Principal of Shelby High School, John Gies, introduced four foreign exchange students at Shelby’s Board of Education meeting on Thursday evening. The Shelby Foundation contributed donations towards the Shelby Middle School and Dowds Elementary School. Superintendent Tim Tarvin gave a report on the new high school.
“This year we have four foreign exchange students that have come from all over the world. I always enjoy having the foreign exchange students because our kids get to see and experience the different cultures. We have Eden Moir from Australia, Christopher Roermose from Denmark, Sicheng “Kobe” Xu from China, and Sven Trostler from Germany,” said Gies.
Each foreign exchange student gave their input on Shelby schools and the community. “So far Shelby is really nice. It is a lot smaller than where I am from so it is a big difference than what I am used to. Everyone knows everyone here and it is pretty easy to get to know everyone in the school,” said Moir.
“I think Shelby is a lovely place. I come from a very large town and it is a little quiet here, but I like it and it is a good place to be an exchange student,” said Roermose.
“I like the school a lot. The language can be difficult, but you get used to it. I play in the marching band and I really enjoy it,” added Trostler. “Shelby is a lot different than where I am from because it moves a lot slower. I do like sports a lot mainly tennis and basketball,” said Xu.
Xu is residing with Board President, Bruce Briggs, Jr. and his family. “This is the first time that we have hosted and it can be a challenge with the language barrier. It is a real commitment, but we have enjoyed having Kobe live with us,” said Briggs.
The Shelby Foundation donated $2,500 for Camp Nuhop with the Shelby Middle School and the Shelby Foundation also gave $1,125 towards Learn to Swim at the Shelby YMCA with Dowds School.
“We are very grateful and we appreciate the donations that the Shelby Foundation has made towards the schools,” said Tarvin.
Tarvin updated the board on the newly constructed high school. “When we moved into the building we were ready to educate the kids, but there were some items that were not completed. It is nothing major, but we will be addressing these issues. The auxiliary gym is not yet completed, but we are on it every single day to get that project wrapped up. We want to use the auxiliary gym for physical education class,” said Tarvin.
“So far Shelby is really nice. It is a lot smaller than where I am from so it is a big difference than what I am used to. Everyone knows everyone here and it is pretty easy to get to know everyone in the school,” said Eden Moir, of Australia.
