It’s been quite an international week at CA as all three of our exchange programs have made their presence known.

 

First, CA welcomed two students from Hutcheson’s Grammar School in Glasgow, Scotland.  This particular school is, like CA, a K-12, but is set in a much more landlocked location in the city.  Students matriculate to the finest universities in Scotland, the UK, and around the world.  The two Scots who have come our way are named Raj and Aidan and they have been enthusiastic students and delightful ambassadors of their home country.  Of course they have been asked many questions about Scottish independence, not to mention the usual inquiries about haggis and kilts.  The boys’ hosts, juniors John Barron and Jack Funk, will be traveling to Scotland in March and staying with the families there.

 

Meanwhile, four teachers from the Uskudar American School in Istanbul have been visiting CA, staying with host teachers and attending classes in the Upper School.   These teachers are coming from one of the leading secondary schools in all of Turkey, deepening a connection made last year when English teachers Betsey Coleman and Tom Thorpe visited their school last spring.  In addition to auditing numerous classes and meeting with our teachers and administrators, the Turkish teachers have taken the opportunity to see Denver and the surrounding area as well, including trips to the Botanic Gardens and the DCPA to see The Unsinkable Molly Brown.  Students from Uskudar will come to our campus in January, and we will send 3-5 students to Istanbul in exchange next March.

 

Also, two of our Spanish teachers, Meg Hill and Jennifer Suarez, enjoyed a Skype conversation with teachers at the St Andrew’s School, our partner exchange school in Argentina.  Five CA students went to Buenos Aires last June and now we will be returning the favor by hosting five Argentine students in January.  Ms. Hill and Ms. Suarez were working on some of the logistics involved to ensure a positive experience for our guests.

 

Finally, our food service provider, Sodexo, was not to be outdone.  On behalf of Sodexo our own Paul Worley played host to Jason McDuie, a renowned chef from Australia.  Paul Worley notes that hosting an international chef “is a privilege and an opportunity previously given only to colleges and universities.”  Friday’s menu will include seared Atlantic salmon and roasted kipfler and banana bread with spice poached rhubarb and double cream for dessert.   No vegemite sandwiches will be served!