Last month, Campbell College proudly participated in the German Embassy's #ShoutOutForGerman campaign, celebrating all things German in schools. As part of this initiative, we welcomed 20 German exchange students and two teachers from the Humboldt Gymnasium in Ulm, Baden-Württemberg. In October, our Year 11 students stayed with the families of the German students in Ulm, and this time, they stayed with the host families of our Campbell pupils.

Our German guests attended classes throughout the week and explored the local area, including Stormont Estate. They also enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Giant's Causeway, where the glorious sunshine made the visit to the North Coast even more special. They discovered the magnificent landscape, history, geography, and myths of the area, including stops at Bushmills and Dunluce Castle. The activities continued with a visit to Titanic Belfast, where our guests learned about the story of Belfast and the tragedy of the ill-fated ship. They also enjoyed a walking tour of Belfast City, where they discovered the rich history and culture of the city.

Our guests also had the wonderful opportunity to experience life in our vibrant boarding community. We are proud to have 150 boys from across the world boarding at Campbell College, including a healthy German contingent. Our boys were delighted to welcome the exchange students and show them what life is like as a boarder at Campbell College. Students participated in themed nights, watched films, engaged in activities in the Sports Hall, and made use of our new state-of-the-art gym, fully immersing themselves in the daily life of our boarding students.

The week concluded with a farewell party in the JCR. The party featured giant pizzas, an amazing magic show by our boarding pupil Elia, and a fantastic performance by @Line512Band, which made the evening very special. We are thankful to Line512Band for entertaining us with their incredible performance.

On Saturday, our guests spent time with their host families before returning to Germany on Sunday. This family time was invaluable, allowing the students to immerse themselves in the local culture, build lasting friendships, and gain a deeper understanding of life in Northern Ireland.

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the staff, students, and Campbell families who hosted the students and made this exchange a memorable experience. The week was packed with activities, and we were fortunate to have beautiful weather throughout.