Schools

Westwood Students Meet President of France

WHS students and chaperones went overseas as part of the high school's first French exchange program.

A trip to France? Oui, please!

Westwood High School students, along with teacher chaperones Daniel Jibson and Nancy Aykanian, made a trip to France as part of the first-ever WHS French exchange program.

The Westwood students met boys and girls of the Lycée Merleau-Ponty in Rochefort, France.

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On April 18, the 10 Westwood students had the privilege of shaking hands with French President François Hollande.

The students and chaperones also lived in the homes of French families and took day trips to the Isle de Ré, the Cognac region and the Gallo-Roman town of Saintes.

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The program was spurred by the launch of the Hermione, the replica of a Revolutionary War-era French frigate. The warship is sailing to the East Coast and will arrive in Boston on July 11.

The second part of the exchange will take place in October 2015, when 35 French students and their teacher chaperones will spend a week in Westwood.

The approximate dates for the students’ stay in Westwood are October 9 or 10 through October 20.

Those interested in hosting a French student should email Nancy Aykanian at naykanian@westwood.k12.ma.us for more information.

Photo: Nancy Aykanian shaking hands with President Hollande. Credit: Pascal Couillaud

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