Jasper Winterton
Feature/Video Editor
Webster Groves hosted exchange students from Suwa, Japan, March 4-12. The exchange was organized through the St. Louis-Suwa Sister Exchange Program, which operates through its committee in St. Louis.
Betty Roberts, social studies department chair, coordinates Webster Groves involvement in the exchange program.
Some of Roberts’ responsibilities include “Reserving meeting spaces for the year leading up to the trip, hosting the delegation from Suwa every other year, coordination with our amazing teachers to set up a course schedule for the students and teachers from Suwa to participate in while they are visiting, and help with many other behind the scenes needs for the committee and the students,” Roberts said via email.
The exchange also includes opportunities for students from Webster and other private and public schools to be a part of the exchange program and travel to Suwa, Japan. Being selected as an exchange student involves an application process, which opens every other year. Only up to 10 students are selected for each exchange period.
According to Roberts, Webster’s involvement with the program started in 2022. Since then, Webster has hosted exchange students from Suwa twice, in 2024 and now in 2026. Suwa has hosted Webster students twice as well, in 2023 and 2025. The next planned exchange will occur in the summer of 2027, with Webster students having the opportunity to join the exchange, which will require an essay and an application.
Roberts said students interested should look out for the morning announcements in September, where more information will be released.
Kate Bruner, senior, is hosting Tsumugi Ota, one of the exchange students. Bruner said she also hosted a student from Japan two years ago, and she went to Japan through the exchange program and wanted to give back by hosting.
“We took my exchange student to the Arch, the zoo, a soccer game, different stores and restaurants,” Bruner said. She added her family wasn’t originally planning to host a student but decided to after the organizers reached out to her and asked if she could.
According to Roberts, host families must provide a private bedroom, meals for the week and transportation to and from school each day. Along with this, they must have one family member who attends Webster Groves High School and must be willing to show the student around St. Louis, including a mandatory visit to the St. Louis Arch.
“We are very excited to bring the exchange to WGHS and to give our students the opportunity to experience Japanese culture, as well. I am a huge advocate of travel and sharing cultural experiences with students. It brings the classroom to life and opens up career opportunities and options outside of the bubble of St. Louis,” Roberts said.
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Jasper Winterton-Feature EditorThis will be Jasper Winterton’s third year on ECHO staff. He made several contributions while taking journalism class his freshman year. |
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