Catholic Schools’ International Program ramping way up this fall
By LAUREN THOMSON Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on June 8, 2021.
Participants in the Medicine Hat Catholic Schools' International Program enjoy various activities around Alberta as part of their stay. The program is expanding this fall.--SUBMITTED PHOTOThe Medicine Hat Catholic Schools’ International Program, which will increase vastly in size this coming fall, is seeking homestay families willing to welcome an international student into their homes and family life.
“There were previously about eight or 10 students,” said Wanda Simmons, international supervisor. “But then we got a new superintendent who decided we were going to go whole-heartedly into this program.”
Simmons indicated that Nova Scotia decided to close its borders to international students this coming fall, “so that left a lot of agents scrambling because they already had study permits, so we picked up from students from that as well.”
There are now 40 confirmed students arriving this fall, from a broad list of countries such as Brazil, Columbia, Japan, Denmark, Spain, Germany, Peru, Poland and Mexico, said Sasha Campbell, international education assistant.
“In light of things, we’re really looking for some great homestay families,” Campbell said. “And it doesn’t matter if you have kids or don’t have kids, we’re just really looking for loving, caring, homestay families that want to have an experience.”
Both Simmons and Campbell have experienced and seen the strong connection that can be made between an exchange student and their family. Simmons says there is a lot of care taken in matching students to families and that during the interview process they try to connect people with common interests and other things.
“Our claim to fame is that we offer a really intensive activity program for the kids,” Simmons said. “Right now they’re in riding lessons and every month we do two major activities with them.”
Simmons and Campbell outlined previous and upcoming activities the international students get to participate in. There is a wide range from trips to Banff and Waterton, to sledding and skiing at Hidden Valley, hot dog roasts, visits to the Calgary Zoo and horseback riding lessons, to name a few. The full list for planned activities for the students coming for the 2021-2022 school can be viewed online at the website for the Catholic School International Program.
“I am trying to create a skating lesson program that will happen in the winter,” Campbell said. “It’ll be a six-week program where they can go to skating lessons. I would have all the international kids in one lesson at the same time, so that we’re not having multiple and they’re learning all together.”
Campbell has also worked with the Medicine Hat Police Service and the Rotary Club to provide bikes for every student this year and says they are enjoying riding the trails together, as well as riding to school or friends’ houses.
Students who come are also encouraged to try out for school teams and participate in school clubs.
“It’s good not only for the students that are coming,” said Campbell. “But it’s good for our students that are here already; kids that are born and raised here to have relationships with people from all over the world. And that’s the cool thing about it … I always hope these kids come and have an amazing experience and build strong bonds with their families and friends that last a lifetime, that’s our main thing.”
If you are interested in being a host family, you can find the application on the MHCS website under the International menu.
