News
Bolles Welcomes Exchange Students from China and Japan
The Bolles School hosted students from its sister schools in China and Japan in February. Seven exchange students and a teacher from Qingdao Tourism School in Qingdao, China, arrived on February 5 for a two week visit. A student from Tamagawa Gakuen in Tokyo, Japan, arrived on January 23 for a one month visit.
The visit from the Qingdao students marked the first-ever Chinese exchange for not only Bolles, but for any high school in Northeast Florida and possibly the entire state. Bolles entered into a “sister school” agreement with Qingdao in 2009, with officials from Qingdao visiting Bolles to officially sign the agreement on March 18, 2009.
This is the 12th year of Bolles’ ongoing exchange program with Tamagawa Gakuen. Bolles President and Head of School John E. Trainer, Jr., Ph.D. visited Tokyo in November 2009 for Tamagawa’s 80th anniversary celebration.
A reception was held in the Bolles Hall Lobby on the San Jose Campus on February 8. Student Council members created a welcome banner to display with balloons in Bolles Hall and attended the reception to meet the visiting students. Dr. Trainer formally welcomed the students and presented special lapel pins to the visiting students and their host students to represent the friendships that the exchanges create.
February 8 also began Chinese Week at Bolles, celebrating the Chinese New Year. Members of the Bolles Chinese Club held a calligraphy demonstration following the reception and will host activities throughout the week.
Watch a video of the event on our online video library.
