Pupils from the Lycée Emile Duclaux in the French twin town of Aurillac at the official reception with the German hosts of the partner school Euregio-Gymnasium Bocholt by the deputy mayor Kerstin Erkens (centre). Also present: Heiner Böing-Messing, President of the German-French Society Bocholt, and Frank Gassen, teacher at Euregio-Gymnasium, who reactivated the exchange between the two schools after 15 years.
© Stadt Bocholt
French pupils visit Euregio-Gymnasium
Student exchange reactivated after 15 years // Reception by the city of Bocholt
14 pupils from the French twin town of Aurillac have now visited the Euregio-Gymnasium Bocholt with their two teachers. After 15 years, the school partnership between the Lycée Emile Duclaux and the local school has been reactivated with this trip. A group of pupils from the Euregio-Gymnasium in Bocholt and their teachers had already visited Aurillac four weeks ago.
The French group of students and their German hosts were welcomed in the staff room of the Euregio-Gymnasium by Deputy Mayor Kerstin Erkens, Headmaster Jan-Bernd Lepping and teachers Frank Gassen and Michael Reitmeyer.
Bocholt is borderless!
The deputy mayor introduced the guests to the European city of Bocholt with all its different facets, such as the economy, education and sights. She also reported on the history of the city, which is centred on the textile industry. "Bocholt is a liveable, lovable, borderless, open and attractive city in the countryside", said Erkens. She wished all participants in this German-French student exchange programme a wonderful time in Bocholt. Her special thanks went to the organisers and the host families.
It all began with Napoleon...
Headmaster Jan-Bernd Lepping reported in his welcome address how closely Bocholt is connected to France. Napoleon was already a guest here in the years 1811-13. He skilfully traced Franco-German history right up to the present day. In the 2023/24 school year, the Euregio-Gymnasium will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. He is therefore particularly pleased that the resumption of the school partnership between his school and the Lycée Emile Duclaux coincides with this anniversary year.
School visit, barbecue evening and much more
The programme for the French guests includes not only the everyday school visit, but also a joint barbecue evening in the "Green Classroom" of the Euregio-Gymnasium. There will also be a city tour of Bocholt and a guided tour of the LWL industrial museum Textilwerk Bocholt. Excursions to Oberhausen and across the German-Dutch border to Dinxperlo round off the programme. After five days, the group will return home to the French twin town by train.
Sponsorship
The student exchange programme is funded by the "Europa-Scheck" initiative of the Minister for Federal and European Affairs, International Affairs and Media of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia. Information on this can be found at https://mbeim.nrw/europa-schecks. The city of Bocholt supports the exchange to strengthen civic relations with the twin towns.
Pupils from the Lycée Emile Duclaux in the French twin town of Aurillac at the official reception with the German hosts of the partner school Euregio-Gymnasium Bocholt by the deputy mayor Kerstin Erkens (centre). Also present: Heiner Böing-Messing, President of the German-French Society Bocholt, and Frank Gassen, teacher at Euregio-Gymnasium, who reactivated the exchange between the two schools after 15 years.
© Stadt Bocholt