ATHENS — A group of Athens Area School District fifth-grade students is preparing for a unique learning experience this June, and the Athens High School History Club is stepping in to help make it possible.
On Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m., the Athens High School History Club will host a Kids Night Out event to raise funds for the district’s Bridges Across Borders program. Proceeds from the evening will support students traveling to Wales this summer and will also help fund a return visit from Welsh students this fall.
The event is being organized by Mrs. Amy Cheresnowsky and the Athens High School History Club, who have a long history of creating meaningful learning experiences through travel. For more than 20 years, Mrs. Cheresnowsky has led students on trips that allow them to learn by experiencing history and culture firsthand, most recently completing a 10-day trip through Europe.
That same idea is now being extended to younger students in the district.
Bridges Across Borders is a partnership between the Athens Area School District and Ysgol y Cribarth, a school in Wales. The program grew out of a professional learning experience Superintendent Craig Stage had while visiting schools in Wales as part of an international exchange. What stood out most from that visit was how deeply learning was connected to place, culture, and community.
“True global learning requires lived experience,” Stage said. “There are some things you just can’t fully understand unless you are there, walking through it and experiencing it yourself.”
With the support of a grant, the program has developed into a year-long exchange. Students have been connecting virtually with their Welsh peers, learning about language, culture, and daily life. The trip, scheduled for June 20–30, will give students the opportunity to spend time in Welsh classrooms and communities and meet the students they’ve already come to know.
For many of the students, this will be their first time traveling outside of the United States.
Community members who are interested in seeing the program in action can follow along through the district’s YouTube channel, Athens Wildcats Superintendent (@AthensWildcatsSuperintendent). Virtual exchange sessions and updates are being shared there, and the district plans to continue documenting the experience so the community can follow the journey as it unfolds.
The Kids Night Out event will provide a fun, supervised evening for children, including swimming, activities, and concessions. At the same time, it serves as an important fundraiser to help offset rising travel costs and ensure the opportunity remains accessible to all students.
Mrs. Cheresnowsky said the History Club was eager to support the effort.
“We’ve always believed in giving students the opportunity to learn by experiencing the world around them,” she said. “This is a special opportunity for these students, and we’re proud to be part of it.”
Stage emphasized that the program is about more than travel.
“This is about helping our students see beyond our small rural school and understand that they are part of something bigger,” he said. “It’s an experience they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.”
Families interested in attending Kids Night Out on April 17 are encouraged to look at the any of the Athens Area School District Facebook Pages for details.
