Exchange update

This month KIS welcomed Mr Holste von Mutius from the German PASCH program of the Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA), who was here to reinforce the cooperation between KIS and the German government. His main intent was to advise our school on its development of our budding German language section. In his meeting with our Acting Principal he noted that he was very impressed with the progress in German and complimented the German students at KIS for their good language skills and enthusiasm. He officially handed over a first set of 440 German books and teaching materials, donated by the ZfA, to the school to enhance teaching and to enthuse students for German literature.

Oliver Weise
Second Language department

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KIS Exchanges

Recently, KIS students Vashti and Alan arrived in Melbourne, Australia and were given a very warm welcome by the two families who will be hosting them for one semester while they study at Carey Baptist Grammar School.

It has been a long road for these students: from their selection last June as the successful candidates for this exchange, until their departure from Kodai on 18 February. With passports to be arranged and the visa maze to navigate, it’s a small miracle that they made it there at all! However, such is the nature of exchanges and we’re so thankful that they have now arrived safe and sound.

If an exchange is something you think you would like your child to be involved in while at KIS, there are a few opportunities for this.

Exchange with Australia
An exchange program with Carey Baptist Grammar (Melbourne, Australia) and Woodstock International School (Mussoorie, India) was initiated in the early 1990s by Carey Principal, Dr Ross Millikan and Don Holmes (formerly Dean of Students at Carey and past Vice Principal Academic at Woodstock). In July 2002, Carey Grammar School extended this annual full scholarship offer to two year 10 students of Kodaikanal International School (KIS). KIS students attend Carey Baptist Grammar school during KIS second semester, but Carey’s first semester. The school year in Australia begins in late January / early February and the students return to India in the first week of July. There are many similar courses at the two schools. However, Carey allows only two science subjects per semester if you are in the IB stream. You can do three Sciences, English, Maths and Humanities if you are in the Victorian Certified Stream (similar to KIS diploma). Upon return to KIS, students will receive credits for work done following review of their Carey reports.

Exchange with Germany
The Germany exchange is a one semester exchange program for students in grade nine or ten (at the time of exchange) between KIS and the Andreanum academy. Ordinarily, KIS students travel from Kodai in early August as a group to Hannover, where they are met by their host family, the German family they will live with for the entirety of their exchange. The exchange finishes in late December, when the KIS students return to India (or their country of origin) to complete the winter break with their family. KIS students will have the opportunity to become fluent in German as the school they attend conducts all their instruction in German.

Exchange with The Netherlands
The Netherlands exchange is a one month summer exchange program between KIS and two schools in the Netherlands: OBC in Bemmel and Maasland College in Oss. Ordinarily, KIS students travel from Kodai, in a group to Amsterdam as soon as school finishes in May, where they are met by the Dutch family whom they will live with for the entirety of their exchange. At the conclusion of the exchange, KIS students return to India (or their country of origin) to complete the summer break with their family. KIS students are expected to attend all classes assigned to them at the school they are at. They are also expected to maintain a high standard of behavior, conducting themselves as good ambassadors for KIS. Some of the classes that the students attend are in Dutch, giving KIS students the opportunity to pick up some of the language.

Exciting new possibilities
At present we are liaising with an organization in Switzerland examining the possibility of an exchange in a French-speaking part of the country. We are hopeful that this will provide a much needed link with our strong French program as it is our desire to give students the option to spend time in a French-speaking country.

If you would like to discuss the possibility of setting up a partnership with KIS and a school in your part of the world, please feel free to contact Cath Butler.

Cath Butler

HoD RE department

exchanges@kis.in

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Exchange Programs in KIS

The Christian Partner Exchange program at KIS seeks to establish worldwide links with schools, individuals and other potential partner organizations to facilitate cross cultural learning experiences. The program is consciously linked with the Christian identity of Kodaikanal International School as outlined in Design ‘94 and therefore encourages students not only to develop academically and socially but also spiritually. Through this program, KIS gives students the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a different culture for up to one semester – studying, living and learning in a new and different environment from what they have experienced before. At present, KIS participates in exchange programs in 3 different countries.In Germany, students have the opportunity to study for one semester at Andreum Gymnasium in Hildescheim. This school has a strong English program yet the medium of instruction for most classes is German, giving students the prospect of becoming fluent in German in one semester. Students are hosted by exchange partner families to learn what daily life is like for these families. (The German ‘partner’ comes and studies in Kodai and stays in the dorm while they are here).

The Australian exchange is hosted by Carey Baptist Grammar school in Melbourne. The school has generously initiated a full scholarship exchange where all costs, including airfares, are covered by this institution. During this exchange, students are required to choose some IB courses in preparation for entering grade 11 upon returning to KIS. For this exchange a stringent interview process is adhered to as we seek to select students who will not only benefit greatly from this generous opportunity, but who will also represent KIS well.

The third opportunity KIS currently makes use of is a summer exchange with two schools in the Netherlands. For four weeks, a group of students experience the cultural differences that abound between the Netherlands and India as they participate in family life and attend a Dutch school.

The most recent initiative of the school in this area is the development of a new, Council approved program for post-secondary school students. Route 14:6 seeks to provide the space for 12 young adults to live in an intentional community in Kodaikanal in order to take time out from school and university or work to reflect on what it means for them to be a follower of Jesus in the world today. It is envisioned that the program participants enjoy interaction with school students daily as well as travelling to different places in South India where a variety of service opportunities present themselves. The program seeks to adopt a holistic approach to spiritual development in the ways of Jesus, looking at the various aspects of discipleship – mixing devotion and practice.

Participating in an exchange is something that a student will never forget. Overall, these experiences stretch the hearts and minds of KIS students as they become more aware of their responsibility to the local community and to the world.

We are currently seeking to expand our program so if you or your school is interested in enquiring about any of the programs mentioned above, or developing an exchange partnership with KIS, please contact Cath.

Cath Butler

Exchange Program Liaison

exchanges@kis.in

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