By Kennedi Rowlands
The German American Partnership Program, GAPP, is preparing for their annual German exchange once again this fall.
Organized by CCHS’s German teacher, Marilyn Buttjer, GAPP is a non-profit high school program based on the exchange of students from Walsrode, Germany to the United States. The Walsrode group will be arriving in Charles City on October 10th and will be staying through November 3rd with host families.
“We have a welcoming potluck in St. Ansgar as well as a farewell Thanksgiving meal here in Charles City,” explains Buttjer. “We will also be going to a UNI football game together and traveling to the Black Hills for 5 days.”
Buttjer has been in charge of GAPP and teaching German at CCHS since 2002. “GAPP gives the participants confidence in their language abilities,” Buttjer states. “It also helps them grow into a more responsible person by making decisions on their own in a cultural setting that is new to them.”
Charles City German students also get the chance to take a trip to Walsrode on the even numbered years. “We did go on the Walsrode trip in June of this past summer,” Buttjer said.
With the date of the Walsrode students’ arrival fast approaching, all the hard work of fundraising and excitement of planning have almost come to a closure. “The students have a continuous fundraiser in the community where anyone can take five-cent bottles to the redemption center and all the donations go to the GAPP program,” explains Buttjer. “Everyone works so hard and I truly feel that GAPP is the ultimate experience for students learning German.”
Organized by CCHS’s German teacher, Marilyn Buttjer, GAPP is a non-profit high school program based on the exchange of students from Walsrode, Germany to the United States. The Walsrode group will be arriving in Charles City on October 10th and will be staying through November 3rd with host families.
“We have a welcoming potluck in St. Ansgar as well as a farewell Thanksgiving meal here in Charles City,” explains Buttjer. “We will also be going to a UNI football game together and traveling to the Black Hills for 5 days.”
Buttjer has been in charge of GAPP and teaching German at CCHS since 2002. “GAPP gives the participants confidence in their language abilities,” Buttjer states. “It also helps them grow into a more responsible person by making decisions on their own in a cultural setting that is new to them.”
Charles City German students also get the chance to take a trip to Walsrode on the even numbered years. “We did go on the Walsrode trip in June of this past summer,” Buttjer said.
With the date of the Walsrode students’ arrival fast approaching, all the hard work of fundraising and excitement of planning have almost come to a closure. “The students have a continuous fundraiser in the community where anyone can take five-cent bottles to the redemption center and all the donations go to the GAPP program,” explains Buttjer. “Everyone works so hard and I truly feel that GAPP is the ultimate experience for students learning German.”