Dana Hall has initiated a Spanish exchange program with a new sister school, Sansueña School. Sansueña is a girls’ school, with all grades from nursery to high school, and is located in Zaragoza, Spain, famous for El Basilica del Pilar. Alexa Levin ’16, who is applying for the exchange program, commented, “It seems like a really interesting and great cultural experience. It’s a good way to improve our Spanish skills.”

“The new Spanish exchange program is a school-based and family-oriented program with the opportunity to live as a member of a family and learn about secondary school life in Spain,” according to Ms. Jacqui Bloomberg, World Languages Department Head. Spanish teacher Señor Jesus Lopez Diez commented, “The environment is very similar to this one at Dana Hall School, so that is always a great start.” He added, “Having an all-girls school in Spain is rare. Education is mostly coed by law in Spain.

Along with the great opportunity to visit Spain, students will benefit from being involved in the exchange program; Señor Lopez Diez assures potential participants that their Spanish skills will improve tremendously and they will make friends for life. Jinjae Kim ’16 added, “I think it’s a great opportunity for students who are willing to learn Spanish. Speaking Spanish for a whole three weeks will definitely improve their speaking.”

The Dana Hall students will visit Sansueña School on or about February 28, 2015, and return to Dana Hall on March 21, 2015. They will also serve as hosts for students from Sansueña School, who will visit Dana Hall during the first three weeks of September. According to Señor Lopez Diez, Spanish students who visit Dana Hall will have an opportunity to learn more about American culture and they will improve their English skills. Boarding students can also participate in this program, according to Academic Dean Ms. Nancy Rich, who said that, “In the case of a Dana Hall boarder participating in the exchange, we will arrange for a Dana Hall host family to host the student from Sansueña.”

According to Ms. Rich, “Three to four students in good academic, disciplinary and financial standing at Dana Hall, and who have completed Spanish II by June 2014, can participate in the Spanish exchange program.” Application forms are available on Schoology.

Photo: Academic Dean Ms. Nancy Rich poses with Charo Conde and Silvia Garcia Perez, head of school and English teacher, respectively, at Sansueña School. Señora Garcia Perez is coordinating the exchange program.