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News
Schools link up in USA
Two Oregon schools, Windells Academy in Brightwood and the International Community School in McMinnville, have teamed up in order to offer international students a study abroad package that involves combining academic studies with tuition in skiing, snowboarding, skateboarding, BMX and other action sports.
Students attend both schools and may enrol on the programme for the full year or for just one term. Academic classes are taught in a blended learning format combining direct instruction and online classes and students are able to use all the facilities at Windells Academy, including access to snow 12 months of the year and a 53-acre sports-orientated private campus.
The International Community School currently works with other schools in China, Korea, Thailand, Saudi Arabia and Liberia and offer three other study abroad programmes for students from overseas, including summer and winter camps for those looking for a taster of life in a US secondary school. Windells Academy was set up in 1988 by nine-times national champion and two-times vice world champion snowboarder Tim Windell. The school currently hosts students from the USA as well as Canada, Australia, Trinidad and Tobago, Switzerland and Argentina.
Feature
Sports at North American high schools
 For students with a recreational or more serious interest in sports, North American high schools often provide enviable facilities to make the most of any sporting interest. Bethan Norris reports.
One of the primary attractions of high school programmes in North America for international students is often the high academic standards. However, many high schools in the USA and Canada also have impressive sports facilities and this can sometimes tip the balance when it comes to students choosing exactly where to study.
Michelle Rowley at Andrews Osborn Academy in Willoughby, OH, USA, confirms, “While academic programming and ESL are the priority areas of focus for our [overseas] students, many also choose our academy for our internationally acclaimed equestrian centre and the various athletic offerings provided at our academy.”
Sports tuition in popular sports such as football, tennis, volleyball and cross-country running are often an integral part of the curriculum for US and Canadian high school students and this may be an unusual concept for some international students, according to Toni Scherrer at the Storm King School in Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY, USA. “Many of [our international students] are not used to having sports as a mandatory part of the school programme, although a good many do play sports on their own when they can eke out the time between studies. Many are happy to have sports as part of our programme.”
As well as more traditional sports, high schools in North America also often introduce international students to sports that they may not be familiar with. Patrick Finn at Foxcroft School in VA, USA, says, “Students at Foxcroft can participate in team sports such as field hockey, soccer, basketball, cross-country, tennis, volleyball, softball, lacrosse and golf. There is also an equestrian programme and individual sports activities such as conditioning, kickboxing, yoga and rock climbing.” He adds, “Internationally popular sports such as basketball, volleyball and soccer are most participated in, most likely because they are familiar with the sport already.”
Sports programmes it seems are universally popular with international students, although for some nationalities the sports programme is particularly important. Lyne Labrecque from Bishop’s College School in Sherbrooke, QC, Canada, says, “When Asian students or Mexican students visit our school they are all very enthusiastic about the sports facilities.” Parnell Hagerman from Oldfields School in Glencoe, MD, USA, agrees that for some nationalities, certain sports are very popular. “We are the state champs in Badminton,” she says. “So you can imagine that particular sport is very attractive to Asian students.” She adds, “If we attract a student who is interested in a sport we do not offer, we make every effort to provide it. We had a Korean skier whom we assisted in placing [for a term] at Carrabasset Valley School that produces Olympians from all over the world.”
For those international students with a particular sporting talent, spending time at a North American high school with enviable facilities can greatly enhance skills in this area. Randy Roach at Fountain Valley School of Colorado in Colorado Springs, CO, USA, says, “We offer ice hockey and equestrian both at very competitive levels. As Colorado Springs is the home of the primary US Olympic training centre, the area attracts some of the world’s best athletes in a variety of sports.”
However, for some students, academic programmes and other facilities at the school will always be the prime attraction, as Michael McGuire at Maur Hill – Mount Academy in Atchison, KS, USA, relates. “Our students are first and foremost interested in our academic programmes, college placement and [in the case of the parent] the care for their child.”
Agent Profile
In a new bi-monthly section, we ask an agent that specialises in North American boarding school placements to tell us about their business and why they like working in this sector of the education travel industry. This month we talk to Susana Gavino Robles Gil from MEGA Tu Experienca Educativa in Mexico.
 “My husband and I established our agency in December 2004. We send an average of five students to North American high schools each year. It is very fulfilling to see people trust you and you are part of their experience, especially when everything goes smoothly and kids and their parents are satisfied and grateful. I was an English teacher for many years and used to help students and friends with school arrangements. Then, I felt like doing something else and studied the market, the conditions and got prepared for becoming an agent. Besides, it is very enriching because I constantly learn about people, cultures and the education business. Comox Valley International Student Program is a favourite programme that we work with. It is located in a small, beautiful and safe valley where students can do lots of activities during the whole year and weather conditions are mild for Canada. Besides, the staff are great. They are very professional, responsible, reliable, caring, honest, helpful and student orientated. They offer solutions and are willing to resolve problems.“ |
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