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German-American Partnership Program
German-American Partnership Program
Pana High School is now a member of the German-American Partnership Program. This program, now in its 51st year, is a joint venture of the US Department of State and the German Foreign Office. Eligible schools receive government subsidies in order to facilitate meaningful cultural exchanges and co-curricular activities across the Atlantic.
We are in the process of establishing a partnership with a new school for the 2026-2027 school year.
Selection Criteria
The first consideration of any study abroad tour is safety. In addition, we must also maintain the academic integrity of the program and maintain positive relationships with our German partners. To those ends, we have established selection criteria for those wishing to travel with us.
Up to 10 students, in addition to those students who hosted students in 2024, will be selected to participate in the GAPP Exchange. Anyone who is interested should apply, even if they haven't taken German at PHS! Students will be chosen based on the following criteria:
While first preference MUST be given to current and former students of German, all are encouraged to apply.
At least sophomore standing at the time of the exchange.
A history of major infractions resulting in OSS must be explained to the satisfaction of the committee.
No student may be considered "chronically absent" or "habitually truant" according to state and/or district definitions.
Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. (You can still apply if your GPA is lower than this. There might be other factors we will consider, such as whether you have improved your performance over the preceding year.)
Teacher recommendation.
Demonstrated interest in learning about and experiencing German culture.
If we have more applicants than spaces available, then students will be selected in the following order of preference:
Completion of German 2 or higher (or current or past enrollment in any dual credit German classes).
Currently enrolled in German 2.
Completion of German 1.
Currently enrolled in German 1.
Active members of the Foreign Language Club who are not enrolled in German.
All others who are otherwise qualified.
Note that students must submit an application which will be reviewed by the GAPP Exchange selection committee at PHS. Also, a student will not be automatically selected just because there might be spaces available after applications are reviewed.
Costs and Expenses
Because the GAPP Exchange is not part of a for-profit organization, such as EF Tours, our costs are minimal. The cost of the exchange consists of the following:
Round-trip airfare from St. Louis or Chicago.
Travel insurance (health, accident, travel disruption, liability).
US Passport processing fees.
Costs of excursions planned by the GAPP coordinators in the US (Mr. Dail) and Germany (Ms. Rottmann).
The total cost of the GAPP Exchange is estimated at $2,500-3,000, most of which is the cost of round-trip airfare. The final cost will likely be less than $3,000, depending on discounts. Final costs will become available in August 2024, once the travel agent is able to reserve a block of seats on the flight.
Accommodation
So that they can truly experience daily life in Germany, PHS students will stay in the homes of local students' families. The good news is that we already know many of our families in Germany -- we hosted their children this year!
PHS students will have their own bedroom or a same-sex shared bedroom with their own bed. Families will not receive compensation for hosting students; we rely exclusively on their generosity and hospitality.
In addition to providing housing, families will provide meals and include students in their daily lives, activities, and outings.
Within about two months of departure, students will receive the names and contact details for their host families. Students are encouraged to reach out to them and get to know them.
Health
Parents, guardians, and students can rest easily knowing that healthcare will be provided by physicians who are just as well-trained as American physicians, and in facilities that are fully equal to American facilities. In many cases, the level of care provided exceeds that which one receives in the USA. And, in fact, Germany's healthcare system, like that of most of Western Europe, outranks the US healthcare system.
As mentioned, students will have comprehensive insurance to cover any illnesses or accidents while in Germany. That insurance will be accepted by all hospitals and physicians, Europe-wide.
In the event of an accident or other emergency, ambulances are plentiful, well-equipped, and staffed with highly trained paramedics. In addition, a certified emergency physician will usually either travel with the paramedics or be in a car nearby to respond on-site. The philosophy in Germany is to "bring the hospital to the patient," as seconds can matter when preparing to transport a patient to a hospital.
Safety
By all objective measures, Germany and most other Western European countries are far safer than even the safest parts of the United States. Gun crime and accidents or incidents involving firearms are virtually unheard of, and rates of violent crime in general are four to five times lower.
Germany's armed police forces are highly trained and officers are highly visible throughout each town.
Cost Breakdown & Payment Plans
$130 - $165 US Passport Fees
$900 - $1,600 Round-Trip Airfare*
$200 - $300 Fares for local transit & rail
$200 - $300 Meals during excursions
$250 - $350 Excursions
$150 - $200 Comprehensive Insurance**
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$1,830 - $2,915 Total Cost
Certain costs -- especially airfare and rail -- will need to be covered at least a few months in advance, depending on the travel agency's payment schedule. Other money can be collected a bit closer to the departure date. Once we have decided on our travel vendor, we will provide more information on payment plans. Note that we may also require a deposit of between $500 and $1,000 as early as September.
The amount of spending money a student needs is dependent on the student's spending habits. For that reason, it is not included in the above estimates. Generally, $500 should be more than enough for student spending money.
*We will try to get discounted fares from Lufthansa or Icelandair, both of which offer special rates specifically for the GAPP Exchange. The current fares from Chicago (ORD) to Frankfurt (FRA) are around $1,000, and that excludes any discounts.
**Students who require coverage of pre-existing conditions will usually need to add a rider to their coverage at an additional cost.
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