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German American Partnership Program(GAPP)
Above: LBHS and Fridericianum Students at Wartburg Castle, Eisenach, Germany June 2011
On April 10th, 2011, a milestone in international education for both LBHS and SCPS was achieved when fifteen students and two Teachers arrived from Germany to begin what was to become a regular annual student exchange. It was now official. LBHS has a partner school in Rudolstadt, Germany: Fridericianum Gymnasium, located in the State of Thuringia, also known as the “Green Heart of Germany”.
The German students stayed with us in different host families for three weeks and GAPP parents helped with making sure they were able to see many local places of interest. The students also accompanied their host brother/sister to their classes each day and lived the everyday life of their host family. The culminating events were a field trip to Daytona Beach, FL with LBHS students for State German Competition, and afterward, a BBQ at Brantley Beach, complete with jet ski to ride the waves. It was hard saying goodbye, but, we also realized that in just 6 weeks we would see our new friends once again in Germany.
On June 13th, Mr. Willis, the LBHS German Teacher, Mrs. Hertlein, a chaperoning Teacher, and 14 students went to Germany to spend three weeks doing the exact thing the Germans did when they were with us. We experienced their culture and language “hautnah” (“skin close”, as the Germans say), and attended our new partner school. Our kids did various presentations in many different classrooms, all about Florida and the USA. All were well received and our Brantley kids fit perfectly into the daily lives of our German hosts. On July 4th, as hard as it was, we had to say goodbye once again. However, we also realize that this is just the beginning!
If you are a parent whose son/daughter is studying German at LBHS and want them to receive the best possible experience for learning the language and culture, I highly recommend you contact me about GAPP. It is an experience they will never forget—utterly life-changing and an opportunity for great personal growth!
To find out more please contact Mr. Willis at (407)746-3543, or, come by Room 7-205. Meetings are every other Monday from 2:30-3 PM
