Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Highlands Jiangsu Connection


Last November, I was invited to represent Highlands School at the Principals’ Forum in Jiangsu Province, China where I met administrators and officials from China and from other English speaking countries. One of the goals of this forum was to explore ways to make connections to enhance student learning in both Jiangsu Province and in the English speaking countries.


Because of the bonds formed during the forum, Highlands School is sending a delegation of parents and students (grades 5 – 8) to travel to Jiangsu Province October 24 – November 1, 2008 to connect with students, parents, and teachers at Nanjing Cheng Xianjie Primary School, to visit cultural and historic sites, and to visit a business with Highlands and Birmingham ties to better understand the relevance and importance of studying the Mandarin language and Chinese culture, history, and geography.

Overview of the Goals of the Highlands Jiangsu Connection

Language and Culture
Highlands School students have been learning Mandarin during the 2007 – 2008 school year with two Chinese teachers through the National Association of Independent School’s China Connection program. The Highlands Jiangsu Experience will provide opportunities for students to use the Mandarin language and experience the Chinese culture they have been studying at Highlands School.

Meaningful and Productive Cross Cultural Interactions
The Highlands Jiangsu Experience promises to be much more than a typical tour as the students will interact with students at Nanjing Cheng Xianjie Primary School using the international “languages” of sports, art, and music. The students will be grouped into teams comprised of both Chinese and Highlands students and will practice with a Chinese “coach” and an American “coach.” They will then play basketball games, participate in art classes together, and share talents in a talent show.

Cross Cultural Exchanges on a Personal Level
Each Highlands family will be paired with a family from Nanjing Cheng Xiangjie Primary School for a home cooked meal in a Chinese home. Both Chinese parents and Highlands parents will gather at the school for a roundtable discussion about the joys and challenges of raising children in the 21st Century.

Relevance of China/Chinese to Highlands and Alabama
Highlands students and parents will gain a better understanding of how people from Alabama are connected to China by touring a business in Shanghai with Birmingham and Highlands connections. We are also seeking ways to help Alabama during the visit, as Governor Riley recently visited Nanjing in Jiangsu Province.




8 Days Itinerary in China

Day 1 Sat. Oct.25
Arrival Shanghai Pudong Airport, warmly welcome to China!
Pick up at airport & transfer to hotel
Stroll along the lovely waterfront ‘The Bund’ and cruise to the Huangpu River Shanghai
Day 2 Sun. Oct.26
Am: Coach to Nanjing after breakfast (4hrs)
Pm: City tour - the Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum Nanjing
Day 3 Mon. Oct.27
School activities
Day 4 Tues. Oct.28
School activities
Day 5 Wed. Oct.29
Am: Coach to Suzhou after breakfast
Pm: City tour - the Master of Nets Garden, Visit the famous Suzhou Silk Factory and enjoy the fashion show Suzhou
Day 6 Thu. Oct.30
Am: Tour of the Tiger Hill in the morning.
Pm: Coach to Shanghai, and free at leisure in the Nanjing Road Commercial Street.
Eve: Enjoy the acrobatic show Shanghai
Day 7 Fri. Oct.31
Am: Visit the Oriental Pearl TV Tower and the Old Shanghai Exhibition Hall
Pm: Tour of Yu Garden, and Chenghuang Temple.
Day 8 Sat. Nov.01 Transfer to airport & back to sweet homeland.

Costs Involved for Highlands Jiangsu Connection
Costs Involved
Highlands School students in grades five through eight are invited to take part in the Highlands Jiangsu Experience. A parent must accompany any student delegate. The costs are based on 40 to 44 people in the delegation. I have tried to list all the costs that are directly related to the trip. For this sort of trip, this is an extremely reasonable price!

Airfare from Birmingham to Shanghai Pudong (approximate cost) approximately $1300
Ground costs including hotel, food, tours, tickets, guides, bus transportation $ 440
Passport (if not a passport holder already) $ 100
Visa for entry into China $ 90
Passport photos for visa $ 10
Gifts for host teachers, families, and officials $ 40
Total Estimated Cost (per person) $1980

I will be sending out a registration form within the next week. Registration forms and the $440 for the land portion of the trip are due by July 1. If we have more than 44 people interested in traveling, the delegation will be chosen on a first come, first served basis.

I will be using this blog to answer questions and to keep the delegation informed about the Highlands Jiangsu Connection. Please post any questions. Chances are if you have a question, others will have the very same one.

No comments: