Greenhill Hosts South Korean Students, Teachers
It may be just another Wednesday for most students, but at Greenhill, it’s mid-week of a once in a life time opportunity.
Fifteen students and a handful of administrators from WeolPyeong Middle School in Ulsan, South Korea are visiting Greenhill this week and staying with host families in the area. It’s all part of the Greenhill in China and Korea program started in 2004 by Chinese teacher Warren Frerichs. For the past two years, students and teachers from Greenhill have visited WeolPyeong. This year they decided to switch roles. Check out more photos and the press release after the jump.
Greenhill School to Welcome Students from South Korea
Dallas, Texas (January 14, 2011) – Greenhill School is partnering with WeolPyeong Middle School in Ulsan, South Korea to bring 15 students to Greenhill for a week-long visit from January 15 – 21, 2011. The students and accompanying administrators are participating in the school’s Greenhill in China and Korea (GiCK) program and it is the first time the program will bring the WeolPyeong students to the Greenhill community.
The mission of GiCK is to help promote becoming and remaining culturally diverse, inclusive and responsive in environments for teaching and learning. Students learn to study and live with unique individuals from diverse backgrounds.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the Greenhill community to show its hospitality on an international level. I am excited for our students, faculty, staff, and community members to be cultural ambassadors of not only Greenhill, but also of our nation. I hope we have many more international exchanges such as this,” said Christel McGuigan, Director of Multicultural Programs.
During their visit to Greenhill, students from WeolPyeong will shadow Greenhill students in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools. They will be officially greeted during an all-school assembly followed by a special Heart of The Hill, an activity unique to Greenhill School. The students will stay with host families and after visiting Greenhill (the only school on their itinerary), the group will travel to Austin and San Antonio.
Warren Frerichs, Middle and Upper School Chinese teacher, has led the GiCK trips since they began in 2004 and has been instrumental in the development of the program. “It’s important not to look at this as just another educational opportunity, where we take instead of give, but rather as a way to learn how to host and help people feel comfortable in a place that is strange to them. We have visited Ulsan the past two years and now it’s our chance to reciprocate,” said Frerichs.
Senior Ashley Levy has participated in the Korea program for the past two years. “I had a phenomenal time in Korea and think I lucked out with my host family. I have an amazing relationship with them and still keep in touch after two years,” said Levy. “My family was so great to me while I was in Ulsan. The warmth and generosity they showed me was powerful and I can’t wait for the students to arrive,” she said. Levy will now host the same girl whose family hosted her in Ulsan the past two years.
