Rep. Case welcomes Chinese exchange students at Gilbert School

WINCHESTER – Students from the other side of the globe were welcomed Wednesday by State Rep. Jay Case during a ceremony at the Gilbert School, which hosted the students as part of its ambassador program.

Rep. Case, R-63, greeted the students from Jinhua, China, giving their school administrators a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly in recognition for the exchange program with Winsted’s Gilbert School. Twenty-four Chinese students joined the 16 Gilbert ambassadors, learning more about culture here in New England.

“This is a great opportunity for the Gilbert School,” Rep. Case said. “It allows students from Winsted to see and better understand a different culture, and I hope in return the Jihua students appreciate our culture. Everyone involved in this exchange program deserves recognition. As a former Gilbert student, a representative of the 63rd Assembly District and the state of Connecticut, I want to thank the Jinhua students for coming here.”

In April 2014, students from Gilbert’s ambassador program will visit the Jinhua students in China.

“One of my favorite parts of this program is realizing that the kids from China aren’t that different at all. Even though they’re from somewhere else, they’re just like us,” said 18-year-old Gilbert School senior Moonis Ansari. “I’m really looking forward to visiting them.”

The Jinhua High School No. 8 studied math, science, history and engineering under the exchange program, which is a pilot program for Gilbert School. Students got a taste of extracurricular activities, too.

“Last night, I took some students with me out on Highland Lake. I’ll take more of them with me tonight,” Rep. Case said.