The gap for the GAPP is nearly five years.

The German American Partnership Program (GAPP) has not happened in Northampton Area School District because of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.

“They were supposed to come here, and we were supposed to go there in 2020. In fact, it was supposed to be at the end of March (2020),” said Northampton Area High School German teacher April Krempasky, who initiated NASD participation in the GAPP in 1996.

Krempasky, who has continued as GAPP coordinator, noted the exchange took place every two years, on even-numbered years. The last exchange was in 2018.

“They already had their tickets,” Krempasky said of the German students and chaperones’ 2020 exchange. I think, eventually, they did (get refunds),” Krempasky said.

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf announced March 13, 2020, that K-12 schools were to close March 16, 2020, to slow the COVID-19 spread.

With COVID-19 restrictions now lifted, the NASD Board of Education voted 8-0 at its Oct. 10 meeting to approve the participation of Krempasky and NAHS German teacher Courtney Schnyderite in the 2022-23 GAPP, June 7-23, 2023, which includes accompanying district students to Germany for the exchange visit and coordinating and hosting the visiting German students in the district. The cost to NASD is approximately $2,700, included in the board-approved 2022-23 curriculum budget.

Krempasky said she and Schnyderite will accompany 21 NASD students to Germany, and they will be staying with families of the exchange.

“The 25 German students and two teacher chaperones will be here in spring, tentatively March 18-April 3, 2023,” Krempasky said.

“I’m ecstatic,” said Krempasky of the resumption of the program. “We’re all really happy. Just with the students, they’re all finding out who’s going. They will see them all over. It doesn’t just affect those 21 kids. It affects the whole community.”

In addition to NAHS German teachers Krempasky and Schnyderite, NASD German teachers include Theresa Wenck at NAHS Christine Marto at Northampton Area Middle School.

The German exchange students attend Freiherr-vom-Stein Schule, Gladenbach, approximately one hour north of Frankfurt, Germany.

“They’ll be visiting Washington, D.C., and New York City. They do that on their own,” Krempasky said of the German students. “But mostly, they’ll be shadowing their guest partner in school, and they’ll also be doing presentations. One student each will be hosted by a family where the student is studying German.”

The chaperones of the German students will stay at the homes of Krempasky and Schnyderite.

In summer 2023, the 21 NAHS students will stay at the homes of the families of the exchange students in Germany. Krempasky and Schnyderite will stay at the homes of partner teachers.

The eligible NAHS students are from grades 10, 11 and 12. The students from Germany are from grade 11.

“They do presentations in all of our German classes in the middle school and the high school,” Krempasky said of the German exchange students.

There might be a presentation for students at Col. John Siegfried Elementary School.

There are five German subject classes in NAMS and 12 German subject classes in NAHS.

NAHS classes are German I, II, III, IV and Advanced Placement German.

NAMS classes are German I, Culture and Conversation (a sampling of French, German and Spanish).

“While the German students are here, we do events,” Krempasky said. “One event will be a welcome reception with administrators, German teachers and the Americans and their German partners. We also do a family evening. In the past, we’ve done a covered dish and a dance, usually in the high school cafeteria. On the last day they are here, we usually do a farewell party.”

Krempasky said that since 1996, the GAPP has taken place every two years, in even years, except for the upcoming exchange.

The GAPP couldn’t be held in 2020, nor could it be held in 2021.

“They (the German students) weren’t allowed to travel internationally in the 2021-22 school year. This was our first opportunity to get the program up and going again,” Krempasky said. “Normally, we don’t do it on an odd year. When they come here in the spring of 2023, it will be five years since the last group was here.

“As of now, [the German students] have to be fully vaccinated to enter the country. That could change when March rolls around,” Krempasky added. “As of now, there are no requirements regarding vaccination for the NASD students and chaperones to visit Germany.”

Krempasky noted 2020 would have been the 13th time taking part in the program.

The lucky 13th GAPP for NASD will now be in 2023. It’s the 50th anniversary year for GAPP.

“Since 1972, the German American Partnership Program facilitates enriching cultural exchanges between schools in the U.S. and Germany,” the GAPP website states. “Our program inspires intercultural understanding, promotes German language instruction and fosters new and lasting friendships in the U.S. and Germany.”