Next Monday, April 17, six students from Colégio São Luiz will leave for Quebec, Canada, where they will experience a sports exchange for three weeks. The high school students are part of the institution’s women’s volleyball team and will be accompanied by the vice-principal, Father Aléssio da Rosa, and the physical education teacher and team coach, Daniel Ricardo Pieper.

In addition to discovering a new culture and learning more about the language and the practice of sport, until May 7, exchange students will take lessons and volleyball training at the Seminary at the Sacred Heartlocated in the Quebec region.

“We are happy with this exchange opportunity, now in Canada, which is extended with the presence of the assistant director, Father Aléssio, Professor Daniel and our students, volleyball athletes. I hope that this experience will bring good results, in the sense of exchanging knowledge and more qualification for the practice of sport and physical education in our institution”, underlines the director of the Colégio São Luiz, Father Silvano João da Costa.

Encouragement to sport

Physical education teacher and team coach Daniel Ricardo Pieper says the opportunity arose when the school’s board of directors sought, within the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (SCJ), international institutions that shared a greater projection in sport.

“This is a great opportunity for the field of physical education. We left with the desire to share our knowledge and better understand the functioning of the Quebec structure. We will learn, adapt and bring to Colégio São Luiz what we can integrate into sport. Moreover, for the students, it is a unique opportunity to meet new places, new people and to form friendships that will last a lifetime,” comments Daniel.

During the three-week program, exchange students will stay with the athletes of the Canadian school.

waiting for the experience

Volleyball players since the 3rd year of primary school, the six members of the team who will take part in the exchange are: Anna Beatriz Ricardo Potrich and Malu Gevaerd Pereira, from the 1st year of high school; Ana Karolina Bononomi, from the 2nd year; and Eduarda Canedo Gomes Capelli, Joana Gevaerd Schaefer and Maria Júlia Brito Wehmuth, from the 3rd year.

Eager to live the new experience, the young women say they have already had contact with Canadian families and athletes, who have been very receptive and open to receiving them. “This is the first exchange in Canada. We are very grateful to Colégio São Luiz and Professor Daniel for giving us this opportunity,” says Anna Beatriz Ricardo Potrich.

Joana Gevaerd Schaefer and Ana Karolina Bononomi have already participated in a sports exchange in the United States. However, they are celebrating the possibility of now being accompanied by the whole team. “My parents already had a similar experience when they were teenagers, so they encourage us and are happy for this opportunity”, says Joana.

The atmosphere is joyful among the students. “We believe that now is the time to create more autonomy, which will be very important for our lives. We are anxious and are counting the days until the departure”, underlines Eduarda Canedo Gomes Capelli.