An international opportunity for the community of Bolton!

Bolton High School has the opportunity next fall to host an education official (Mr. Sima Yinan) from the Shandong Provincial Education Department for 6 months. This will be the first time that one of the researchers visits Connecticut for an extended period of time. Dan Gregg, contact at the CT Department of Education, has contacted Bolton first about pioneering this relationship.

Mr. Yinan is a colleague of Mr. Wang Fuhai, one of our visitors in January 2009. As part of this program Mr. Yinan will be grant funded and will purchase a car once in the United States so transportation will not be an issue. He will have funds to pay rent, but would like a rental room or apartment that is connected with a family experience to allow for more of a “home stay” relationship. He has young children so an apartment or room with a family is certainly appropriate.

Mr. Yinan will spend his days in classes at Bolton High School and will have an office at the CT Department of Education. He will likely immerse himself in school activities, events, and family experiences in Bolton. He will be a huge help as we prepare for our own voyage to China and we will reconnect with him in Jinan.

If anyone (especially among our travelers to China in April 2010) is interested in housing or renting a room to Mr. Yinan, please contact Mr. Paul K. Smith at Bolton High School (paulk.smith@boltonct.org) as soon as possible.

Mr. Yinan will be arriving in late August 2009 and staying until mid-January 2010.

April 2010 Tour Meeting - on Wednesday, April 29

On Wednesday evening April 29, 2009 we will hold our next meeting for all interested in the April 2010 China Tour. The meeting will be held in the Bolton High School Library at 6:30 PM.

Information will be shared with all students and family members who have expressed an interest in being part of the April 2010 China Tour. By this date, an exact itinerary will be shared and decisions on several possible excursions will be discussed. If you missed the fall meeting, please join us for this event. All confirmed participants should attend as well!

(Please note that it has been necessary at this time to start a waiting list for the trip as we have reached our capacity of 55 travelers.)

Pictured above: Structure on island on Daming Lake, Jinan - Shandong Province

Spending time meeting with students was a priority for our visitors from the Shandong Province.

Bolton High School grade 9 students share information Geng Shuai.

Geng Shuai presents a gift to BHS student who acted as a guide to classroom visits.

Wang Fuhai shares information on the Shandong Province with classes.

Geng Shuai, He Chengjin, and Wang Fuhai enjoy dinner at the Smith house one evening.

Inside Hartford's Capitol

Representative Pam Sawyer shows Mr. Fuhai, Mr. Shuai, and Mr. Chengjin her seat in the House and brings them to the podium!

Welcome to our Capitol in Hartford, CT!

Our Chinese delegation got the royal tour of our state capitol with Representative Pam Sawyer.

Bolton High School Chinese Delegation meets Connecticut's Lt. Governor

While touring Hartford, Representative Sawyer arranged for the delegation

to meet Lt. Governor Mike Fedele.

From left are: He Chengjin, Rep. Pam Sawyer, Wang Fuhai, Lt. Gov. Mike Fedele, Geng Shuai and Bolton High School principal Paul Smith.

The Chinese Delegation enjoyed a tour of M.I.T.

Diplomacy over Cannolis!

Enjoying canolis from Mike's Pastry in the North End of Boston,

it is clear that any group can come together and enjoy each other's foods, customs, and traditions!

Visiting the Old North Church in Boston

A trip to Boston for our China Delegation

Lunch at the Olde Union Oyster House.

At the lobby of the Mandarin Oriental Boston.

At the reflecting pool of the Christian Science Center with the Prudential complex in the background.

Chinese Delegation at Bolton High School

We were honored to greet our guests at the front door of our school:

Mr. Wang Fuhai (Foreign Affairs Office, Shandong Provincial Department of Education, Section Chief), Mr. He Chengjin (Zaozhuang Teaching Research Office, Senior Teacher), Mr. Geng Shuai (Weifang Education and Science Research Institute, Researcher)

Principal Smith exhanges gifts wtih Section Chief Wang Fuhai.

The Seniors present them with gifts from the Class of 2009.

Meeting with English teachers to gain insight on American teaching techniques.

Our Chinese delegation with the Bolton Board of Education.

No school on day one of the visit, but we still had fun!

In spite of the fact that snow and ice cancelled school for the day, our Chinese delegation still experienced U.S. culture.

Time was spent at Cabella's and at Rein's Deli! The snow and ice only added to the whole New England experience.

Join the Bolton Community Education Foundation in welcoming our Chinese delegation!

The Bolton community is invited to a reception to welcome educators from China who will be visiting the town as part of a “sister school” collaboration. The reception will be held Thursday, January 15, 2009, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Bolton Senior Center, 104 Notch Road. Light refreshments will be served at the reception, sponsored by the Bolton Community Education Foundation.

The three Chinese visitors – Mr. Wang Fuhai, Mr. He Chengjin, and Mr. Geng Shuai – will be spending 10 days in Bolton as part of the collaboration between their school system and Bolton High School. (The itinerary for their visit is included in the posting below this invitation.)They will visit classrooms, meet with teachers and students, dine at local restaurants, have dinners at private homes, take a trip to Boston, and attend school activities such as sporting events and the annual “Mr. BHS” contest.

The Connecticut Principals' Center of the Connecticut Association of Schools and the Connecticut State Department of Education have collaborated on a Connecticut-Shandong Province (China) Principal Shadowing Project as part of the Connecticut-Shandong Sister School Initiative. The goal of the project is to build partnerships between school administrators, promote mutual intercultural understanding, and create opportunities for professional development.

The town of Bolton is expanding this opportunity even further by exploring educational programs and opportunities to share information with residents about Chinese history, culture, and lifestyle.

The January visit by the Chinese educators will be followed by a trip in April 2010 where up to 50 Bolton residents will travel with Principal Paul Smith to China to tour Beijing and visit Bolton's sister school in Jinan, the capital city of the Shandong province.

There is no cost to attend the January 15 reception, but in order for food to be planned, attendees are asked to register by calling BCEF Chair Beth Harney at 649-1331 or via email to info@BoltonEdFoundation.org.

A special thank you to the Bolton Community Education Foundation for organizing this event and for their assistance in making our Chinese visitors feel welcome to our community!

Itinerary for the Chinese Delegation visit to Bolton High School

Bolton High School is eager to welcome our visitors from the Shandong Province of China who arrive on Tuesday evening, January 6, 2009.

Mr. Wang Fuhai (Foreign Affairs Office, Shandong Provincial Department of Education, Section Chief), Mr. He Chengjin (Zaozhuang Teaching Research Office, Senior Teacher), Mr. Geng Shuai (Weifang Education and Science Research Institute, Researcher) will be our guests from January 7 – 16 and we have an action-packed itinerary for them!

Please note: This itinerary is subject to change.

Tuesday - 1/6/2009
4:30 PM Pick up delegation - Fairfield Inn Wallingford, 100 Miles Drive, Wallingford, CT
5:30 PM Arrival at host family - Dinner and rest
6:30 PM (Optional activity: Meeting at BHS with Principal)
7:00 PM (Optional activity: Bolton High School Boys' Basketball Game at BHS)

Wednesday - 1/7/2009
8:15 AM Arrival at BHS
8:20 AM Pictures at front of School (Smith, Wiedie, Winzler, Stille, Harney)
8:23 AM Introduction to student guides (Gudmundson, Walsh, Vezina)
8:25 AM Student Council greeting from front entrance to Gym
8:30 AM Welcoming program in BHS Gym
8:50 AM Reception in Main Office
9:11 AM Period C Classroom Observation: Pre-Calculus Honors (Mr. Kiser)
9:57 AM Period D Classroom Observation: AP European History (Mr. Smith)
10:43 AM Period E Department Meeting: English Department
11:29 AM Lunch - Bolton High School cafeteria
12:00 PM Period F Classroom Observation: English I Honors (Mrs. LaRochelle)
12:47 PM Period G Classroom Observation: World History and Cultures I Honors (Mr. Verner)
1:33 PM Period H Classroom Observation: English II Honors (Ms. Bavier)
2:16 PM Break
2:30 PM Tour of building with student guides
2:45 PM Observe Girls' Basketball Practice
3:15 PM Meeting with Principal
4:00 PM Depart to host family - Dinner and rest
6:00 PM Excursion to Buckland Hills, Evergreen Walk, Coldstone Creamery

Thursday - 1/8/2009
8:00 AM Arrival at BHS
8:18 AM Period B Classroom Observation: Science 9 Honors (Mrs. Cordero)
9:11 AM Period C Classroom Observation: UCONN Biology (Mr. Dilworth)
9:57 AM Period D Classroom Observation: Spanish IV Honors (Mr. Ruiz)
10:43 AM Period E Classroom Observation: Chemistry Honors (Mr. Jankowski)
11:29 AM Lunch - Excursion to Shady Glenn
12:47 PM Period G Classroom Observation: English III (Mrs. Teed)
1:33 PM Period H Department Meeting: Science
2:16 PM Break
2:30 PM Crepe-making with the French Club
3:45 PM Meeting with Principal
4:00 PM Depart to host family - Dinner and rest
6:30 PM Bolton Board of Education Reception and Meeting

Friday - 1/9/2009
7:30 AM Arrival at BHS
7:32 AM Period A Department Meeting: Math, Music, Art
8:18 AM Period B Classroom Observation: Algebra II Honors (Ms. Salvas) and Concert Band (Mrs. Desrosiers)
9:11 AM Period C Classroom Observation: French III (Ms. Pinette) and Beginning Foods (Ms. Scott)
9:57 AM Period D Classroom Observation: Intro to Communications (Mr. Carvalho) and PE 11/12 (Mr. Humiston)
10:43 AM Period E Poetry Out Loud! BHS Poetry Reading Performance/Competition
11:29 AM Lunch - Bolton High School Bakeshop Class and Beginning Foods Class
12:00 PM Period F Classroom Observation: AP Calculus (Mr. Kiser) and Biology Honors (Ms. Carvalho)
12:47 PM Period G Department Meeting: Related Arts (Scott, Carvalho, Adler, Humiston)
1:33 PM Period H Classroom Observation: Geometry Honors (Mr. Turgeon) and Art (Ms. Argenta)
2:16 PM Break
2:30 PM Meeting with Principal
3:00 PM Depart to host family (optional)
4:00 PM Dinner - Excursion to Bellini's
7:00 PM Bolton High School Girls' Basketball Game at BHS

Saturday - 1/10/2009
8:45 AM Depart host family for Excursion to Boston-Legends Limousine
- Prudential Tower, Prudential/Copley Place
- Portions of Freedom Trail as weather permits
- Quincy Market
- North End
- MIT or Harvard (as time allows)
5:00 PM Depart Boston for Bolton
7:00 PM Mr. BHS Competition at Bolton Center School

Sunday - 1/11/2009
10:00 AM Depart host family for Mohegan Sun
- Lunch and tour
3:00 PM Depart Mohegan Sun for Bolton
4:00 PM Bolton Education Foundation Reception at the Catanese home

Monday - 1/12/2009
8:30 AM Depart host family for Rectory School
- Tour of campus
- Meeting with Headmaster
- Meeting with Chinese boarding students
- Lunch in dining room
- Meeting with administrative staff and admissions office
4:00 PM - Dinner with Bolton Administrators at the Smith home

Tuesday - 1/13/2009
8:00 AM Depart host family for Hartford
- Tour of Capitol - John Vamos (contact person for Representative Pam Sawyer)
- Tour of Legislative Office Building
- Lunch in Hartford
- Tour of Hartford as weather permits
3:00 PM Starbucks (Rest and tea/coffee)
5:00 PM Dinner with Board of Education at the Hambrook home

Wednesday - 1/14/2009
8:00 AM Arrival at BHS
8:18 AM Period B Department Meetings: Social Studies, World Languages
9:11 AM Period C Program Observation: Virtual High School
9:57 AM Period D Classroom Observation: English II (Ms. Mitchell) and Science 9 (Mr. Wolek)
10:43 AM Period E Classroom Observation: Latin IV Honors (Ms. Ryan) and Word Processing (Ms. Adler)
11:29 AM Lunch - Excursion to Pepe's Pizza
12:47 PM Period G To be scheduled based on interest of delegation
1:33 PM Period H To be scheduled based on interest of delegation
2:16 PM Break
2:30 PM Meeting with Principal
3:00 PM Depart to host family - Dinner and rest
7:00 PM Bolton High School Open House

Thursday - 1/15/2009
8:00 AM Bolton Center School Tour and Classroom Visits
12:00 PM Bolton Congregational Church Tour
1:00 PM Bolton Library Tour
2:00 PM Meeting with Bolton Public Schools Director of Curriculum and Instruction
3:00 PM Meeting with Bolton Public Schools Superintendent
4:00 PM Bolton Education Foundation Community Reception for Delegation

7:00 PM Depart to host family for packing.

Friday - 1/16/2009
9:00 AM Informal Breakfast Reception at Bolton High School with BHS Faculty and Students
9:30 AM Tour of Bolton High School Midyear Exams in progres
10:00 AM Department Meetings: Guidance and Special Education

12:00 PM Lunch - Excursion to TBA
3:00 PM Return to Fairfield Inn Wallingford, 100 Miles Drive, Wallingford, CT

Chinese Delegation to arrive in Bolton on January 6, 2009

The dates for the visit to the town of Bolton and Bolton High School by the delegation from the Shandong Provincial Department of Education have finally been confirmed!

The delegation will have their visa interviews in Beijing in early December. The group will arrive in Connecticut on Sunday, January 4. They will be provided with professional development activities by the Connecituct Department of Education on Monday, January 5 and Tuesday, January 6.

We will pick up our visitors on Tuesday, January 6 at the Best Western Camelot Hotel in Wethersfield at 5:00 PM. We are then responsible for their schedule through Friday, January 16.

The purpose of this visit is to study American schools, classrooms, and teaching techniques. In addition, a home stay with an American family and interaction with the community are important aspects of the experience.

Bolton High School and the Bolton Education Foundation are already in the process of coordinating a full slate of activities for the delegation including classroom visits, meetings with teachers, meetings with students, attendance at school functions, visits to area schools, receptions at various homes, a dinner evening for members of the community, and tours of Hartford and Boston.

A full itinerary will be shared as soon as events are confirmed.

Even though these education officials are not directly associated with our "sister school" in Jinan, they do oversee the education that takes place in the province in which our school is located.

And, all of the activity between Connecticut and Shandong is directly connected to maintaining the very positive relationship established between the state of Connecticut and Shandong Province in China. In fact, as we prepare for our own visit to China in April 2010, re-connecting with these officials who visit our community when we arrive in Jinan will be a priority!

I am confident that Bolton High School and the entire community of Bolton will make a very long-lasting connection with these officials.

More news to come on their visit!

April 2010 Tour

As a result of our initial meeting on Tuesday, October 21, plans are officially underway for Bolton High School to visit China in April 2010!

In checking with our travel agent, we will plan to accommodate up to 50 students and community members on this amazing tour of China, which will include a visit to our sister school in Jinan, the Jigang High School.

As of now, about 30 seats are spoken for. All Bolton students, parents, and community members are urged to contact the high school for further information about securing a spot on the trip!

If you are planning to go here is a Suggested Reading List:

Some reading in advance to our visit to China is recommended in order to begin to understand China’s history, geography, culture and dynamics of the current and future role of China in the world.

Understanding China by John Bryan Starr is a quick read.

Search for Modern China by Jonathan D. Spence is more comprehensive.

Genghis Khan by Jack Weatherford challenges western historical perspective and helps one to reflect on historical evidence when visiting China.

The Great Wall by Julia Lovell reflects on conflicting, converging and confusing western and China perspectives on the role of the "wall" in China's past and present.

Also consider:

The World is Flat by Thomas L. Friedman

China Shakes the World by James Kynge

And...it's time to start picking up some skills in Mandarin!

I suggest Basic Mandarin Chinese by Pimsleur. You can practice with the CD's in the privacy of your car or at home!

Details for our adventure will continue to be posted on the site!

Shandong Province Education Leaders to visit Bolton High School

This November, Connecticut will be visited by a delegation of 22 teachers from the Shandong Province. They will be in the United States for 21 days and will spend about 12 of those days hosted locally by school districts. This delegation will arrive in November but exact dates are not known at this time due to the Chinese visa process and visa interview schedule with the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

Bolton has been invited to host the leaders of the group. They are here as part of a training program to learn about American schools and classroom teaching methods.

The visitors who will spend time in Bolton are all from the Shandong Provincial Education Department offices:

Wu Jianhua (M), Division Chief, Finance Division
Song Quanzheng (M), Main Office
Wang Fuhai (M), Section Chief, Foreign Affairs

We will need to find host families for them. Their days will be spent at our school. We can put them all together or separately, though Wang Fuhai is the English interpreter for the group.

Any interested Bolton family should contact Mr. Paul K. Smith, Principal paulk.smith@boltonct.org.

This is a very exciting opportunity for our school, our students, and our community as we prepare for our visit to China in April 2010!

(This picture is from Baotu Spring Park in Jinan, Shandong Province.)

Bolton High School CHINA TOUR 2010!

In April 2010 members of the Bolton school community will travel to China! There is an information meeting scheduled for all students, parents, and community members on Tuesday, October 21, 2008 at 6:30 PM in the BHS Library.

This event is open to students and community members. The Bolton High School-China partnership was started last year when Principal, Paul K. Smith traveled to China with the Connecticut State Department of Education to establish a sister school in Jinan, the capital city of the Shandong Province south of Beijing.

In cooperation with BHS and the Bolton Community Education Foundation, a return to China is being planned. Travel arrangements will be made with the same touring program used by the Connecticut State Department of Education. The itinerary includes the Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, Mount Taishan, a visit to Bolton’s sister school, the historic Hutong of Beijing, and a visit to China’s largest city in terms of population, Shanghai. Anyone interested in information on this adventure of a lifetime should attend this meeting!

Be a part of the Bolton High School - China Partnership!

All students, parents, and community members are invited to take advantage of the following events:

Tuesday, September 16 – Bolton’s Sister School in the Shandong Province, 6:30 PM, BHS Library

In partnership with the Bolton Community Education Foundation, Bolton High School Principal Paul K. Smith will present a special program on his April trip to China on Tuesday, September 16, 2008, at 6:30 PM in the BHS Library. The program will include information on Chinese culture in Beijing and Jinan (the city in which Bolton High School’s sister school is located). The Chinese education system will be showcased along with slides of such sights as the Great Wall and the Forbidden City.

Tuesday, October 21 – Bolton High School’s CHINA TOUR 2010 (April) 6:30 PM, BHS Library

Principal Paul K. Smith is planning to bring a group of Bolton High School students and community members to China in April 2010. The tour, being planned with help form the Bolton Community Education Foundation, will include Beijing, Jinan (with a visit to Bolton’s sister school), and Shanghai. Travel arrangements will be made with the same touring program used by the Connecticut State Department of Education. This program was established to foster cultural exchanges between Connecticut and the Shandong Province. Details are being arranged well in advance to encourage all participants to learn important aspects of Chinese culture, history, and language. If you are interested in learning about China first hand, this meeting will provide the details on how you can be part of this amazing opportunity!


Attention BHS students and parents!

We are looking for a home for the 2008-2009 school year for a Chinese high school exchange student from Shanghai.

This student is part of the Youth For Understanding exchange program, the group BHS uses for all exchanges. The student from China is a 17 year old girl with excellent English skills. If you are interested, please contact Mr. Paul K. Smith, Principal at 643-2768 X411 as soon as possible!

Quiet Boat Ride on Daming Lake in Jinan, Shandong Province