Journey East Trip to China 2005

LELAND AND GRAY UNION HIGH AND MIDDLE SCHOOL — TOWNSHEND, VT 05353

JOURNEY EAST
Leland and Gray's Asian Studies Academy and Sino-American Performing Arts
Exchange
Leland and Gray Union High School
PO Box 128 802-365-7355
Townshend, Vermont 05353
~www.wcsu.k12.vt.us/~lguhs/je

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tom Connor, tconnor@fc.wcsu.k12.vt.us, 365-7355; Ann
Landenberger, alandenberger@fc.wcsu.k12.vt.us

SUBJ: Journey East honored by Senator Leahy of the eve of program's March
28 departure for China

TOWNSHEND Senator Patrick Leahy has sent a United States Flag flown over the US Capitol to Leland and Gray Union High School in honor of its "momentous accomplishments associated with Journey East." The acknowledgement comes of the eve of the program's March 28 departure for a month in China. Designed as an integral part of the school's Freeman Foundation-funded Asian studies program, the work in China will see the 30 participants learning more intensively about China and its cultures through lectures, site visits and interactions with peers. "They'll be learning 24/7," explains project director Tom Connor. "There're no days off in this kind of 'classroom'." In addition, they will perform an original music theatre piece for several thousand Chinese peers at various
locations. The production, Rock and Roll Society, features over a dozen Rock classics as well as dance and student-written vignettes. "The mission behind of the performing aspect the program is to build bridges through the arts," says artistic dircetor Ann Landenberger. "Last year our show explored jazz as a uniquely American form of self-expression," says music director Matt Martyn. "This year we'll bring Rock. It tells a
lot about our culture."

Many program participants have commented on the value of international education as experienced in Journey East thus far. "Learning about and meeting people who don't dress the same, speak the same language, or practice the same customs, can only promote a kind of tolerance one could not find in the relative sameness of a state like Vermont," says ninth grader Carrie Attley. Senior Brandon Peterson adds: "When I live in a world where differences are accepted as the norm, I'll know that we're truly educated," and junior Adam Rucker notes: "Understanding the world around you is key to building relationships among countries; it makes the world a much safer place." While the group is away, John Reinhardt, L&G school board member and parent of a Journey East alumna, will keep the Journey East website active with participants' writings and photographs submitted from abroad to document their time on the road. To follow Journey East, go to: ~www.wcsu.k12.vt.us/~lguhs/je5.

On return, the group will share their experiences and production at various sites in Vermont as follows:

Friday, April 29, 10:30 AM, for WCSU elementary schools at Leland and Gray Middle/High School in Townshend.

Saturday, April 30, 7:00 PM, Home Show for the community at Leland and Gray

Monday, May 2, 8:00 AM. Show for the Leland and Gray school community at
Leland and Gray

Monday, May 9, 1:00 PM at Colchester (VT) High School; 7:00 PM at Milton (VT) High School

Tuesday, May 10, 10:00 AM at Milton (VT) High School (school performance)

Tuesday, May 17: 9:30 AM at Proctor (VT) High School; 1:10 PM at Otter Valley Union High School

Friday, May 20: Performance at Twin Valley High School in Wilmington (Call high school for details.)

Tuesday, May 24: Performance at Bellows Falls (Vermont) Union High School (Call high school for details.)

Admission is free to these events, but donations to support a scholarship fund for needy Mongolian students accepted to the Arts College in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia will be cheerfully and gratefully accepted.