Rysensteen Gymnasium visits again

This fall, Tabor will continue its exchange with Rysensteen Gymnasium, our partner school located in Copenhagen, Denmark. Rysensteen’s curriculum has a strong international focus, with emphasis on a specialized global citizenship program and collaboration with partner schools around the world. On September 30, thirty-one Danish exchange students will arrive on campus in the evening and be greeted with a pizza party in the Student Union. This is the largest group of students the school has housed in the history of the exchange, so Tabor students will be opening their homes and dorms to accommodate the large cohort.  This year, Tabor has planned programming for students immediately upon their arrival. Students will participate in classes and co-curricular programs from Wednesday, October 1 through Friday, October 3. Despite the short length of their stay, the Tabor community is excited to welcome the Danes into our daily programming and help them make their experience as memorable as possible. On Saturday, October 4, students will have the opportunity to sail aboard the Tabor Boy, Tabor’s 115-foot schooner. To finish off their stay, Tabor is offering a weekend trip to Newport, RI, in which students are highly encouraged to participate.  

This year, Tabor is including special programming that is tailored to Rysensteen’s curriculum. In anticipation of the exchange, the Danes are conducting a study of political polarization in the United States, which will be continued upon their arrival. Students will join the AT Rhetoric classes to discuss this topic and consider how and why political polarization is expressed in the United States and around the world. AT Rhetoric students are preparing for the discussions by selecting an American politician and collecting evidence about their politician’s rhetorical choices. Students and teachers alike are looking forward to this programming, as it will help facilitate robust class discussions and offer new, global perspectives.  

Many Tabor students have remained in contact with Rysensteen’s previous cohorts. In anticipation of this year’s exchange, students reached out to last year’s group to get a better sense of the highlights of their trip. Some of the Rysensteen students noted that the homestay was the most memorable experience for them, as host families were welcoming and accommodating, and took the time to show students around the local area. Others found co-curricular activities, such as Tabor Hockey League and ceramics, to be enjoyable experiences. Tabor is excited to include the Danes in these activities again this year and hopes that the feedback is just as positive. Tabor prides itself on its international connections and global experiences. The Rysensteen exchange is a wonderful way to integrate the two communities at the beginning of the year. Both schools are looking forward to the exchange and are ready to welcome students next week.