District 88 provides travel abroad experience for students through Village of Addison Sister Cities program

Pictured is District 88 Assistant Superintendent Jean Barbanente.

At District 88, we are committed to providing as many opportunities as possible for our students to gain the knowledge and skills they need to compete in a global society.

Our mission is to work for the continuous improvement of student achievement, and the world languages departments at Addison Trail and Willowbrook continue to help us accomplish that mission, as students pursue a second language to enhance their academic, college and career profiles. As a capstone to our language programs, District 88 offers students in our highest-level language classes the chance to travel to the country where the target language is spoken to advance language skills, experience new cultures and extend the classroom to the real world.

From Oct. 7 to 14, students and staff members from Il Cartesio High School in Triggiano, Italy, visited Addison through the Addison-Triggiano Sister Cities student-exchange program. During their visit, they enjoyed several activities, including touring Chicago sites such as (top to bottom, left to right) Buckingham Fountain, Cloud Gate and Lake Michigan. Addison Trail students will travel to Italy this spring.

Left: Addison Trail Assistant Principal Courtney DeMent (left) gives a tour of the school to visitors from Il Cartesio High School in Triggiano, Italy. They came to Addison through the Addison-Triggiano Sister Cities student-exchange program, and students from Addison Trail will travel to Italy this spring. They are (from left) Il Cartesio High School Principal Maria Morisco, teacher Mirella Fanizzi, teacher Giuseppe Rotondi and Rotondi's daughter. Right: (From right) Addison Trail Principal Michael Bolden, Rotondi, Rotondi's daughter, Morisco, DeMent and Fanizzi smile during a visit to Addison Trail.

Pictured are students and staff members from Il Cartesio High School in Triggiano, Italy; students and staff members from Addison Trail; and members of the Village of Addison Sister Cities program. From Oct. 7 to 14, the group from Italy visited Addison as part of the Addison-Triggiano Sister Cities student-exchange program. Addison Trail students will travel to Italy this spring.

This year, 13 Addison Trail students are participating in the Village of Addison Sister Cities program. Through that student-exchange program, Addison families hosted 19 students from Il Cartesio High School in Triggiano, Italy, from Oct. 7 to 14. Addison Trail students will then travel to Italy during Spring Break in late March. Students enrolled in Italian 3 honors, 4 honors or Advanced Placement (AP)/college-level classes were eligible to apply. The application process included writing an essay and completing an interview in English and Italian. GPA, attendance, behavior and character/leadership also were taken into consideration.

During their visit to Addison, the Italian students and their adult chaperones enjoyed a variety of activities such as a welcome reception at Addison Village Hall, watching Addison Trail compete in several sports, going to a Bulls game, visiting Six Flags Great America, touring downtown Chicago, eating at a variety of restaurants, experiencing an American high school setting and a farewell dinner at Addison Trail.

The Addison-Triggiano Sister Cities agreement was signed in 2004, and the committee has worked tirelessly to raise funds to help offset the costs of hosting the Italian students and to provide scholarships for Addison Trail students to travel to Italy. The remaining costs for the student trips are funded by the students and their families, as well as through proceeds from fundraisers.

The Village of Addison Sister Cities Committee is made up of volunteers and is always looking for new members to ensure these experiences continue for the students of Addison. If you are interested in joining the committee, or for more information about the program, contact Marianne Fotopoulos with the Village of Addison at mfotopoulos@addison-il.org.

Thank you for your continued support of District 88.