German exchange students at GJHS

From October 15 to November 4, exchange students from Germany will be attending classes along with GJ students.

Lincoln McQuade and Taylor Dickey • October 16, 2024

GJHS juniors and German III students Cooper Teske and Tiegan Osborn are among the students hosting German exchange students.

German exchange students will spend their time in the foreign lands of Mesa County for the next three weeks.

“It’s more of an opportunity ‘cause he can come up here and see how America works and I can go up there and see how Germany works,” GJHS Junior Nathan Holt said, who is participating in the exchange program with German exchange student Paul Steiner.

Students like Holt volunteered to house the exchange students while they are attending GJHS and experiencing American culture. Those hosting exchange students, along with the student body, are expected to be welcoming and kind to these students during their time at GJHS.

“When [the German exchange students] are in class, please treat them as you would our students,” GJHS German teacher Ralph Wahlers said.

This program was started about 20 years ago, according to Holt. The program has seen many students go to and from Gymnasium Markt Indersdorf, GJHS’ partner school in Germany, from a few weeks to an entire school year.

The students and teachers are coming from the Munich metropolitan area located in Bavaria, Germany.

“There was an exchange, and I signed up. They told us information, and they had like 60 people and they chose 16 out of the 60, and I’m one of them,” Steiner said.

Coming from GMI, the students and two teachers will visit GJHS from Oct. 15 through Nov. 4. Additionally, this is the first year that Fruita Monument High School is partnering with GJHS in the exchange.

After this semester, the same Grand Junction High School students involved in the exchange will go to Germany, according to Wahlers.

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About the Contributors

Lincoln McQuade, Reporter

Lincoln McQuade is a GJHS junior. He is also a reporter for the Orange & Black newspaper. He loves playing guitar, watching baseball, and working out. He joined the Orange & Black in his junior year.

Taylor Dickey, Reporter

Taylor Dickey is a sophomore at GJHS, she is a Reporter for the Orange and Black student newspaper. She loves acting, theater, reading, writing, drawing, and video games. This is her first year being a part of the Orange and Black newspaper.

Serenity Schmidt, Co-Managing Editor

Serenity is a senior and a co-managing editor for the GJHS Orange & Black. She has been on the O&B since her sophomore year. She is passionate about music and reading, and she also enjoys being outdoors. This year she hopes to help improve the O&B overall.