Published on May 14, 2025
Since its inception in 1989, Warwick School District has participated in the GAPP Exchange Program nearly every year (brief interruptions due to 9/11 and Covid-19). For each exchange, Warwick students spend three weeks in Germany, and then later in the year, their German partners spend three weeks visiting in Lititz, PA.
These past few weeks, we’ve welcomed twenty students from our partner school, König-Karlmann Gymnasium in Altötting, Germany. During their visit, our German partners explored downtown Lititz and attended day trips touring Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Some of the highlights of their visit included learning about the Moravian history in Lititz, touring Independence Hall, seeing The Lion King on Broadway, and experiencing Warwick’s Prom.
This exchange is truly invaluable to students as it offers such an immersive experience to all students involved. By living with a host family for three weeks, students on both sides of the exchange get to experience everyday life, culture, and language during their trip. This exchange also results in several lifelong friendships!
As part of the trip, German students shadowed their Warwick partners through their school schedules and were able to experience American elective courses that are not offered at their school, such as culinary arts, jewelry making, CTC, and other Career Learning Experiences. German students also spent time presenting to our German 1 students.
Another highlight of the trip included the farewell dinner, held at Warwick High School. The meal was served potluck-style, with each German student and their host family preparing a traditional German or Bavarian dish. Students came dressed in typical Bavarian attire of Lederhosen and Dirndl, gave ‘thank you’ speeches to their host families, and enjoyed a great night of dancing and making memories. We are so thankful for the continued opportunities available to our students through this exchange.
For more information on the GAPP Exchange Program, click here.