From Oct. 6-12, 24 boys from Jeppe High School in Johannesburg, South Africa, visited Chagrin Falls, thanks to a partnership between their school and Chagrin Falls High School.
Before they arrived in Chagrin Falls, the Jeppe students visited Washington, DC to experience the city, tour the museums, and visit the historic monuments. When they arrived on Oct. 6 to Chagrin Falls, they attended a welcome dinner, catered by the Burntwood Tavern.
The host families and support organizations were integral in making this a memorable trip. Students visited to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, thanks to the Chagrin Dads’ Club, a soccer game and Chipotle tailgate sponsored by the Chagrin Falls Educational Foundation, and they even had lunch downtown at Thompson Hine Law Firm courtesy of one of the host parents.
The visit also included a tour and classroom interactions with all of the Chagrin Falls’ schools. The most cherished time however was spent with their host families, carving pumpkins, playing paintball, and enjoying the shopping and restaurants of downtown Chagrin Falls.
The students seemed to enjoy all that Chagrin Falls had to offer. “I enjoy the freedom around school and the friendliness,” said Kyle Grundlingh, a student from Jeppe High School. Many agreed with this and many didn’t want to leave Chagrin Falls or their host families who added a certain warmth to an enjoyable visit. “We are very thankful for our host families because they are helping to build bridges for our students and carry on the tradition of excellence in Chagrin Falls,” said Chagrin Falls High School Principal Steven Ast.
During the Jeppe Boys’ visit, they learned first-hand about a completely different culture. They experienced the similarities and differences between South Africa and America, including the education system and the food. One Jeppe student even said, “I want to stay in America, I like Starbucks,” and “I like not wearing uniform.”
Jeppe High School is recognized as one of the top 20 schools in South Africa, which has an amazing education system. When mentioned in the book Historic Schools of South Africa, it stated, “Perhaps more than any other Johannesburg school, it [Jeppe] reflects the history and changing character of the city and has always been a melting pot for children of diverse socioeconomic, language and cultural backgrounds.”
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village Schools thanks all the staff, students, and host families for opening up their homes and classrooms for this experience that benefited not only the students from Jeppe High School, but our entire Chagrin community.
By Thomas Preston, freshman, Chagrin Falls High School
