Vineland High School Welcomes Exchange Students from Germany

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Vineland High School officially greeted twelve German exchange students, who will for two weeks live with their families, attend high school, celebrate Easter and experience a complete cultural immersion in the lifestyle of an American teenager. This provides students with the opportunity to immerse themselves in the daily life and ritual of the host family, community and educational institution.

An informal breakfast was held in the VHS North media center, welcoming the students to the school community. Following the breakfast, the students were given a tour of Vineland High School North and South. Next, they attended an orientation meeting describing the structure of the American school system, the set-up of student schedules and the process of selecting classes. The exchange students began “shadowing” their host students, following the VHS class schedule throughout the day. The visit will conclude on April 14.

Following the visit, a group of 10 students of Vineland High School North and South will be traveling to Germany from April 27th to May 6th, 2007. Mrs. Erika Cowdright, coordinator of the exchange program, will be accompanying the students for the duration of this trip.

During the day, the VHS students will attend Burscheid High School along with their host friend. They will attend all classes during school hours, and will spend the afternoons with their host family. Next to experiencing German culture and customs first hand through a complete immersion in the German life style of their host family, students will also have the opportunity to go on field trips to surrounding local attractions and take part in an all-day field trip to visit Cologne, one of the oldest cities in Germany.

Cross Cultural Student Exchange Programs offer a level of immersion far more than any visit to a foreign country can provide – they are a transformative experience to remember and to grow on. The Vineland-Burscheid Exchange Program will be a memorable experience for students from both countries.