New London School Is A Magnet For Italian Exchange Students

A Press Release from New London School District

A group of 13 students attending Liceo C. Salutati Montecatini Terme  in Montecatini, Italy, will arrive in Connecticut on Saturday for 11 days of immersion in American culture.

New London's Science and Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut will host the Italian exchange students, who will arrive at the magnet school to meet their host families at 4 p.m. This is the second time that the Italian students have participated in this exchange.

The exchange students are juniors and seniors who will stay with their magnet school host students and families while they are visiting Connecticut. During their almost two weeks in the United States, they will attend a University of Connecticut football game, visit local universities and colleges, take a trip to Boston and tour Newport, R.I.

They will also shadow high school students through their normal school day and attend after school and extra-curricular activities if their host student or family participates in them.

Last year's exchange provided New London students the opportunity to expand their horizons and the trip was so successful that our students were invited to visit their new friends at their homes in Italy. Science and Technology Magnet High School students visited Montecatini for their spring break last April.

"We're going to show our guests all the finest sights, sounds and cultural highlights of southeastern Connecticut and New England," Magnet School Director Louis Allen said. "The exciting thing about it [the exchange] is the impact on their kids and our kids, it's so overwhelming. In a two-week period they can bond in a way that takes adults months."