Area schools, Fort Wayne Sister Cities International and City of Fort Wayne foster educational opportunities with Chinese Province
Fort Wayne, Ind. -- A group of education leaders from Taizhou, China will be visiting schools in the Fort Wayne area this week to explore Sister School relationships. The visit, from Dec. 7 through Dec. 9, was coordinated as part of the “1000 Sister Schools Initiative” program, which is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Department of Education of the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province, P.R. China.
The education leaders are exploring ways to connect local schools with schools in the Zhejiang Province, where the City of Taizhou is located. The City of Fort Wayne, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, area businesses and Fort Wayne Sister Cities International have been focusing on cities within the Zhejiang Province, with the potential of developing a fourth Sister City relationship. Fort Wayne currently has Sister Cities in Japan, Poland and Germany.
This initiative is dedicated to promoting international exchanges and cooperation between primary and secondary schools in the Zhejiang Province and schools in the rest of the world. The vision is to help children understand the diversity of cultures in our world, train them in cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills, and foster qualities to help them become future leaders.
During this week’s visit, several area schools will provide tours and class interactions with the Zhejiang education leaders. The delegation will visit New Tech Academy at Wayne High School, Canterbury High School and Middle School and Blackhawk Middle School in Fort Wayne and Huntington’s Viking New Tech, which offers Mandarin Chinese as part of their curriculum.
“This is a great opportunity for our students to connect with different cultures and acquire new skills” said Todd Cummings, Coordinator of Academic Services for Fort Wayne Community Schools. “The value of building these relationships is immeasurable.”
Jonathan Hancock Canterbury School Headmaster is looking forward to a visit from the delegation. He stated, “I am delighted to share the programs of Canterbury high and middle school with education leaders of the world.”
Brief History on Sister Cities
The National program for Sister Cities International was created in 1956 by President Eisenhower to foster citizen diplomacy and create a more peaceful world. Fort Wayne Sister Cities International, Inc. (FWSCI) was established in 1976 and organized in 1983 as an Indiana a 501(c)(3) Corporation, and is affiliated with Sister Cities International, headquartered in Washington, D.C.
FWSCI currently coordinates with three Sister Cities: Takaoka, Japan; Plock, Poland; and Gera, Germany. The last Sister City to be added by the City of Fort Wayne was Gera, Germany in 1992, with the official signing by then-Mayor Paul Helmke. FWSCI works to promote international understanding between the citizens of Fort Wayne and the citizens of our Sister Cities through the development of relationships fostered by frequent student, civic, artistic, and business exchanges.
Educational Exchanges
To foster cultural exchanges for young people, FWSCI is continually developing its student exchange programs, strengthening the link between education and global awareness.
The Fort Wayne Sister School relationships are:
Gera
Blackhawk Middle School - Gera Staatiches Regionales Forderzentrum I
North Side High School - Gera Zabel Gymnasium
Northrop High School - Gera Goethe Gymnasium
Plock
Bishop Dwenger High School - Plock Malachowianka Liceum
Canterbury – Plock Yagalonka Lyceum
Takaoka
Bishop Luers High School - Takaoka Fushiki School
Canterbury School – Minami Takaoka (under consideration)
Carroll High School – Takaoka Kogei School (under consideration)
North Side High School - Takaoka Koryo School
Snider High School - Takaoka Commercial High School
###