A History of the

North Penn Exchange Program

The idea of an International Exchange Program at North Penn High School first took root during the 1961–1962 school year, when teachers began discussing ways to connect students with the wider world. It was decided to seek a partner school in West Germany, and with that goal in mind, North Penn reached out to the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia. This Quaker organization, with its international network, helped establish a connection with Kranich Gymnasium in Salzgitter-Lebenstedt.

The partnership quickly grew. Administrators and teachers from both schools embraced the idea, and soon students began exchanging letters, cultural exhibits, and ideas. By the following year, the very first annual student exchange was launched—a tradition that continues to this day.

To support the growing program, a parent advisory committee was formed. These dedicated volunteers interviewed North Penn students eager to study abroad, secured host families for visiting students, raised scholarship funds, provided orientation for students and families, and spread the word about this exciting new opportunity.

As the years passed, North Penn’s exchange network expanded to include partnerships with a variety of international organizations, such as Rotary International, Youth for Understanding, AFS International Exchange, Spanish Heritage, the International Student Placement Service, the International Christian Youth Exchange, and the American-Scandinavian Student Exchange.

New school-to-school partnerships also emerged:

• 1981–1982: Schubart Gymnasium in Aalen, West Germany

• 2006–2007: Le Caousou in Toulouse, France (later shifting in 2011 to Lycée Fermat or Lycée Ozenne, both in Toulouse)

• 2011: Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Madrid, Spain

• 2016: Ensemble Scolaire Privé Saint-Genès in Bordeaux, France

Each of these partnerships involves the annual exchange of students, strengthening North Penn’s global ties year after year.

Over the decades, the impact has been remarkable. More than 600 students have taken part in host family experiences lasting a summer or a full school year, while more than 1,000 students have participated in shorter visits that included living with host families and attending school abroad.

In August 2012, the North Penn International Friendship Committee (NPIFC) hosted a 50th anniversary celebration, bringing together past exchange students, host families, and supporters to honor the program’s legacy.

Today, the NPIFC continues to proudly administer this rewarding program—offering North Penn students the chance to study abroad while welcoming foreign exchange students into our school and community.

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