School Partnership Initiates Basketball Exchange

March 18-31, 2007

Background

Mr. Earl Pettit, Superintendent of Whiteriver School District and Jeff Fuller, Principal of Alchesay High School on the Whiteriver Apache Reservation in Arizona developed a partnership with DaXing Middle School during their participation in the China – U.S. Conference on Education Leadership last June.  The partnership resulted in 12 students from the Whiteriver School District who attended Challenge:TOMORROW visiting DaXing School during their stay in Beijing.  Students were not in session but the administrative staff gave the students a tour of the school, residential housing, and campus.  The students shared their PowerPoint presentation about their school, community, and families, and performed dances for their hosts.

March 2007 Event

In March the girls and boys basketball team from Whiteriver will travel to Beijing and play basketball with the DaXing students.  This visit will further the relationship and allow student-to-student exchange during the time students are in session.  The basketball teams will then travel to SIAS International University and play (middle) high school teams in the Zhengzhou and Xinzheng area.

Invitation for Other Participants

The Whiteriver/DaXing School Partnership invite other U.S. basketball teams to join them in this first sports exchange on March 18-31, 2007.  Schools interested in participating and developing a partner school during their stay in China should contact Global Interactions immediately to begin the process and prepare for the March event.

All students will have a pre-study program before their travel.