Students from the Business and Technology Academy Charter School engaged in a purposeful exchange, traveling to Tokyo, Japan, where they visited Clark Memorial International High School and Omiya Kita High School.
BTACS officials said the exchange is part of the school’s expanding global learning initiatives, which allowed students, including Deeyana Renguul, to develop as students, connect culturally, and present real-world application opportunity.
“I really valued the chance to connect with others and learn about both the differences and similarities in our schools and communities,” Renguul said.
The initiative leaned on cultural exchange activities to encourage collaboration between BTACS students and their Japanese peers while promoting Guam and the Marianas.
“The world just got a lot bigger for our BTACS students, and the memories they created with their new friends in Japan will stay with them for a lifetime. Experiences like these are what make all the effort behind this program truly worthwhile,” Jonah Cruz, BTACS creative projects coordinator, said.
In one hands-on classroom activity, school officials reported that BTACS and Omiya Kita High School students were challenged to work together on a “creative projects that highlights problem-solving, teamwork, and cross-cultural learning.”
During the visit, the students also went on guided tours and explored the surrounding communities, including Saitama, which BTACS officials said fostered “deeper cross-cultural understanding and connection.”
The trip marked the first international travel experience for the BTACS students but, according to school officials, has been in the works since initially engaging with the partner schools in October 2025. The trip to Japan follows a previous visit to Saipan through its state and territorial government class.
“BTACS is committed to expanding opportunities in educational tourism, providing students with meaningful, real-world learning experiences beyond the classroom while also promoting Guam and the Marianas on a global stage,” the school said.
More international travel opportunities are planned for the BTACS students as school officials “continue to strengthen its international partnerships.”
“Later this year, more than two dozen BTACS students are scheduled to return to Omiya Kita High School to participate in its two-day school fair, an event that attracts thousands of students and community members. BTACS will host a booth at the fair to promote Guam and the Marianas,” the school said.
“These are the kinds of opportunities we are committed to expanding in the coming years – continuing to push our students beyond the classroom and into the world, where they can learn directly from the experiences of others their age across our region,” BTACS Principal Dylan Sablan added.
During the initial visit, Sablan took the opportunity to speak with students from Omiya Kita High School, sharing the mission of BTACS and the school’s commitment to “culturally grounded education and global learning opportunities.”
BTACS will be welcoming 100 students from Omiya Kita High School in November for a two-day event focused on global learning, collaboration, and cultural exchange.