The school year of 2012-2013 had a very strong French accent, as Marquette Catholic High School’s partnership with St-Denis International School continued to grow and thrive. In addition to welcoming the yearly delegation of students from the French school in February, three students traveled to St-Denis International School in Loches, France, in June.
Anna Grabovac and Samantha Fanson, both class of 2014, and Emily Johnston ’15 traveled with Mrs. Cathy Kramer ’90 LaFrance from June 10 to July 2 on an exchange and immersion trip to complete this year’s program. The exchange program with St-Denis, now in its seventh year, has proved to be an integral part of Marquette’s commitment to education and international peace and understanding. Just as St-Denis students are welcomed into Marquette family homes and attend classes, Anna, Samantha and Emily were hosted by St-Denis families and sat in on classes on the French campus. Of course, no trip to Loches is complete without seeing the beautiful chateaux and castles for which the Loire Valley is known. The students had an opportunity to visit these beautiful pieces of living history, enjoying the art, architecture and culture of the area.
The second part of the immersion experience entailed a week-long stay in France’s legendary capital, Paris – the City of Light. Mrs. LaFrance and the students rented an apartment in one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, steps away from the Jardin du Luxembourg, the Pantheon and the Sorbonne. In order to truly use their language skills, the ladies learned to use the Metro (subway) and buy fresh food at the outdoor markets. The everyday experiences were blended seamlessly with obligatory tourist stops, such as the Louvre, the Eiffel Tower and the cathedral of Notre Dame.
Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, the exchange trips will move to a January slot. Several students have already showed interest in the program, which will last an entire month, rather than just two weeks at the school in Loches. In this way, Marquette students can mirror the program initiated by St-Denis International School. Additionally, students returning from the January exchange will accompany the French student delegation, who traditionally visits in February.
As the program continues to grow, Marquette hopes to offer semester-long stays at St-Denis, allowing students to transfer credit earned at the French school back to Marquette.