annual Eagle Scream Fun Run in September. The event was organized and executed by parent volunteers. Gwin students collected pledges to run up to 40 laps around the school’s track. Previous Eagle Scream Fun Runs have helped purchase new playground equipment and provided money to teachers for their classrooms. For their efforts to help their school, students were rewarded for their participation with prizes, including a ride in the Hoover Police Department’s Porsche and a special magic show. The school also recently celebrated Red Ribbon Week. Students renewed their pledges to live drug-free lifestyles during the Oct. 28-Nov. 1 event.
Second-grader Mae Elliott completes a lap at the Eagle Scream Fun Run at Gwin Elementary School in Hoover. Photo special to the Journal
Homewood High School students Genny Pittman, left, and Aaron Stansell have been named state finalists in the Wendy’s Heisman contest. Photo special to the Journal
Wendy’s Honors Homewood Students Two students from Homewood High School are being recognized by the Wendy’s Heisman contest. Genny Pittman was named a state finalist in the contest, and Aaron Stansell was the school winner. Since 1994, the Wendy’s High School Heisman Program has honored more than 395,000 of the nation’s most esteemed high school seniors in partnership with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Committee. The leadership award honorees are well-rounded young men and women who excel in learning, performing and leading in the classroom, on the field and in the community, according to program officials.
Vestavia Senior Earns Samsung Scholarship A senior at Vestavia Hills High School has been selected to receive a $20,000 college scholarship through the
Samsung-American Legion program. Austin Owen won the scholarship based on his class standing, academic and civic achievements and financial need. Nine students earned the scholarship from a finalist group of nearly 100. Eligibility for scholarships requires students to be direct descendants of U.S. wartime veterans. The Samsung Group endowed a scholarship fund of $5 million to be administered by the American Legion to show appreciation to U.S. veterans.
ASFA Opens New Series The Alabama School of Fine Arts will open its “Friday Night Lights” series Dec. 13. The performance series, a first for the school, will begin with the Holiday Music Concert in the Dorothy Jemison Day Theater. Series subscribers will be treated to a pre-performance cocktail reception at Chris Dupont’s Mix Restaurant. For details on the concert or the series, visit http://www.asfa.k12.al.us.