Grand Canyon High School Students Reach ‘Hands Across the Border,’ Participate in Program with Partner School in Sonora

GRAND CANYON — May 1, 2008 – A contingent of 10 Grand Canyon High School students and adults experienced firsthand what daily life is like for their colleagues across the border by participating in the  “Hands Across the Border” program earlier this year.

Grand Canyon High School is one of 17 Arizona schools taking part in the program, dedicated to improving “…cultural sensitivity and understanding among citizens of the border states” through short-term educational school exchange programs.

Each participating Arizona school is pared with a partner in Sonora, allowing students on both sides of the border to develop greater ethnic sensitivity for their colleagues.  For Grand Canyon, the partnering school is located in Santa Ana, approximately 45 minutes from the border between Nogales and Hermosillo.

Grand Canyon High School Teacher Katie Buttram said six students and four adults traveled to Santa Ana on March 6-9, while eight students along with adult facilitators and coordinators from Santa Ana made the journey northward April 16-19.

Buttram, an English and drama teacher, brings a unique perspective to Grand Canyon’s ‘Hand Across the Border’ program, having taught school in both Mexico and Honduras for a combined four years.  She said her students’ itineraries were quite full during the trip to Sonora.

After a trip to an Ostrich farm north of Tucson and shopping for some bargains in Nogales, the Grand Canyon contingent finally made its way to Santa Ana.  It was then time to experience some Sonoran culture and flavors firsthand!

“When we got to Santa Ana that evening,” she explained, “we had an opening ceremony featuring both some traditional and modern Mexican dances.  We also had a pot luck dinner – I love Mexican food, so I always encourage that!’

The exchange also featured some time in a Mexican classroom for the Arizona students, beginning with an assembly.  Buttram said the Arizona students were a little apprehensive about going to school with their colleagues at first, but they soon overcome their nervousness.

She said a highlight of the trip was visiting a school for disabled children.

“We brought down a bunch of toys that we donated, and we got to play with the kids,” Buttram said.

The trip concluded with some fun on the beach in Rocky Point.

As might be expected when visiting a school located within Grand Canyon National Park, a highlight of the Santa Ana school’s reciprocal visit was a hike down into the Canyon.  Buttram admitted that it took a little convincing to get both parties to agree to the hike – a somewhat steep and strenuous effort.

While both schools’ students did have to overcome some cultural differences (the difference in meal times, she explained, was a particular challenge), she said the students were impressed by the many similarities of life on both sides of the border.

“I think most of the kids and parents came away thinking that we’re all not really that much different,” Buttram said.  “I believe that’s what this program is really all about.”