Bloomington High School South, The Gothic, 2014, Page 113

Description:	GET OUT OF HEREWith 1,700 Bloomington South students walking the halls after fifthperiod, it can be difficult to find an efficient route out of the school. Herestudents share their most effective method for leaving their second floorclasses at the end of the day.0 Senior Stephanie MatheusI go straight past the library and out theback door to the parking lot.Ms. H£ Junior Josie HickokMy mom is the school nurse so I go toher office after 5th period.) Freshman Tarell PerineI walk left out of Ms. Hardys room andgo down the stairs by Mr. Grosss room.) Freshman Drake SmithIts easier to walk through the middlehallway of the second floor, its lesscrowded.On March 11, 2014, over twenty-fiveBloomington Hight School South studentsboarded a plane in Indianapolis to begintheir long journey across the Atlantic toFrance where they spent the next two weekssightseeing in Paris, living with host-families inLe Mans, and taking excursions tosurrounding regions like Normandy.Accompanying them, as chaperones, wereFrench teacher Ms. Beth Smith, Ms. BaileySmith, retired French teacher Mrs. MarthaHolmes and her twin sister Mrs. Patsy Bower.Each Bloomington South student involved inthe French Exchange was matched by theSmiths to a French student, all of whomattended the private high school LyceeNotre-Dame in Le Mans. To pair the Frenchand Americans, everyone filled out a surveythat asked about their personality andinterests so that they could be matched withtheir most compatible foreign counterpart.For most of the South students, this wastheir first time travelling to France, but forsophomore Cameron Sullivan, the youngeststudent in the exchange, this was not only hisfirst time going to France, but it was also hisfirst time travelling outside of Indiana. Myfirst time on the plane was a bit nerve rackingbut once I was up in the air I felt a lot better,Sullivan remembered. Seeing Chicago forthe first time from above before the flight toParis was amazing. But just because thiswas his first time in a foreign country didntmean that Sullivan couldnt enjoy himself.Describing his favorite things about the trip,Sullivan said, All of the restaurants hadhands down, some of the best food Ive everhad. Also, I liked how you could walk aroundany street corner and there be a pastryplace!But for some students like senior JennyLin, this was not their first time travelling toFrance. Lin had lived in France the previoussummer for around seven weeks studying theculture and language to reach proficiency inthe language. I went into this second tripfeeling way more confident and I didnt haveto struggle to communicate with my hostfamily, she said. The first time, I spent areally long time trying to adjust to the newculture but this time I got to Le Mans and Ialready felt at home.Sadly though, the group had to returnto Bloomington at some point. On March 26the Americans arose bright and early at fourin the morning to catch their bus from Le Mansto Paris in order to board their flight toChicago. Once back on US soil, they had amultiple hour layover before finally comingback on a night flight to Indianapolis. Whenasked how the exchange went overall, Bethsaid, It was more of a special experiencebecause I already knew my students so well.I had taught most of these kids during my timeat Jackson Creek Middle School. Because Ibrought my daughter Lexie, her friends, and agroup of students I was already teaching, itwas like family.-QUINTON MCNEILACADEMICS & A
Source:	http://cdm17129.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/hs-bloomsouth/id/9219
Collection:	Bloomington High School South

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