An exchange of cultures

An exchange of cultures

Written by Sarah Mangum Friday, 25 July 2008

What started out as an art project for Summitt Elementary School students turned into an exchange program for elementary students to visit Koblenz, Germany.

When the City of Austin approved its sister city program with Koblenz in 1992, it wanted to give a gift to the city. Austin officials asked Diane Mansfield, a now-retired teacher from Summitt Elementary, if she could have her fourth grade class paint pictures on the theme, “What I love about Austin.”

After the council presented the framed artwork to Koblenz officials, the City of Koblenz offered to pay for the class to visit its Schenkendorf School in ’93. Mansfield, along with some parents, took the children on the trip the first year. When they came home, she thought that was it. She got a phone call from Austin’s sister city leader saying now the Schenkendorf School would like to visit Summitt.

While exchange programs for high school students are somewhat common, there were no elementary school programs, so it has evolved over the years to what it is today. Now, children write essays about why they want to participate in the program, and a committee determines which students get to participate. Parents must be committed because there is fund raising all year long, along with weekly meetings for the students and monthly meetings for parents in preparation for the trip.

While the first year was free, students now raise the money for their trip.

Not only do about 15 children get to visit Germany every other year, but a group of German students visit Summitt on odd years.

Mansfield retired from the program in ’97 and Mary Hutka, a second grade teacher who had attended the trip, joined the leadership team in ’98. This year Nicole Wilson, a first grade teacher, is stepping in as a co-leader to learn the ropes.

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