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Ken-Ton Hosts Foreign Exchange Students from Spain

students pose with sabretooth mascot

From September 27th-October 9th, Ken-Ton was excited to welcome our friends from the I.E.S. G. Torrente Ballester, a school in Santa Marta de Tormes Salamanca, Spain!

The trip was part of a foreign exchange partnership where our Ken-Ton students host their counterparts from Spain for a period of time, and travel abroad later in the year. This was the school’s first time visiting Ken-Ton since 2023.

“Students from both Ken-Ton and Spain had a tremendous time,” Kenmore West Spanish Teacher and Department Chair Michael La Paglia said. “It was very evident that they all quickly created a bond within families and among friends.”

A total of 25 students spent time with our Kenmore East and West students, staying with host families and getting to learn about the American culture and school-life. The group visited the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Niagara Falls, the Naval Ships in the Outer Harbor, attended a Buffalo Sabres game, took a Lewiston Jetboat tour, and rode through the Lockport Locks. While staying with their host families, Spanish students enjoyed additional weekend activities and has a great time enjoying local cuisine and scenery.

“Trips like these can yield a life-changing experience that builds global citizenships," La Paglia said. “We are so lucky to provide this for our students and build connections inside and outside the classroom.”

students playing with woodworking tools

While shadowing Ken-Ton students, our Spanish friends were able to make souvenirs to bring back home. The World Languages Department collaborated with the Technology Department and created a mini workshop project. Mr. Derrick from Kenmore West and Mr. Uldrich from Kenmore East gave students tours of their technology labs, talked about the courses offered in their department, showed them the equipment our technology students use on a daily bases, and helped the students create and customize a wooden coaster and 3D printed keychain.

Ken-Ton Spanish students will be traveling to Spain in March as part of the foreign exchange partnership.