District 88 welcomes students, staff from Huantai 1st Middle School in China

Pictured is District 88 Superintendent Dr. Scott Helton.

At District 88, we embrace the diversity of our student body and communities as a strength for our schools. We have about 40 languages and more than 30 countries represented among our families, and almost half of the nearly 4,000 students at District 88 speak a language other than English at home.

We continuously provide opportunities for our students to experience other cultures, and on Feb. 26 and 27, we once again had the privilege to welcome and host 18 students and two teachers from Huantai 1st Middle School (located in Zibo, a city in central Shandong province, China) at Addison Trail and Willowbrook (respectively).

During their visit, they shadowed District 88 students, staff members and administrators, toured the buildings and viewed extracurricular activities such as athletic and performing arts events. The group members also stopped by other locations in the Chicago area during their visit.

This trip was made possible through the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau’s DuPage Discovery Tours, an international student program that expands cross-cultural understanding, develops platforms for various languages and promotes higher learning.

District 88 provides a comprehensive educational experience for all students, which includes a focus on cultural competency. Whether it’s traveling to Europe or hosting guests from abroad, those interactions teach students life lessons and help them develop a global mindset. We look forward to more programs like DuPage Discovery Tours, and we appreciate your continued support of District 88.

On Feb. 26, Willowbrook welcomed and hosted 18 students and two teachers from Huantai 1st Middle School (located in Zibo, a city in central Shandong province, China). Top row, left: Students from China look through a comic book in Willowbrook's Library Media Center. Top row, middle: The students tested out musical instruments at the school. Top row, right: The students play a game of ping-pong. Bottom row, left: The students sing a song together. Bottom row, middle: The visiting students from China hold up their new Willowbrook gear. Bottom row, right: Willowbrook students and staff pose with the visiting group from China. Pictured at left is Willowbrook Principal Dr. Daniel Krause.

On Feb. 27, Addison Trail welcomed and hosted 18 students and two teachers from Huantai 1st Middle School (located in Zibo, a city in central Shandong province, China). Top row: Addison Trail students show the visiting students the school's workout facilities and play basketball in the gym. Bottom row, left: The students from China experience a social studies class at Addison Trail. Bottom row, middle: The students tested out musical instruments at the school. Bottom row, right: Addison Trail students and staff pose with the visiting group from China.

Students and teachers from Huantai 1st Middle School (located in Zibo, a city in central Shandong province, China) pose with representatives from District 88 and the DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau during a celebration dinner in their honor on March 2. That group from China visited Willowbrook on Feb. 26 and Addison Trail on Feb. 27.