After early talks between Central Washington University and the Hou Kong International School from Macau, China in July 2017, more progress on a real exchange program between the international school and Sammamish schools could be become a reality this year.
On Jan. 12, representatives from Hou Kong International School met with representatives from Eastside Catholic school, YMCA of Sammamish, and Sammamish City Councilmember Ramiro Valderrama to discuss possible partnerships for a student exchange program.
“We are moving toward at least 30 kids coming this summer from Macau,” Valderrama said, stating that possible student exchanges with Eastside Catholic School were also being discussed. “Some of the discussion was looking at one the logistics of how do you host these kids, what are the days going to look like between academic and sports programs, there is also the cultural aspect.”
That cultural aspect, he said, was first taking shape in the form of a Chinese New Year celebration at CWU-Sammamish on Feb. 10, which is being sponsored by CWU, the city of Sammamish, the YMCA, Skyline High School, Sammamish Chinese School and the WaHaHa Youth Club.
Alongside the group traveling to Sammamish in the summer, the city is also planning to hold another Chinese cultural event, the Dragon Boat Festival. Valderrama said the city Arts Commission has formally announced that they would be taking the lead on organizing the event for the summer and has established ties with the arts commission in Macau, which will provide support and guidance for the event.
“The school will be providing liaisons to the Arts Commission but also the government of Macau’s arts commission will provide support, pictures, activities,” he said. “Macau is the biggest celebrator of [the festival].”
Aside from cultural festivals, the schools discussed establishing student communication through video conferencing classes and a pen pal-type program between the students in Macau, and Eastside Catholic’s 150 students taking Mandarin Chinese language classes. The plan is for those programs to eventually expand to Skyline and Eastlake.
Those early programs are being planned to begin in May, Valderrama said, while discussions on setting more consistent exchanges between both communities is ongoing.
Discussions with the YMCA covered what types of activities both at and away from the Y’s facility in Sammamish will be planned for the exchange students this summer. The group will be taken to various locations around the area including Seattle’s Museum of Flight, Valderrama said.
“We are talking about already establishing the kids curriculum for the summer and bringing more kids, but how do we do exchanges as semester or a year both ways,” he said. “This is the trial, the beginning of it. That’s what they are looking at, to come for an academic semester or academic year.”
Last July, representatives from the Hou Kong International School and CWU met to discuss their ongoing teacher exchange program as well as future programs for Chinese students at the CWU-Sammamish campus.
Through development of the program, Valderrama said, Hou Kong International School wants to expand their ties to Sammamish to eventually have their own school or program in partnership with the various local organizations in the area.
