Hylton High School welcomes exchange students from Spain | Headlines

Hylton High School recently welcomed 18 students and two teachers from a school in Valencia, Spain, as a part of an exchange program that will see Hylton students and teachers make their way to Spain next month.

The Spanish students from the IES Veles e Vents school stayed with host families from Hylton, experiencing life in the United States and exploring sites around Washington, D.C. They also participated in activities with Hylton students.

Hylton is the only school in Prince William County Public Schools with an exchange program. The school has long-standing exchanges with schools in Dijon, France and Verona, Italy, but this was the first year the school added a Spanish exchange program.

In April, 14 students and two teachers from Hylton will visit their Spanish counterparts at IES Veles e Vents, completing the exchange.

Hylton High School Specialty Program Coordinator Samantha Lennon said the school is home to the Center for International Studies and Languages. The center’s goal is to advance the understanding of global issues, with the program structured around three curricular areas of emphasis: cultures and languages, information and communication, and political, economic and environmental systems.

The specialty program offers, among other things, the foreign exchange program – the only such program in the county.

“It is a great opportunity for Hylton students to foster new relationships with international students, as well as learn and exchange cultural knowledge while giving real-life connections to our program goals and areas of emphasis,” Lennon said.

Students who participate in the exchange are not required to be studying a language or be in the Center for International Studies and Languages program, Lennon said. Any Hylton student is eligible to travel or host if they’re able. 

The visiting Spanish students and teachers attended and observed classes at Hylton alongside their host students. The students and teachers – from Spain and Hylton – took day trips to D.C. structured around U.S. government, history and culture. The group made trips to the U.S. Capitol, the National Archives, Library of Congress, the National Museum of the United States Marine Corps, Smithsonian museums and national monuments.

The Hylton students will be finishing the exchange in April over spring break.

“We will get to stay with host families just like they did here, being awarded the same unique opportunity to live with another family and, in some cases, almost become like another family member,” Lennon said.

The Hylton students will attend classes at the Spanish school and participate in activities planned in and around Valencia with their hosts. At the end of the trip with the partner school, the Hylton group will travel to Barcelona.

 “Our students are excited about this new partnership, and we are hoping that our program can continue to grow from here,” Lennon said.