WA has a number of traditions that students, staff, and community members participate in that make Westford a diverse community. Events happening in the next few weeks at WA include spirit week and the spirit rally, trunk-or-treat, homecoming, but one of the most notable is the bi-annual French exchange.
Through the Foreign Language programs, WA hosts foreign exchange students from other countries and provides opportunities for WA students to immerse themselves in other cultures. During the first few weeks of September, WA students and families hosted Spanish exchange students traveling from Salamanca, Spain. Now, WA is preparing for 30 students from Compiègne, France to arrive in Westford on Oct. 29.
WA French teacher Katrina Lackner has been one of the French Exchange advisors for nearly 20 years. Lackner plays a major role in organizing the exchange, allowing Westford students to enjoy their time with their partner, and visiting high school French students to make sure that they feel welcomed.
“The exchange program is a wonderful reminder of just how lucky we are to be part of such a vibrant and welcoming community,” Lackner said. “It is a unique and very impactful experience.”
Not only do the exchange advisors put a lot of work in, but the teachers, friends, and parents of the students all work tirelessly to allow everything to run smoothly.
“In order for the program to be successful, administrators, students, teachers, and families generously work together to make the experience meaningful,” Lackner said.
For 10 days, host parents of the French exchange students must arrange rides, meals, and a location in their house for their partner to stay in.
This year, there are two sets of WA siblings taking on the French Exchange program together. Junior Matthew Van-Houtte along with his sister, sophomore Allyson Van-Houtte will have two additional students living with them. Sisters, senior Ariana Thomas and sophomore Julianna Thomas, are also sharing this experience together and look forward to the memories that will be made.
“This is a very unique experience that me and my sister will be able to share together and we are both very excited for our exchange partners to be arriving soon,” Ariana Thomas said.
At this point, the WA students participating in the exchange have been in contact with their exchange partners since the end of last school year and are preparing for October.
“I have been communicating with my exchange partner and we have been texting ever since school let out in June,” Ariana Thomas said. “We talk quite frequently.”
Allyson Van-Houtte is a fluent French speaker and travels to France often to visit her family. She is familiar with the French language and culture due to her family background, so she is looking forward to sharing the American culture with her partner and other students coming from France.
“[When the exchange students arrive] my parents are going to struggle because we’re not supposed to speak in French, but they speak in French automatically,” Allyson said. “In my family it is instinct, so it will be a weird thing to adjust to.”
The students coming from France will be arriving in Westford at an exciting time; the holiday season. In France, Halloween is not a celebrated holiday so WA students get to share their Halloween and fall traditions with them.
“One of the activities that I am most looking forward to doing with my partner and the other exchange students would be celebrating Halloween,” Ariana Thomas said. “In France they do not have this holiday and I think as we live in New England with the beautiful leaves and many people decorating, it will be an amazing experience for all of us.”
Lackner and WA students partaking in the exchange planned a handful of adventures the group will go on during the thrill of the fall.
“They will be here for Halloween, Diwali, and the presidential elections, so it certainly proves to be a very exciting period of time for them,” Lackner said. “Some of the activities include a field trip to Newport, a tailgate party for the WA vs. Lincoln-Sudbury football game, and a group Trick-or-Treat.
An activity many of the WA students are looking forward to is the group trip to Newport. There they will walk around and shop, spending time near the water with one another.
WA senior Jesse Moran is participating in the French Exchange this year. This is his second year being a part of the program. Moran had an unforgettable experience hosting and traveling last year and he is looking forward to having a similar experience this year.
“I had a great time traveling to France and hosting,” Moran said. “It was really cool to experience the blend of cultures and making new friends that will last a lifetime. I still talk to my partner from last year. The exchange absolutely created a lasting bond between our two schools and the students.”
Less than four weeks from now marks the week the French students arrive in Boston. To make the visiting students feel welcome in Westford, WA exchange participants show hospitality by greeting them with a sign. Once they arrive at their partner’s house, many families tend to arrange individual welcome gifts when entering the host’s homes.
On April 22 WA exchange students will be switching roles and traveling to Compiègne, France. They will spend two weeks overseas, one of them being the week of April vacation. WA students are landing in France on Sunday, April 20, but prior to reuniting with their partners, they will be spending a few days exploring southern regions of France on their own.
According to both students and advisors, the exchange program has been an experience that will never be forgotten. WA takes pride in conducting this program and being a part of a diverse community that allows opportunities like this.
“We are so grateful to all of the teachers who willingly host students in their classrooms, in a year where class sizes are already fairly large,” Lackner said. “We are also grateful to the student body for welcoming the French students, and showing them just what a special place WA is.”
