Welcoming the Wiesbaden Middle School students to our school
Maria Montessori felt that “we have the possibility to form the citizen of the world.”
In furtherance of Maria Montessori’s conviction, we were honored this school year to continue our pen pal exchange program with the American students and teachers from Wiesbaden Middle School. This program has become a yearly tradition, allowing our children to develop friendships and engage in meaningful interactions with our American peers.
Since the summer break, our sixth graders have been corresponding with their pen pals through handwritten letters. This has encouraged them to develop their English language skills while also learning about American culture and perspectives.
Each year, the exchange culminates with two special in-person visits. On February 11, our students had the exciting opportunity to visit Wiesbaden Middle School, experiencing a day in an American educational environment. The BMS sixth graders especially enjoyed eating fast food and bowling with their American friends in Wiesbaden. Then, on March 11, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Wiesbaden students to our school.
To ensure a warm and engaging experience for our guests, the children prepared a thoughtful and interactive program. They created a PowerPoint presentation to briefly introduce Maria Montessori’s approach and to give an overview of our school. Our school principal, Frau Kalmus, officially welcomed the Wiesbaden students and teachers, setting the stage for a day filled with collaboration and cultural exchange.
A scavenger hunt helped our American friends explore BMS in a fun and interactive way. To foster teamwork and friendship, the students also enjoyed collaborative, hands-on activities such baking bread and cookies together. One of the highlights of the day were “challenges” that allowed BMS and Wiesbaden students to express themselves creatively.
As in previous years, we coordinated with the wonderful GPE catering team in the cafeteria. They prepared a traditional German lunch of schnitzel and potatoes, which was thoroughly enjoyed by our American visitors.
We are grateful for the friendships formed through this exchange and look forward to many more years of collaboration with Wiesbaden Middle School. This program continues to provide invaluable learning experiences, strengthening linguistic abilities, cultural awareness, and international friendships as well as helping form “citizens of the world.”
