German students to spend a week at Shorecrest

By Craig Degginger, Shoreline Schools

Shorecrest High School will host 39 students and four faculty from Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium (THG), located in Muehlacker, near Stuttgart in southwestern Germany, from May 8 to 16.

This group is the school choir and will perform while at Shorecrest, but the primary reason for their visit is to experience American culture. There will be a public performance on May 12, at 7 pm, in the Third Place Commons at Lake Forest Park Towne Center.

"The German students visiting us are interested in learning about American culture, especially collaborating and sharing a passion for music and exchanging and discussing ideas in science," said Shorecrest science teacher Vince Santo Pietro, who is coordinating the group's visit. He first became acquainted with the school when a group of Shorecrest students visited Germany in 2004.

"Most have never been in our country before. What better way to experience the culture than staying in the homes of our teens and visiting our school. Likewise, our students will learn a lot about European culture."

Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium is a public school with an emphasis on the arts. The school is located in the town of Muehlacker, about the size of Shoreline, located in the southern German state of Baden-Wuerttemburg.

The Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium students will attend classes with their Shorecrest host students Monday through Thursday, and will have the opportunity for sightseeing in the Seattle area before leaving on May 16.

Photo of Herz-Jesu Kirche, Muehlacker by SteveK, WikiMedia Commons