Sacred Hearts High School

In July 1986, Mr. Chao-Yen Lai assumed the position of Director of Academic Affairs at Sacred Hearts High School. He began to reflect on the state of English education, aiming to break free from the college entrance exam–driven approach. His goal was to enhance students’ practical English skills, particularly in listening and speaking, and to help them step beyond Taiwan and engage with the international community.

In 1989, Principal Liang Huan-Ching of River Valley High School and Principal Chen Hsien-I of Sacred Hearts High School established a sister school relationship. River Valley High School thus became the first sister school of Sacred Hearts High School, marking the beginning of over 30 years of educational exchange between the two schools.

The two schools agreed to lead students in an alternating annual exchange format, taking turns to visit each other’s campuses and participate in joint academic and cultural activities. This arrangement has provided students from both schools with valuable opportunities to gain deeper understanding of each other’s cultures. The exchange program has now continued for 36 years.

Over the years, thanks to the strong support of successive principals at River Valley High School and the dedicated efforts of the teachers responsible for international exchange, the program has consistently brought rich and meaningful experiences. These long-standing interactions have helped both schools cultivate a deep and lasting friendship.

After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, current Principal Lin Chia-Hui recognized that the strong bond between the two schools should not be severed due to the pandemic. She emphasized the importance of continuing the exchange, not only to uphold this long-standing relationship, but also to ensure that current students would not miss out on opportunities for international education. As a result, an online exchange program was launched, integrated into the first-year high school elective courses to allow for thorough preparation, ensuring that each session was meaningful and content-rich.

Every year during the winter break, a student delegation from River Valley High School, led by the principal, vice principal, and Mr. Huang Chih-Hsiang, visits Taiwan to participate in the four-day Huashan camping event hosted by Sacred Hearts High School.

• The exchange follows a biennial model, with visits taking place every other year.
• Each student delegation is limited to 34 participants and is personally led by the principal.

In the earlier years, student visits to our sister school were often combined with cultural exploration trips to neighboring countries, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Malaysia. These visits offered students valuable opportunities to experience the diversity of Chinese culture in different international contexts.

In recent years, the focus has shifted toward further enhancing students’ English proficiency. As such, trips have been organized to cities in the Southern Hemisphere, including Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne in Australia. These experiences not only immerse students in an English-speaking environment but also broaden their horizons by exposing them to the unique cultural and geographical landscapes of the Southern Hemisphere, distinct from those of the Northern Hemisphere.

Our Exchange Journey