A group of students and teachers from Yunnan Province, China recently visited the Mount Snow and Brattleboro area as part of the Asian American Cultural Exchange (AACE). AACE is a history, language, and cultural exchange program that enrolls students from Twin Valley High School in Wilmington and Brattleboro Union High School.

Students in the AACE course study Asian culture and language and travel to Yunnan province. The recent Chinese visitors represented the different schools we visit while in China. Kunming, the city most of our visitors came from, is known as the land of “eternal spring” and this was the first time experiencing snow for our visitors.

Students were hosted by area families and several area businesses welcomed the group, Thank you very much to the North Star Bowl, The White House Inn, The Hermitage and Kingswood for helping us to entertain our guests.

Chinese students talked to classes at both Brattleboro and Twin Valley High Schools about a variety of topics.

Welcome assembly at BUHS

Calligraphy demonstration by a Chinese student for BUHS students

Mr. Spencer exchanging gifts with the Chinese teachers.

Chinese teachers meet with Chris Simpson, 3rd from left, in her Twin Valley art room. Ms. Simpson is one of the originators of the AACE program and has traveled to China with classes once a year since its inception as teacher/chaperone.

BUHS student, Naomi Kramer, a former AACE participant is presenting a warm scarf, which her sewing class made, to one of the Chinese students.

Gifts for the teachers and adminstrators too.

Snow tubing was a first time snow event for the Chinese students and their teachers.

BUHS principal, Jim Day receiving gifts from the Chinese teachers.

Ms. Greene, AACE director, accepts a gift from one of the Chinese adminstrators visiting Vermont

L-R: Twin Valley principal, Frank Spencer, Vice Principal, Vicky Lynde, Superintendent Peter Wright, AACE Chinese language teacher Xi Silver, AACE Program Director, Mary Greene, and one of the Chinese teachers, at TVHS.

A Chinese student and his teacher greeting the BUHS assembly

One of the Chinese students gives a piano recital for BUHS students.