Busloads of students arrive in the Sault today. Find out why
Thursday, February 07, 2013 by: SooToday.com Staff
NEWS RELEASE
ROTARY CLUB OF
SAULT STE. MARIE
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Rotary exchange students in the Sault
Rotary exchange students arrive by the busload today to attend the annual District 6290 Winter Conference.
It’s an exciting time.
Half of the students, in the District on their year-long exchange, represent countries from all over the world.
For them it’s a wonderful opportunity to meet and develop further lasting relationships that ultimately add peace to our world.
The other half of the students are from Michigan and Ontario.
On Thursday evening, in City Hall’s Council Chambers, they will each find out to which country they have been assigned.
You can imagine the heightened anticipation as that night draws closer.
The annual Winter Conference rotates among the three Canadian towns that lie within District 6290, Sault Ste. Marie, Wawa and Blind River.
Next year’s conference will be in Wawa.
Attending this year are 51 students and 16 Rotarians, as well as local Rotarians.
The festivities begin with a supper at St. Andrews United Church, followed by a short, but drawn out walk to City Hall and the outbound assignments in the Council Chamber.
On Friday, the Students will assemble at Korah Collegiate.
While the outbound students participate in workshops, the inbound students divide into seven groups and visit local elementary schools.
All the students will work together in the afternoon to present a cultural fair at Korah.
The evening is reserved for time with their new, albeit temporary, host families.
Even local students must billet with another family.
Saturday morning, the students reassemble at Korah for more workshops.
They move to Tarentorus Curling Club for Lunch and an afternoon of outdoor and indoor winter activities.
The conference concludes with Saturday night’s banquet at the Royal Canadian Legion.
For over 75 years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange.
More than 80 countries and over 8,000 students each year participate in the program, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs.
Currently, Sault Ste. Marie students are in Bolivia, Brazil, Indonesia and Thailand.
Wawa is hosting a girl from Germany and Sault Ste. Marie is hosting a girl from Peru.
Since starting locally over 40 years ago, Sault Ste. Marie has hosted over 100 students and sent close to 200 abroad.
To learn more about Rotary Exchange and the opportunities to host and to travel, visit the website, or call your local Rotary Club.
Rotary Youth Exchange - Creating world peacemakers one student at a time.
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