Madrid meets Montréal at PCHS

submitted by Jessica Pinto, Vice-Principal

¡Bienvenidos a Montréal! In early September, Pierrefonds Community High School welcomed 15 students from IES Carmen Conde in Madrid for the first half of a new reciprocal international exchange.

After weeks of messages across the Atlantic, the students finally met their PCHS host buddies in person—and some ran straight into each other’s arms as though they were reuniting with old friends.

During their week in Montréal, the Spanish guests got a taste of everyday student life at PCHS while experiencing some quintessential Québec favourites: Mount Royal, the REM, poutine, the Old Port, the Montréal Science Centre, apple picking and even baking apple crisp to share with their host families.

More than an itinerary, though, this exchange was about connections: New friendships, new cultures and the opportunity for young people separated by an ocean to discover just how much they have in common.

The visit was only the beginning. PCHS students will complete the exchange by travelling to Madrid and experiencing life with their Spanish host families.

Watching the students connect is truly what made the project special. They had been messaging from opposite sides of the Atlantic, and within minutes of meeting in person they felt like old friends. Seeing our students proudly share their school, their families, Montreal and everyday life with their Spanish partners made all the work worthwhile.

Our visitors got a real sense of Montreal life. From attending classes and school assemblies to exploring Mount Royal, the Old Port and the Botanical Garden, trying poutine, going apple picking and spending time with their host families; but more than any individual activity, it was the relationships that stood out. Our students embraced the opportunity with so much openness and enthusiasm, and our host families were incredibly generous in welcoming these students into their homes.

For our first international exchange at PCHS, there were definitely a lot of moving pieces, but the goodbye at the end of the week said everything. There were tears, long hugs, and more than one exchange student joking that we should hide them in lockers so they wouldn’t have to leave!

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make the week possible, and we’re already looking forward to seeing those relationships continue when our students travel to Madrid.

We have a feeling some of these friendships are going to last much longer than one week. 🇨🇦🤝🇪🇸