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Student trip to China still pending [UPDATED]
Published 9:30am Tuesday, February 26, 2013 Updated 12:02pm Tuesday, February 26, 2013Fergus Fall high school students may have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to study and tour in China- if the School Board agrees.
Plans were discussed on a proposed Kennedy High School student trip to China Monday, but the School Board has yet to give its approval for the trip.
Cindy Skalsky and Meng Andrews reported to the School Board Monday evening on plans for the proposed student summer trip. A prerequisite for the China trip is one year of Mandarin language, and 78 students have taken the class this year, so many would qualify.
Students would stay at a Chinese school, and then go to Beijing for five or six days for a tour.
Outside of classes in China, there are cultural opportunities.
“They learn bartering with merchants on the street, something they aren’t usually exposed to here,” said Skalsky.
“They come to China not only to learn but to be ambassadors; our kids are very good representatives for Minnesota,” said Andrews, who also explained they take an international Chinese language test while there and have historically done very well. “Our kids really impressed all the teachers there.”
The School Board previously approved fundraising activities for trip, which includes selling Chinese dumplings. Skalsky said the dumplings will first be sold at the Festival of Culture at M State this spring.
School Board Chairperson Melanie Cole said the school board would decide at their next meeting whether they approve of the trip or not.
