NEWS RELEASE
ALGOMA DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
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The Algoma District School Board, in partnership with Muskoka Language International (MLI), will be welcoming five international students from Spain this September. The students will all be in Grade 11, attending the three local high schools – Korah, Superior Heights and White Pines.
The students are all scholarship winners through The Fundacion Amancio Ortega (FAO), which was founded in 2013 by Mr. Amancio Ortega Gaona, the founder of the Zara clothing stores.
The 2013 Educational Culture Project selects students in their 4th year of high school who want to study in Canada and the United States. The program promotes the learning of English and the personal development of young people by challenging them with total immersion in a new environment, living with a host family and studying abroad for a full school year. The foundation has grown and now gives out 500 scholarships per year to eligible Spanish students. The scholarship covers 100 per cent of the program, so students can focus on their studies and make the most of their year abroad. As part of the program, the students will co-validate their academic results and count them towards their high school diploma in Spain. The students will be also be volunteering in the community during their time in Canada.
As homestay is part of the program, Muskoka Language International (MLI) and their homestay division MLI Homestay are now canvassing host families in Sault Ste. Marie. If your family is interested in hosting a student for the upcoming school year, there will be an information session on Wednesday, May 22 in the media room at Superior Heights from 7-9 p.m., or you may contact Kristi Ash at MLI directly, at kash@mlihomestay.com or at 416-420-4318.
ADSB Director Reece noted, “This is a wonderful opportunity for both our students and our hosted students, as they will learn not only academics, but also from one another about culture, language, food and travelling abroad. It will demonstrate to our students that being a ‘Confident learner, caring citizen’ has no geographical boundaries. We are looking forward to welcoming these learners into our schools and into our community.”
Andrew Lind, partner/managing director at CISS MLI noted: “We are very pleased to be entering into a new partnership with Algoma District School Board. Sault Ste. Marie is a perfect community for our international students, and we look forward to watching the relationships and collaborative learning develop between the students, host families and the community at large.”
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