Many students have noticed the sign in the front hallway of PV that says “bienvenue,” or “welcome” in French.

The sign is geared toward 18 international students from a high school in France who have come to visit America in an exchange program. The program also includes several students from PV, mostly those who take French as a foreign language here, who are hosting the exchange students.

“The French students, who all study English, are staying with PVHS families. They will attend classes at PV on four days and visit New York City on three days,” PV French teacher Ms. Teresa DelGuidice said.

The exchange students, who are from a town in Southern France called Grasse, are not only visiting Hillsdale but are also getting the chance to visit several key sites in the New York City area, including the 9/11 Memorial, the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, and the Met Museum of Art.

The French students are all sixteen or seventeen years old, and have been studying English for the past ten years. At their school in France, the students take classes in philosophy, English, Spanish or Italian, French, history, and “sports,” or physical education. Similar to PV, each class at their school lasts for about an hour.

However, according to the students, school in America is very different, and much more “relaxed,” than it is in France.

“In America, the relationship between the teachers and the students is very different than in France,” French student Coline Peraire said.

They also noted that PV is much bigger than their school in France, and, contrary to American schools, theirs only lasts for three years as opposed to four.

With all of these differences in mind, the PV students involved in this program are also eager to visit France and see the French high school for themselves. The PV students will be visiting France this year from May 22 to May 31, and will be living with the same French students that they are currently hosting in America.

As well as attending school with the French students and teachers, the PV students will be touring the town of Grasse and also the nearby cities of Cannes and Nice.

“I’ve never been to any European country before. I’m looking forward to seeing their high school and spending time with them in their homes,” said junior Maggie Deegan, who is hosting three of the exchange students.