Twelve George School students spent their spring break honing their French, helping to teach young children, and getting to know their peers at Lycée Alfred Kastler, a French high school with which George School has held an exchange program since 1957. This was all part of George School’s service and language trip to France, one of four domestic and international service trips the school offered this spring.

George School’s relationship with Lycée Alfred Kastler in Guebwiller, France, represents the longest-running student exchange program between a U.S. and a French high school. This year’s trip marked a bittersweet milestone. George School French teacher and longtime trip leader Claudie Fischer will retire at the end of this school year. In addition, a visit from the French school in April will represent the last exchange trip led by Alain Collange, Claudie’s counterpart at Lycée Alfred Kastler. Together, Claudie and Alain have organized the exchange program for over thirty years.

“My favorite aspect of the trip was definitely meeting and getting to know the French high school students who we lived with for the two weeks,” said Jake McNichol ’12. “It was neat for me to be able to speak good enough French to have actual conversations with these kids.”

Martin Yamane ’12 also appreciated the benefits of language immersion. “Speaking and understanding French was by far my favorite part of the trip,” he said. “Realizing that three years of classes, four hours a week, nine months a year were finally paying off was a very gratifying experience.”

In addition to learning with students from Lycée Alfred Kastler and living with local host families, George School students engaged in service work during the trip, assisting teachers of young children at five public preschool and day care centers in Guebwiller.

“These centers have many children and few instructors,” said George School language teacher Chéri Mellor, who co-led this year’s trip with Claudie. “The George School students helped in every aspect of the children’s school day, from aiding in reading and writing, to keeping order in recess.”

“Four- to six-year-olds have so much energy, it’s impossible to keep up with them, but it’s still fun to try,” said Jake. “The service part of the trip was great, and it helped my understanding of French culture and of myself.”

A trip to Paris offered students the opportunity for sightseeing. “Being able to see the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe, and other monuments was amazing,” reported Hannah Bitzer ’11.

Claudie noted that the trip always includes a visit to Struthof, the only World War II Nazi concentration camp located in France.

“As difficult to visit as it is, it’s important that we do it, and we get feedback from the students, sometimes years later,” said Claudie. Having visited the camp over thirty times, Claudie observed, “It hits you the same way every single time.”

As a result of her work on the exchange program, Claudie plans to spend time in Guebwiller during her retirement. “Through all these years, I have made a lot of friends in Guebwiller,” said Claudie. “It’s a wonderful small town.”

Learn more about the trip on our blog from France. Read Lycée Alfred Kastler's blog from George School.