International Student Exchange: 2025-2026 Program Update

We are delighted to share the success of this year’s La Cañada Flintridge Sister Cities student exchange program.

For the third consecutive year, La Cañada High School 7/8 students participated in a Sister Cities International student exchange with students from SEK School in our sister city, Villanueva de la Cañada, Spain. This year, 12 of our students took part in the program.

In December, the Spanish students visited La Cañada Flintridge. During their stay, they were immersed in our community and shadowed their host students at La Cañada High School. Highlights included preparing jambalaya (American paella) with the culinary arts teacher, exploring local attractions such as Universal Studios, Warner Bros., the Autry Museum of the American West, and the California Science Center, and enjoying an evening of bowling and refreshments with host families at Montrose Bowl.

In January, our students traveled to Spain with Dr. Gold and Frau Sos. They were welcomed into the SEK School community and experienced daily life in Villanueva de la Cañada while shadowing their exchange brothers/sisters.  Their travels also included visits to Madrid, Toledo, historic Segovia, and a tour of Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

While in La Cañada, the visiting students met with Mayor Bowman and City Council members and received certificates of participation.  In Spain, our students met with Mayor Partida, who has served as mayor of Villanueva de la Cañada for many years.

Sister Cities International promotes peace and mutual understanding through programs in arts and culture, youth, and education. Through these student exchanges, we strengthen connections between our communities and create lasting memories and friendships for all participants in our program and community  

We are incredibly proud of our students, chaperones, host families, and our partners in Spain for making this year’s exchange such a success.

If you enjoyed this article and would like to support the work of La Cañada Flintridge Sister Cities, please consider making a tax-deductible donation using the link below. If you believe in our mission, we also welcome volunteers—just a few hours of your time can help our organization continue to grow and thrive. You can email us directly to find out more information about volunteer opportunites.