EXCHANGE WITH MARK MORRIS HIGH SCHOOL

Friendship across the Pacific

Mark Morris School Facade

Start of Exchange Program
It was agreed in 1986 that summer exchange programs would be held during summer holidays between our school and Mark Morris High School. At that time, the Saitama Board of Education was working for the foundation of Wako International High School for the next April, and Longview School Office, which had already set out for the teaching of Japanese in Mark Morris High School, was looking for a 'sister' school especially for Mark Morris' Japanese Language Class. Then, the program started in July 1987. This was one of the earliest exchange programs among Saitama public high schools.
The Way the Program Is Held
With the start of summer holidays in JUly, our school's group of about 15 students go to Longview and homestay for 2 weeks in the families of students who learn in the Mark Morris Japanese Language Class. In the middle of the program, there is a 'switch' so that the participants meet more people. As for activities in the whole group(Americans & Japanese), they go on a one-day trip to Mt. St.Helens or Mt.Rainier, the highest one in the state. They also go on a picnic to a nearby state forest park. A farewell party is given at Mark Morris High School.
In early August, after the 1 session is over, the American group arrive at Wako accompaied by Mr.James Kolberg, teacher of Japanese and coordinator of the program. They homestay in the families of Japanese participants as they did in Longview. This part is organized along the same line as in Longiew.

At the Lake in the City

LOCATION
Longview is located on the Columbia River, which flows along the border between the States of Washington and Oregon. It is about 230 kilometers away from Seattle, about 80 kilometers from Portland, which is on the other side of of the river.
POPULATION: About 30,000
INDUSTRY
As the city is surrounded with vast areas of forests, timber and related industries are the most important for its economy. The majority of the residents work in those sectors. the Port of Longview ships timber, pulp and other products to Japan across the Pacific. In fact, the city was planned and built in 1924 by R.A.Long, president of Weihauser, one of the biggest timber companies to gather timber produced in the areas around. In the city are 2 high schools: one is Mark Morris; the other, R.A. Long, crowned with the name of the city founder.