Article by Miriam Hagg, 
SPO Junior Reporter

Students with the Shengli Experimental School pose for a photo on their last day at WCS.
(Photo by John Faulkner)

Last week, students from a school in China visited Harrison Elementary School. It was an amazing experience for all involved, and Principal Lee Snider says the “trip was a huge success.”

The students from China impacted many people, including staff, the host families, and the students of Warsaw Community Schools.

“Five staff members hosted students or teachers in their homes, and they all commented that it was a great experience for them and their families.” stated Snider. The staff members were especially pleased to see how the two groups of students made friends. “They all wished it would have lasted longer, and greatly enjoyed seeing their own children laugh and play with children from the other side of the world.”

Many children were impacted by this visit, the students that hosted guests and all the students at Harrison. “Students that were in class with our guests saw that students from the other side of the world are not that different from them. All students at Harrison stretched their thinking about the world by meeting students from a different culture.” Snider said.

Snider noted he would definitely like to host the students again. “I think the highlight was seeing the students interact with each other. In the short time our students were together with our guests, they built real relationships and became good friends.” he said. “I was impressed by how easily our students connected with our visitors and vice versa. Language was a barrier to communication at times, but it was not a barrier to building relationships and making friends!”