16 August 2018
Towards the end of July, Saints once again hosted a successful language and cultural exchange with students from our sister school in Shanghai, Shixi High School.
This year, twelve Year 10 students and one staff member paid us a visit. The host students from St Peter’s College were
The Shixi delegation spent time with our students and their host families and participated in various activities whilst enjoying each others company and deepening friendships.
On Monday 30 July, an official welcome morning tea was held in the Big School Room. Headmaster Tim Browning warmly welcome the overseas student cohort in which all host students, staff members and billet families were in attendance. During lunchtime, the Chinese Society organised a friendly Badminton Competition and provided typical Australian food for Shixi students to taste, including frog cakes, Lamingtons, Vegemite, FruChocs, Anzac biscuits, Iced Coffee, Milo and Tim Tams.
Over the course of their stay, the visiting students attended normal classes at the Senior School, allowing them to experience a different school environment. It also gave both Saints and Shixi students opportunities to learn from each other. On top of this, the Shixi delegation had two Australian cultural experiences with Mr Joel Baker and an afternoon excursion to the MOD Museum on North Terrace.
On Wednesday 1 August, Year 12 students Chisomo Banzi and David Quan addressed the Shixi delegation at the School Muster in both Chinese and English. Shiya (Vicky) Yuan, a Shixi student representative, responded in beautiful English and also presented for the School to the Headmaster. In the afternoon, an official farewell afternoon tea was held in the GL01 Gordon Building. Commemorative certificates and thank you plaques were presented by the Headmaster to both the Shixi delegation and host students. On Thursday 2 August, the Shixi delegation left with many wonderful memories of their time at Saints.
The success of this exchange program was made possible through the wonderful support from host families, host students and all staff members (both teaching and administrative). I would like to sincerely thank all of you, especially the Headmaster, Mr Tim Browning and Deputy Headmaster/Head of Senior School, Mr Ben Hanisch for supporting the School Exchange Program; Mrs Pat Aller for giving an important Library and IT use session; Mr Joel Baker for giving two Australian Culture sessions; Mr Nick Lamont for making the plaques; the teachers and mentors for including Shixi students and staff in their classes; and the Language Department for their great support.
Thank you to the following students and their families for hosting the Shixi students.
Year 7 – Ian Irwin, Joshua McDowell
Year 8 – Will Fitzgerald
Year 9 – Jimmy Butcher, Guy Dello-lacovo, Noah Pitkin, Luke Sikalu
Year 10 – Marucs To, Luke Russell, Isaac Hoe, Charlie Heithersay
Fangfang Qiu
Coordinator of Chinese