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Ken-Ton Welcomes German Students from Zülpich

students smiling in a classroom

For 20 years, the Ken-Ton School District has had an incredible partnership with Das Franken-Gymnasium, a high school in Zülpich, Germany. This year, Ken-Ton students welcomed back their German friends for another foreign exchange experience in celebration of two decades of friendship.

“Our partnership is really a team effort between the teachers and administrators in both countries,” said Spanish teacher Matt Gabel. “We've had entire families visit each other as a result of our partnership and many American students return to Germany for extended educational studies.”

From October 7th-18th, a total of 21 German students and two teachers learned about high school life in the United States and even shadowed some of their American friends in their respective classes at Kenmore East and Kenmore West. They also did their own presentation in our Ken-Ton German classes by showing a glimpse of what their day looks like in a German high school. Kenmore West teacher Derrick also invited students in to his tech classroom to laser engrave coasters and 3D print keychains as souvenirs from their time in America. The German students stayed with 17 host families from the Ken-Ton School District.

students at waterfall

“Our ‘homestay’ style programs in Ken-Ton are unique as they allow for students to truly integrate into the family life of their host, allowing for a greater exchange of cultural understanding”, Gabel said. “The friendships formed during the short visits often last a lifetime.”

Outside of school, the students enjoyed all Buffalo has to offer as they accompanied the KW and KE German students to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo State University, Niagara Falls, Fort Niagara, the Power Vista, and Downtown Buffalo. Host families did a great job on the weekend by letting our German friends experience high school football games, the drive-in theatre, fall activities like pumpkin carving, and enjoying the local cuisine and shopping.

student posing next to a girl shark

“The overwhelming feedback from the Germans was they wish they had more time,” Gabel said. “They were blown away by how much there is to do in Buffalo. They also couldn’t believe how friendly everyone is in Western New York and how generous our host families were.”

As part of the Ken-Ton and Franken Gymnasium partnership, Kenmore East and Kenmore West German students will be traveling abroad in the spring of 2027.