Every year at Jacksonville High School, the German American Partnership Program (GAPP) brings people from two different cultures, America and Germany, together to form bonds and lasting friendships. This year, the program will take place from October 5-26. Eighteen German students, as well as two German teachers will be visiting our school. Students from JHS normally go to Germany in late May and early June and stay for about three weeks, approximately the same time the German students stay here in America. Our very own German teacher Ms. Cervi plays a huge role in the program. She coordinates the exchange in the fall by finding host families as well as planning activities. In the summer, she prepares the American group for their trip to Germany. A few years ago, she hosted a German teacher, but she has not hosted any of the students. There are a few teachers in the school who are hosting this year. The program was created by two retired JHS teachers, Pat Kennedy and JoAnn Nelson. They had the help from two teachers, Karl Jongeling, and Marion Fischer, who taught in Germany. They wanted to start an exchange program between JHS and Herzog Ernst Gymnasium, the high school that the German kids attend. They wanted to establish friendships, as well as breaking down stereotypes students may have against each country. GAPP has been around for 31 years and has shown no signs of stopping. It is an established, well-known program at JHS. Several community members, administrators and teachers, and Ms. Cervi have participated in the program as either a host family or a chaperone. As long as the program has support from the school and community and as long as there are host families, it will continue to be a yearly tradition for JHS.