Director of program at SFHS: Leo Schulte
Director of program at GHO: Heinz Brodeck
The program has been continually running since 1986 under the auspices of the German American Partnership Program (GAPP). Like GHO St. Francis de Sales High School is run by the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales. Being a college preparatory school for male students only, female participants in the exchange program attend lessons at other Toledoan Catholic high schools that teach girls or are coeducational.
Guidelines for participants
The exchange program organized by the English Department is an
extension of English courses. Participants represent Haus Overbach in
particular and Germany in general, which is both a chance and a challenge.
As a rule students of grades 10 and 11, whose language skills are adequate,
are invited to take part. Smokers cannot apply.
Traditionally, the program consists of a respective stay of three weeks in
Toledo (Easter Break) and in Juelich (final two weeks of school and the first
week of the Summer Vacation). During term, attendance of classes is
obligatory. The dress code of the respective school is to be observed.
The success of the program does not only depend on the participants' commitment,
but also on the willingness of the host families on both sides to provide a
friendly and open environment.
Participants prepare for the exchange in several meetings, which include a
planning session for the summer leg of the exchange. Each student picks a topic
which lends itself to a class presentation in the partner school (e.g. a
political, cultural or historical theme) and which is the basis for respective
studies in the USA. Each student has to hand in a paper in English summarizing
his findings.
In this day and age of elelctronic communication participants should be able to
use email not only to establish contact with their American partners but also to
stay in touch with home while being abroad.
Costs of the program amount presently to about 1100 DM including airfare and
insurance. Allowances have to be made for pocket money and expenses during side
trips both in the US and in Germany in the summer.