Gretna High School is once again opening its doors to visiting German students from Kiel, Germany, as part of the school’s long-standing German American Partnership Program (GAPP). From October 5–19, 2025, the school is hosting a group of students from Gymnasium Wellingdorf, continuing an exchange tradition that began in 2007.

During their two-week stay, the German 10th graders are experiencing life in American homes and classrooms, joining their Gretna host families in a variety of cultural and social activities. They attend regular classes, participate in school events, and cheer on GHS teams at sporting events, gaining an authentic look at American high school life.

GHS Program Coordinator Kellye Deane says of the exchange, “It allows each group to experience the culture of the other country and, hopefully, make the world a little smaller.”

The partnership, which alternates between visits to the United States and Germany, builds international understanding and helps students from both countries appreciate the similarities and differences in their daily lives.