Second year for International students at BMHS

International student hosts, and their charges from Mexico, Brazil, Germany, the Netherlands, Korea and Columbia, attended a potluck bbq at Bertha and Dave Nickerson’s house in Doctor’s Cove on Sept. 7.

Host Coordinator Cynthia Duncan is delighted with the growth of the program which sees some students attending for sections of the season.

“Some students come for the first or second semester and some come for the whole school year. Some students came for short period, such as two months,” she said.

On Sept. 25, BMHS will be hosting a school-to-school exchange with students from a private Christian German school.

The 23 students will be accompanied by two chaperones and the group will stay for 12 days. The BMHS students hosting the German students from Sept. 25 to Oct. 6 will have the opportunity to go to the German school during the 2009 March break.

The large group exchange is a first for the Tri-Counties.

“This is going to be an awesome thing,” said Duncan.

Most children participating in the Nova Scotia International Student Program are between the ages of 12 – 18 and arrive in August and February for the five or ten months program.

Families can choose which session to participate in, must provide a furnished room and three meals a day, and are reimbursed $475 for expenses each month.

Participating countries include Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Germany, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Thailand, Taiwan and Turkey.

Hosting families must have references and police checks and will receive a home inspection visit from a NSISP representative.

For more information on the program, contact Duncan at 902-742-1527 or email cynthia.duncan@tcrsb.ca.