JCA’s International Students Celebrate Chinese New Year by Volunteering

Chinese St. Paul's

In continuing the National Catholic Schools Week theme of “Celebrating Your Students”, today JCA is grateful for our 12 Chinese foreign exchange students. Last week, in celebration of the Chinese New Year, these students volunteered at MorningStar Mission and also shared some of their traditions with St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church‘s 1st grade students.

JCA’s 12 Chinese students did an amazing job at MorningStar. Six kids worked the food line and were polite and professional to all those they served. Red even learned a magic trick from an older gentleman. The other six kids worked behind the scenes.

At St. Paul, all 12 took seats at the front of the classroom, introduced themselves in both English and Chinese, showed the students their hometowns on a map of China, and answered questions including, “What is Burger King like in China?” They then made Chinese lanterns with students and wrote the first grader’s names in Chinese characters. They really connected with the little kids. Lots of selfies were taken.

(A special thanks to Ryan, the host at MorningStar, and Mrs. Katie Nelson, who graduated from St. Francis Academy in ’86 – Katie Larkin.) JCA would also like to thank English teacher Mrs. Maria Fischer for chaperoning the students throughout the day and for her work in providing the JCA international students after-school tutoring and guidance.

Interested in hosting an international student or learning more about JCA’s foreign exchange student program through the Cambridge Network and GP Homestay? Visit https://www.jca-online.org/international-students/ for more information.


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