Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 26, 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Korean middle school inks sister ties with Chacha Jr. High

Saipan Mayor Donald G. Flores pledged his support and assistance to facilitate future learning activities between Gye Nam Jr. High School in South Korea and Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School in Kagman as a result of a newly established sister-school relationship.

Gye Nam Jr. High School principal Oh Kyung Lim and Math teacher Ysuk Jeong arrived on island over the weekend and met Monday with Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School principal Vincent Dela Cruz to sign the sister-school proclamation.

“These schools are to establish and proclaim a sisterhood relationship to exist through the interactive development and student exchanges to inform about their academic program and cooperation within their students, teachers, and parents from time to time,” the proclamation reads.

Flores welcomed the collaboration between the two institutions, saying this type of program would enhance learning opportunities for both local and Korean students.

Teacher Jeong said they are looking at starting off the sister-school relationship with an online education system that would later be expanded to the actual student exchange at the end of the year or in early 2014.

The student exchange program, Jeong said, will involve members of the school band and orchestra as well as their English club, which is very active in their school and are very “curious” to learn about another country's language and culture.

Jeong said the program will also include a home-stay arrangement, and Flores said the Mayor's Office will do its best to make the island experience memorable for participating Korean students.

She noted that while the Gye Na Jr. High School established the sister-school relationship with Chacha Oceanview Jr. High School, the same collaboration will be offered to other schools on Saipan.

The two visiting school officials are scheduled to fly back to Korea today.

Located in Gyeonggi Province in Korea, Gye Nam Jr. High School has a student population of about 1,500.