NICE Coordinators Reflect On Recent Trip To China

By Eliza Hallabeck

A 29-member delegation traveled to China for 11 days, starting April 12, as part of the Newtown International Center for Education (NICE) program, and Program Coordinator Jason Hiruo and Assistant Program Coordinator Amanda Friedman reflected on that trip this week.

The 29 delegates included 16 Newtown High School students; 12 faculty and staff members from Reed Intermediate School, Newtown Middle School, and Newtown High School; Director of Economic and Community Development Elizabeth Stocker; and First Selectman Pat Llodra.

The group visited Newtown’s sister schools in Liaocheng, in the Shandong Province of China, and other stops along the way, including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, Jinshang Park, and more. While in Liaocheng group members stayed with host families.

Based on the number of students crying at the end of the delegation’s stay, Ms Friedman, who is also an English teacher at NHS, and Mr Hiruo, who is also an assistant principal at the high school, said this trip seemed to “hit home” for students more than past trips have.

As the NICE program has grown over the past few years, visitors from Liaocheng have come to Newtown, and a group of Newtown students first visited China last year. Through those visits, Ms Friedman said students have bonded, and this year’s trip cemented that for some.

“The mutual experience was there, I think, in a bigger way,” said Ms Friedman. “They were so excited to see friends and familiar faces.”

For everyone in the delegation, Ms Friedman said the experience was great.

Last year when visiting Liaocheng, Ms Friedman said the group visited the home of Confucius, and this year the group, with Chinese delegates, collectively reached the top of Mount Tai.

“Mount Tai is considered one of the most holy mountains in China,” said Ms Friedman.

The physical excursion coupled with reaching the top of the mountain together, Ms Friedman said, made climbing Mount Tai a great experience.

“It was a true bonding experience for Newtown and Liaocheng,” said Mr Hiruo. “You can’t match it.”

This year’s trip also marked the first extensive stay for Newtown students and one teacher in Liaocheng. Science teacher Tim DeJulio and students Kyra Middeleer and David Swigart are set to return on May 6. While in Liaocheng for the extended period of time, Mr Hiruo said, Mr DeJulio is also speaking with delegates from France to further a partnership cemented with a school in France this week.

Student delegates on the trip were Rob Beier, Mike Mossbarger, Luke Shearin, Ishaar Gupta, Ben Galassi, David Swigart, Mason West, Josh Goldman, Kate Dunbar, Jenny Morrissey, Bianca Solano, Kelsey McEvoy, MaryJoe Rossi, Tess Murray, Kyra Middeleer, and Mackenzie Lapp.

The adult delegation members from Newtown High School in addition to Mr Hiruo and Ms Friedman were Katherine Matz, Bob Gendreau, Cara Fedak, and Tim DeJulio; Newtown Middle School delegation members were Kathy Bremer, Kate Buesing, and Stephanie Glynn; and Reed Intermediate School delegation members were Gael Lynch, and Maura Drabik. Mrs Llodra and Ms Stocker also traveled with the delegation as district representatives.

Forging Connections

Mrs Llodra, Mr Hiruo said, did a fantastic job representing Newtown.

“She really got to know the mayor, the vice mayor, and the governors of the prefectures around Liaocheng [and the foreign affairs office],” said Mr Hiruo. “[Mrs Llodra] really made a very strong connection with people who are really interested in developing friendships and interested in working together in the future.”

(A look at Mrs Llodra’s visit to China is covered in a related article in this week’s Newtown Bee.)

The level of organization and ability to look at trips critically, Ms Friedman said, have helped to further each consecutive visit to China. On the plane home, Ms Friedman said work was already underway to prepare for next year’s expected visit.

“It’s a learning opportunity, it is a professional opportunity, and for many people, students and adults, it is a life-changing opportunity,” Ms Friedman said.

For the future, Ms Friedman said the goal is to bring more students.

“We’re working with the NICE [Parent Community Organization] to offer partial scholarships,” said Ms Friedman, “because for some students I think going on a trip like this is a financial burden that they cannot afford. And we want to try to make this available for everyone.”

Applications for students interested in traveling on next year’s trip will be sent out soon, Mr Hiruo said, and interviews will begin before the end of the school year.

One upcoming event to help fund scholarships, Ms Friedman said, is the NICE student ambassadors are set to host a benefit concert on May 31, in Newtown High School’s cafetorium from 7 pm to 8:30 pm, to help fund the NICE foundation, the Global Voice student organization, and the Norm McConnell scholarship fund.

The concert will be open to the public, and tickets sold at the door will cost $3. Ms Friedman said both students and teachers will perform during the concert.