If you aren’t aware, there are currently 14 students and 2 teachers in our school who haven’t been here all year. Why? They just arrived from Düsseldorf, Germany. Due to our exceptional German program here at Chatfield, we have been able to offer these students a fantastic opportunity to experience America. And in addition, it offered our own students an opportunity to experience Germany.

All of this can be attributed to Ms. Hendrickson, our German teacher. She has been teaching here for 18 years and began this program about 13 years ago. This program is through GAPP (German American Partnership Program) and consists of a partner school in Düsseldorf–Cecilien-Gymnasium–that participates in an exchange program. May 26th of this year, our own Chatfield German students went abroad and stayed with different families from Cecilien-Gymnasium for three weeks. And now, they switched, and we get to be the school for Cecilien-Gymnasium students to attend on their exchange trip.

They have been able to enjoy all kinds of things that are unique to America. Some of the favorites have been hiking, seeing Red Rocks, downtown Denver, and even bungee jumping. In addition to all of that unique Colorado fun, they got to experience a high school football game for the first time–even if it is an unfamiliar sport–and try fast food. These are things that we in America see as normal parts of our everyday lives, but it is something that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

I was lucky enough to sit down with some of the students from Germany, but they leave this Friday, so make sure you get the chance to go introduce yourself before they leave! Our school is so lucky to have this exchange program that doesn’t just affect those in it but the school in full.