Hastings schools strengthen their relationship with sister city

A delegation from two Hastings schools will pay a visit to the Chinese city of Guilin during October. Hastings has had a 31 year sister city relationship with Guilin and the trip is in response to a visit by a group of teachers from Guilin to Hastings earlier this year.

Representatives from Hastings Girls’ High will visit Guilin Zhongshan Middle School to cement their sister schools relationship. Their Hastings Intermediate counterparts will visit Guilin Middle School to sign a sister schools agreement.

Hastings Girls’ High Principal Geraldine Travers says “The school values the sister schools relationship with Guilin Zhongshan very highly. Educational exchanges with students from Guilin will not only strengthen the sister city relationship but will allow teachers and students from both cities to forge strong links and help broaden their educational horizons.”

Hastings Intermediate Principal Andrew Shortcliffe says “The visit by teachers from Guilin Middle School earlier this year was extremely valuable and it was decided that a reciprocal visit would be most beneficial for the professional development of our teachers. There are major gains to be made by meeting the teachers from schools all around the world and this visit will help broaden the cultural awareness of our teachers.”

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule and the Managing Director of Hastings business Furnware Hamish Whyte will briefly join the delegation in Guilin. Furnware produces many products which are destined for school classrooms around the world and the Guilin delegation paid a visit to the company’s Omahu Road factory during this year’s visit.

The delegation includes the school principals Geraldine Travers and Andrew Shortcliffe, along with Jill Frizzell, the director of International Students at Hastings Girls’ High.