For NHS Chinese Delegation, Next Stop Liaocheng

By Eliza Hallabeck

The largest delegation of high school teachers yet to travel to China from Connecticut sat in the back room in Newtown High School’s library on Monday, March 15, for its last group meeting before departure in April,

After speaking to the assembled delegates, NHS Assistant Principal Jason Hiruo said the trip signifies many things in terms of moving the sister school relationship, built between NHS and Liaocheng No. 3 Middle School over the past two years, further.

During the trip, Mr Hiruo said “many cogs” will be working to forge the relationship, while teachers in the delegation tour the school and visit classrooms.

All 27 delegates are funding their own way. Departure is set for Friday, April 16, and the group will arrive back in the state on Sunday, April 25. While in China, the group is scheduled for tours of the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall of China, the US Embassy in Beijing, and a meeting with the US ambassador to China.

“This trip really signifies a lot of things in terms of moving the relationship forward,” said Mr Hiruo after Monday’s meeting.

Attending delegates on the trip are Mr Hiruo, NHS Principal Charles Dumais, Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson, Assistant Superintendent of Schools Linda Gejda, NHS teachers Tom Brant, Jennifer Davidson, Tim Dejulio, Jennifer Dellasala, Candace Dietter, Diane Dutchick, Jason Edwards, Kristen English, David Foss, Amanda Friedman, Lori Hoagland, Jeanette Manfredonia, Doreen Marcucilli, Susan McConnell, Norm McConnell, Rachelle Myllymaki, Edward Obloj, Steve OShana, Carol Pelligra, Amy Repay, Daria Richardson, Kristin Violette, and Elizabeth Ward DeLeon.

Multiple departments from the school are represented within the group, including social studies, art, science, culinary, foreign language, and English.

“I’m very excited to learn when I go over there,” said Dr Gejda after the meeting. “Not only for the classroom experience, but from the administration as well.”

For Dr Robinson, Mr Hiruo and Mr Dumais, this will be a return trip to Liaocheng. Each visited the area on separate occasions.

Dr Robinson first went to Liaocheng in November 2007, months before she began her position as superintendent of schools in town. When she started in Newtown, as she told delegates from Liaocheng visiting NHS last month, she was excited to learn Mr Hiruo and social studies teacher Martha Parvis were interested in continuing the relationship with the Shandong Province school with a trip to the area the following spring.

 Last April, Mr Dumais traveled to the sister school, and updated his blog, www.dumais.us/newtown/blog, with photos. At the meeting on Monday, Mr Dumais jokingly warned the delegation members he will be taking photos during the trip next month also. After the meeting, he said he will also be updating the blog when possible during the trip.

On Tuesday, Dr Robinson said she is excited for the upcoming trip.

When she was there the first time there was no concrete idea of where the visit would go, she said, “And now we’re going over with 27 people. It’s just great.”

While Chinese exchange teacher Ding Hong has been instrumental in working on the relationship and with working toward the trip, Mr Hiruo said he will not be going on the ten-day educational trip.

Liaocheng No. 3 Middle School has a few programs scheduled for the delegation’s stay, similar to what the group visiting NHS last month from China experienced. The NHS delegates will be observing classrooms, attending lunches, and providing classroom instruction. During the meeting on Monday, Mr Hiruo said not everyone will be teaching daily to students. Some teachers, he said, may also be asked to give a lesson in front of an auditorium, larger than the auditorium at NHS, of educators from Liaocheng.

While visiting Liaocheng, the delegates were reminded by Mr Dumais on Monday that seating is a cultural significance, and sitting should not be done until they are told were to sit. Other things to keep in mind, as Mr Hiruo explained, was how to time giving gifts, and what type of gifts to bring from America.

NHS Culinary teacher Steve OShana, Mr Hiruo said as an example, will be bringing cooking equipment that is used both in China and America. While bringing presents to exchange based on a teaching area is not necessary, something creative with a personal touch does help.

“You don’t have to bring them the US history book,” said Mr Hiruo. “It could be anything.”

Gifts will be exchanged to show appreciation to those people who have made the trip extra special, and gifts will also be brought by the administrators to present on behalf of the school.

During the visit Mr Hiruo said talks will also move forward in establishing a sister school relationship for Reed Intermediate School, and for branching the relationship further through Newtown schools.

After three days in Liaocheng, the group will return to Beijing for more scheduled tours.

Then finally, Mr Hiruo said, “Sunday morning; home.”