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Memo- Hopkins High School Costa Rican ArtsMemorandum Office of the City Manager To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council From: Steven C. Mielke, City Manager pt. Date: September 5, 1997 Subject: Hopkins High School Costa Rican Arts Opportunity At a recent city /school meeting of the Hopkins School District and the cities of Hopkins, Golden Valley, and Minnetonka, a presentation was made by Mark Czech, orchestra director for the Hopkins High School concerning an upcoming international outreach project that he and other faculty are promoting. Information is attached concerning the Costa Rican educational project. Mr. Czech will be at the Council work session to discuss this project with the Council, and will invite participation by the City of Hopkins. The purpose of the work session discussion into introduce the topic and to offer an opportunity for questions. Additional information is likely to be needed if the Council is interested in participating in the project. Representatives from the other cities are investigating this opportunity and the potential it holds with the international sister city program. I will receive more information about that program and its potential to work with this opportunity in the future. Mielke /mayorcchighschoolcostarica Hopkins High School Costa Rican Arts Opportunity General Information Purpose & Goals: Provide students with a multicultural educational outreach opportunity by: • Establishing lines of communication and exploring relationships in the classrooms, thus conveying that life -long learning is essential in an ever - changing global society. • Establishing, through the planning of this venture, that education is a shared responsibility involving students, teachers, families and communities. • Providing, through the rain forest reforestation project, a cultural side -by -side experience for students from both countries. • Instilling in students that the future of society depends on how well it nurtures, protects, and cares for its children and the environment. • Helping students develop their full potential as artists and musicians, while articulating a higher educational standard in the orchestra and choir themselves. • Helping students understand, through music and outreach programs, that valuing human and cultural diversity enriches individuals and society. • Becoming Goodwill Ambassadors and instilling a sense of belonging and self -worth in each of our students. Dates of trip: February 14 to February 22, 1998 Number of students involved: Approximately 140 orchestra and choir students would be participating. (With at least 14 chaperones and staff included, 155 to 160 people will be traveling.) Demographics of the Hopkins Public Schools: The Hopkins Public Schools service students from seven communities: all of Hopkins, most of Minnetonka, half of Golden Valley, and parts of Edina, Eden Prairie, Plymouth and St. Louis Park. The communities contain a wide range of socioeconomic demographics (see attached sheet for details). Faculty Members and other select professionals: Mark Czech: Orchestra Director David Nordli: Choral Music Director Jan Ormasa, Associate Principal: will lead the sister - school delegation Jim Gilbert, naturalist: help with reforestation project and "Classroom in the Rain forest" Ramon Reina: Special Services staff member Designated members of the Spanish faculty Dr. Robert Lavenda: Professor of Anthropology and director of Latin American studies at St. Cloud State University (and parent of an orchestra student) Gerardo Barboza: President of the International Classroom General Plan and Events: Hopkins High School Costa Rican Arts Opportunity Events • Benefit concert for Costa Rica Public Schools Perform a concert for the First Lady of Costa Rica at the National Theater. Proceeds from the concert would be donated to the Costa Rican Public Schools. The First Lady has shown an interest in being the patron of the entire trip. • Rain Forest Reforestation Project Pair Hopkins students with Costa Rican students who live in the area of the reforestation. Students would pair up and plant trees provided by the government. The trees will be dated and marked with the names of the students who planted them. • Benefit Concert for the children of the National Children's Hospital in San Jose Perform a concert for the children of the National Children's Hospital of San Jose. Pass out memory bags that Hopkins students have created. These bags would contain small treats and gifts from the United States. • Sister - school project Develop a relationship with a school so that we may begin to open up our classrooms internationally via the Internet and televised interactive classroom projects. Associate Principal Jan Ormasa and Spanish classrooms will work to develop this project. We hope this will open doors to future student and faculty exchanges. • Instrument exchange Schmitt Music Co. of Minneapolis has agreed to renovate and case some of their older instruments and send them with us. We will then donate the instruments to a local Costa Rican school. Bud's Music Center of Hopkins has also offered to donate an instrument. • Satellite concert Broadcast our National Theater concert by satellite back to the Hopkins High School theater for parents and other invited guests. • Santa Rosa National Park Concert Perform at Santa Rosa National Park, the most historically significant park in Costa Rica, a place where Costa Ricans had defended their country. • "Classroom in the Rain Forest" project with naturalist Jim Gilbert and interactive televised broadcasts KHOP, our district television network, has been asked to document the trip and will broadcast daily reports back to Hopkins High School. Jim Gilbert will coordinate interactive classroom lessons about the rain forest. Other aspects of the trip may be broadcast as well. • Other sights and tours Agricultural plantations (coffee, banana, melon, ornamental's); cloud forest; rain forest (including aerial tram ride into the canopy of the rain forest); volcano. Members of the International Classroom will provide narration/instruction as busses transport students. Sample Itinerary (includes major events - days subject to change): Saturday, February 14, through Sunday, February 22 1998 Saturday Travel to Costa Rica Saturday Half -day of recreation Return to San Jose Sunday Travel home Hopkins High School Costa Rican Arts Opportunity Itinerary Sunday Official welcome Tour of San Jose, including museums and diverse neighborhoods Rehearsal and concert in National Theater Monday Visit to sites in central plateau Coffee plantation tour Late afternoon concert at Children's Hospital with strolling choir groups and distribution of memory bags Dance and social event at private facility Tuesday Visit rain forest (Braulio Carrillo National Park); aerial tram into jungle canopy KHOP satellite broadcast of interactive lesson by Jim Gilbert Visit to banana plantation Possible opportunity to perform informally Wednesday Cultural activities in San Jose Schmitt music instrument exchange Sister school inauguration Evening concert in a park or other concert hall in San Jose Thursday Travel to Guanacaste Province with educational stops along the way Noon -time concert in central plaza of San Carlos Spend night in Santa Cruz Friday Rain forest restoration project in the morning. KHOP satellite broadcast of interactive lesson by Jim Gilbert Santa Rosa National Park Concert HOPKINS HIGH SCHOOL 2400 Lindbergh Drive Minnetonka. Minnesota 55305 /ct c : Mark Czech David Nordli Jan Ormasa Date: August 6, 1997 To: Superintendent Mike Kremer and Members of the Hopkins Board of Education From: Tom Bauman and Tim Rummel Re: Proposed Trip to Costa Rica An Equal Opportunity /Affirmative Action Educator and Employer Hopkins School District 270 Last April we were honored with a visit from the Costa Rican Vice Minister of Education, teachers, the president of the teachers' retirement union, president of the teachers' union, and a teacher from the International Classroom who were interested in the quality of education at Hopkins High School. In addition, the Vice Minister of Education expressed an interest in forming a relationship with a sister school. The HHS orchestra and choir were invited to perform in the National Theater in San Jose, the capitol. In addition, the high school staff have been invited to build the sister school relationship with a school which is renowned for its performing arts. The First Lady of Costa Rica has expressed a willingness to be the patron of the entire trip including attendance to the performance by the Hopkins High School orchestra and choir students in the National Theater in San Jose. The teams have been busily addressing all the elements in the Board policy regarding travel outside the continental United States. The orchestra and choir parents have enthusiastically endorsed the opportunity for this unique educational and international experience. Professor Robert Lavenda, a parent with a student in orchestra, has been instrumental in bringing the Costa Ricans to visit our high school. He has offered to help the families and students learn about the history and culture of the country. Gerardo Barboza has initiated conversations and meetings with administration to pursue building relationships between sister schools. In addition, the American Consulate of Costa Rica has sent us information to further explore sister city relationships. Students have expressed interest in learning experiences which build international friendships and promote understanding of world cultures. The students' overwhelming excitement and the parents' willingness to partner in fund raising and planning offer support. We strongly endorse the trip to Costa Rica as it is aligned with the District Strategic Plan and with the Hopkins High School Site Plan. — Vonsu'ado de ?osta C'ica Hinnesota, 6 11.@5.4. May 21, 1997 TO: Friendship City Committees FROM: Lupita Barahona SUBJECT: Annual Committees Meeting Joanne, please make copies of this letter and the attached and distribute it to the committee members. Mark your calendars for our next Friendship City Committees annual meeting. It will be Wednesday, June 25, 1997 at 6:00 p.m. at the St. Andrews Room, Town & Country Club. Attached is a reviewed copy of the Guidelines for your review. The words that are in brackets are the changes we made. Please feel free to bring to the meeting any suggestions, corrections, or additions. I would appreciate very much if the president of each committee send me the list of the people that will attend by June 12. Best personal regards. LBC CRC # 97 -54 annual97.doc 2424 `7erritozial eRoad @St. , innesota 55114 dh: (612) 481 -3618 r Lt'r • /,171 AA5_l ARA C? i 7455463 '^ n FRIENDSHIP CITY PROGRAM GUIDELINE MINNESOTA / COSTA RICA What is a Friendship City relationship? A Friendship City relationship between Costa Rica and Minnesota is established when a city or town of Costa Rica or Minnesota wishes to initiate and develop a recognized and mutually beneficial relationship. The objective of this formal relationship is to encourage and impl ment exchanges of mutual benefit for the communities of Costa Rica and Minnesota. Both communities, Costa Rica and Minnesota, will mutually learn to understand and to share their interests, activities, careers or cultures through the exchanges. In order to make this mutually beneficial experience successful, it is necessary to have the participation of a large number of citizens and organizations that commit themselves to develop and carry on a long term and mutually beneficial relationship. To do this, it is necessary to establish an official and recognized committe . The town council should make this committee official. [Although,] there is not an existing or established pattern for the proj cts that can be undertaken, these are a few to consider as you "scan a very broad horizon ". 2 Professional, agricultural, commercial, social, cultural, educational, health, etc. exchanges of visitors such as: professionals, commercial, non- profit, governmental and other entities and their associates. Affiliations to service clubs and other non - profit organizations such as: Lions, Rotary, Camber of Commerce, Kiwanis, YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, "Movimiento Nacional de Juventudes de Costa Rica ", "Consejo Interamericano de Escultismo", "Casa de la Cultura ", "Museo de la Cultura ", hospitals and clinics, etc. Educational exchanges with schools, technical and vocational institutions, and universities. Any activities established betwe n educational entities that enrich language, history, culture, technical and vocational programs. Exchange of professional and technical personnel. [For] example: garbage and water treatment, transportation, housing, health services, city maintenance, tourism, etc. Exhibitions of fine arts, photography, documentary, vocal and instrumental, as well as exchange of videotapes, slides, news letters, etc. 3 PURPOSE: The purpose of a Friendship City relationship is to provide a vehicle for people and organizations to increase their knowledge and experience, create mutually beneficial projects through an international experience with similarly interested and motivated people in Minnesota and /or Costa Rica, based or focused in a specific city. This experience may include developing [or improving] language skills, learning [about] a new culture and society, leading or participating in a project of civic development, [or] sharing interests, experiences, and skills, [in a] profession, vocation, [or recreational activity such as] arts, music, fishing, hunting, athletics, [etc.] There can be learning and experiencing of nature, be it [by the] ocean, [in a] rain forest, [by a] mountain, lake, stream /river, or prairie. There can be people exchange in the fields of education, agricultur , horticulture, health, social service, [commerce, industry], the arts, sports, athletic (individual or team), hobbies, special interest activities, and others too numerous to include here. 4 ORGANIZATION: Each community needs to have a committee recognized by the town council. This committee will initiate, promote and guide the Friendship City relationship. [There may be pre - existing personal contacts by members of the committee or others in the city that can and should be used]. If not, the Consulate of Costa Rica in Minnesota [can] recommend potential [friendship city candidates], and, if requested, make contact with the selected community. The Consulate recommends and encourages contact with community leaders, and leaders from different organizations. [This is both] to explain the project, [and] its objective and to invite them to be part of the committee, or be involved with its activities. In order to have a broad based committee that represents diff r nt organizations of the community, we recommend the appointm nt of one representative of the current municipality government. Id ally, [this should be] the Mayor [of the city] in Minnesota [or] the Ejecutivo Municipal in Costa Rica. [If not one of these, it should be], a person he /she appoints as representative of the municipality, [a 5 representative of the outgoing government, or a representative of the community]. It is recommended that continuity be built into the structure of the committee in order to help insure a long term success of the relationship. [The committee should send] a written communication to the local municipality council informing them of major changes that have occurred within the structure of the committee or its membership. This is for the purpose of maintaining the official recognition of th committee and its composition. The committee needs to reflect the interest of the community and to work with individuals and organizations within the community to develop projects. Therefore, all citizens of the community that are interested in the project [should] have the opportunity to participate. Obviously, this [needs to be] done also in coordination with th counterpart committee. Each committee needs to meet on a regular basis, recommend monthly. To encourage clear local communication and counterpart information, the committee should write minutes of the meetings and 6 send a copy to its Friendship City to keep each other informed of the progress of the on going projects, or of future ones. COMMUNICATION: Frequent, [direct and timing] communication [between the committees] to committee is essential to the thoughtful and consensus development of the relationship. - Each committee needs to provide current information [to the oth r committee on its] members including: [names, addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers. The committee should also send information on], local developments [and activities]. Exchanges of newspapers and news letters [is encouraged]. Each committee needs to identify a primary contact to coordinat communications. It is [the] responsibility of this person to distribute copies of any communication to the committee's members. Each committee needs to have resources available for Spanish -[to English and English to] Spanish translations. COMMITTEE'S ROLE IN THE PROJECTS: The committees and their communities need to work together to develop projects that meet mutual goals. 7 The function of the committee is [as an] intermediary. [It should work with other] host city committees for help in making contacts in order to [begin] a project. Once the first steps are [taken], the project [should be carried] out directly [between] institution to institution, interest group to interest group, and person to person. Each committee is responsible for creating awareness, knowledge, understanding and participation in its own community. We recommend one person in the committee to be responsible for public relations and communications. EVALUATION: Each committee needs to be very open, clear and honest, [in] the evaluation of each project, as well as [in] the general evaluation of the relationship. [FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES: There is a cultural/historical difference in this area that requir a special section as many of you have asked for it. Our experience in the Friendship City Program has shown them to be significantly different attitudes with the City /Municipality position. From the Costa Rican prospective, the cost of traveling to Minnesota 8 by municipality committee members is paid by the municipality most of the time. Individual people (committee members) from the Costa Rican city pay their own travel with no funding by the municipality. Committee members of the Minnesota city all pay their own travel, no matter if they represent the city or not. Of course, it would be very nice to have a `free ticket' but that is not possible...so if there is a difference we simply need to accept this as part of our learning to understand a different culture. It is also a long standing behavior /habit/condition of the country of Costa Rica to extend "tico hospitality" to all visitors. That means the tico will want to pay all the non - personal costs of the visitors while they are together. This is normally done by the municipality when the groups are together. This condition also prevails on "home stays" in Costa Rica...by the host family. Again, this is part of the culture we need to understand. When. in Costa Rica, the Minnesota visitor may feel uncomfortable as he/she knows of this "special hospitality" should be reciprocated `back home" when they host a visit by Costa Ricans. This may be more than the Minnesota person can afford. Therefore, should not be a "requirement" of participation in a Friendship City event, or the overall program. The Minnesota city's budget may or may not have a fund for this activity. In general, most do not, and if so, it is very modest. Therefore, it is suggested that the subject be discussed by th respective chairs of the committee or their appointed representative...both as to "group" events and "homestead" events so as to have an understanding among every one. We all understand the differences in culture...communications and agreements will always save embarrassments, misunderstandings, and expectations...filled or unfulfilled. This can simply take this form of notations on the schedule of events...hosted by...or Dutch treat. A second area of importance (from a financial stand point) is "proj ct finances." A major purpose of a Friendship City relationship is to initiate "projects" "one time" events or "continuing" as the case may be. The strength of a project is "a sharing mentality" -a "joint effort" - everybody's "shoulder to the wheel." As in all other aspects of the relationship, communication and discussion are crucial to it's succe s. Expectations of total "supply" by one party or the other is not 10 realistic...each must do what they can...hopefully it is sufficient to achieve the results intended. If not a "rethink/replan" is necessary.] VISITS: Any visit of the committees needs to have an objective. Therefore, the visiting committee should send an agenda of subjects or a work plan and the goals to achieve during the visit to its host committee w II in advance. The number of visitors should not be greater than the number that ar acceptable by the host city. The visiting committee group should appoint an active participant or representative for each proj ct or potential projects. When strong and meaningful personal relationships develop (which we hope do develop) it may be difficult to say "no" to a request for additional members of a delegation. Let us all be sensitive with our requests. To avoid embarrassment over a lack of knowledge or experience, it is suggested advice /presentation covering cultural differences prior to a trip be considered. After returning from a visit, the representative or coordinator of a project should work together with other people involved in the proj ct. 11 We are suggesting that "shopping trip or beach only" trips be discouraged. Those activities can certainly be a part of any trip but not the primary purpose of the trip. While not wishing to limit the activiti s, we only suggest that both, Costa Ricans and Minnesotans recognize and maximize the time available during a trip or visit, and take advantage of every opportunity to fulfill the goals of the work plan. The visiting committee, official delegation or representatives should write a report of the achievements reached and the decisions made during the visit. This report should be presented the members and colleges, other persons and entities interested in the project, as well as to the host committee. It is recommended that general committee business and evaluations should be conducted at an annual joint business meeting, held in alternating cities; meaning, one year in Minnesota, the following in Costa Rica. When there is a need or desire for more than one "official" visit p r year by the committee, the interested party needs to communicate it to the host committee. It will be up to the host committee whether th visit should be done or not. All other travel should be limited to organization -to- organization projects or to personally arranged visits. It will be up to the host 4 12 committee, organization or person whether the visit should be don or not. Eventhough we are all tempted to "let the city pay for this or that" those budgets are always tight and should not be used beyond what is agreed to in advance. Home stays are encouraged but not required. [It is recommended that visits are no longer than one week.] Home stays for students will be done only with a family including children. Required specific arrangements will be agreed to in advance. Details of living arrangements will be discussed and agreed to by both committees or organizations. Information on special health, dietary or medical needs, schedules or personal comfort (smoking, drinking, pets) needs to be communicated. The visiting group /individual, traveler should be responsible for expenses of health, if there is any. Health insurance coverage should be done by the individual or group. - When an official delegation visits its Friendship City in ord r to participate in an event, it will be responsibility of the host city to as i t the official delegation. Any accompanying members (excluding spouse or significant other) of the delegation should not expect or GUIDELIN2.DOC Revised 1/17/97 13 request to be assisted by the host city. Therefore, the host city is abi to dedicate more time and assistance to the official visiting delegation. A Friendship visit could be organized in order to give the opportunity to citizens from the communities, that have been involved or wish to be involved with the projects to visit their Friendship City. It will be the decision of the host city to establish the frequency for this trip, as well as the number of visitors. This visit should be coordinated well in advance. Personal visits are encouraged as human relationships developed. L t us assume sensitivity and good judgment will be used by all of us. We would like to remind you that whoever travels through our program should return to her /his country once the visit to the Friendship City is over.