French sister city’s students visit the Island

October 30, 2025 11:30 am
A delegation of 17 high school students and three teachers from Mercer Island’s sister city, Thonon Les Bains, France, arrived in town on Oct. 23, beginning a 10-day cultural and educational exchange. The visit kicked off with a Halloween-themed welcoming reception, held at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center and attended by Mayor Salim Nice, fellow council members Daniel Becker and Ted Weinberg, and members of the Mercer Island Sister City Association. Students are staying in the homes of families — whose children visited Thonon Les Bains this past April — touring points of interest throughout the region and attending classes at Mercer Island High School. The visit falls on the 25th anniversary of the two cities’ relationship. Photo courtesy of the Mercer Island Sister City Association
A delegation of 17 high school students and three teachers from Mercer Island’s sister city, Thonon Les Bains, France, arrived in town on Oct. 23, beginning a 10-day cultural and educational exchange. The visit kicked off with a Halloween-themed welcoming reception, held at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center and attended by Mayor Salim Nice, fellow council members Daniel Becker and Ted Weinberg, and members of the Mercer Island Sister City Association. Students are staying in the homes of families — whose children visited Thonon Les Bains this past April — touring points of interest throughout the region and attending classes at Mercer Island High School. The visit falls on the 25th anniversary of the two cities’ relationship. Photo courtesy of the Mercer Island Sister City Association

A delegation of 17 high school students and three teachers from Mercer Island’s sister city, Thonon Les Bains, France, arrived in town on Oct. 23, beginning a 10-day cultural and educational exchange. The visit kicked off with a Halloween-themed welcoming reception, held at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center and attended by Mayor Salim Nice, fellow council members Daniel Becker and Ted Weinberg, and members of the Mercer Island Sister City Association. Students are staying in the homes of families — whose children visited Thonon Les Bains this past April — touring points of interest throughout the region and attending classes at Mercer Island High School. The visit falls on the 25th anniversary of the two cities’ relationship. Photo courtesy of the Mercer Island Sister City Association